The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-29
rnr PUERTO RrCo CASE.
Clear Statement OF the Merits OF
the QucStion by the New York
Mail and Express.

The case is "a very simple one The
president made his recommendations last
December TO give Puerto aco's products
froe q.,ass &C. oar markets because he be-
licvel it was RIGHT and best, considering
the condition ~ that island, ana not bee
cause IL was required by the constitution.
Vie has not changed that view. II that
were the sole principle Involved, We arc
authorized 20 say. he would insist upon
ID though De stood alone since his rec
ommcudation. however. another principle
has been invoked involving the most vital
question connected with tho whole mat
tor OF our new territorial possessions.
The president believes curgTcss has tho
constitutional power to levy duties upon
thc products OF the new territorial ac-
QUESTIONS.
rhis is denied. especially by Democrats.
III they can prevent IT'S assertion; sttll
more. II they can have such action by com
srcss rs denes its existence. thon they
can ~ to tho country with the argument
that tho administration has, hy It's policy,
acquired new populations untitled for
statehood. yet claiming the rights Of full
citizenship and the right to inundate our
markets with their products FREQ from
customs duty, thus impairins the value
az our own labor BY competition with tho
CHEAPEST labor IN the world,
The question. therefore IL not between
principle and An eNped'cncy. II Is
question hCtWfeN TWO principles, orc az
them fundamental n is between assert
ing one OF them in the interest Of Puerto
Rico alone. or the other in the interest ~
the whole country now and hereafter. In
tho latter case. any departure from the
right constitutional principle cannot he
recti0cd and the damage done win he ir-
remedial Not n single step once taken.
can be retrnced In the former case, II
viii work no injury 90 the interests OF
Puerto Rico
That island is today without revenue
ana the people are suffering. II has no
government except q military one. II VIII
he some time before any machinery for
raising revenue can he put IN operation.
Meantime Puerto Rico must he taken
care OF ana enabled as rapidly as possi-
hlc to furnish the revenues FOR It's own
expenses by the hill which the house
has passed Il Is relieved from every other
form Of tax oxcept this IS per cent Of the
existing tauT laid upon lts products COM
ing into the United States and the pro-
ducts of the United states entering Puerto
Rican ports Every dollar Of this u
turned back % its own use The measure
Is FOR revenue. and only Temporary at
that and can he followed by free trade
AZ soon a. the great principle which rec
ORnires the power Of congress 90 'eirislnta
for these now territories rs indicated.
Tho necessity ~ this Interpretation ~ tho
constitution. after tho debate u the house.
ia paramount and i~ considered important
20 our success IN the Philippines
The principle 81 free trade recommended
for Puerto Rico. and which tho president
evidently hopvs in duc time 90 see nrc-
vail. har therefore, yielded only FOR tho
time be.nE 90 a more important principle.
Tho necessity ~ the case and the honest
difference II OPINION which led 20 the now
issue are frankly recognized. The preai-
Cont a}qlYec ihtga th8t no must 90 a large
extent RELY upon his own party IN the nd.
fninistratiou az geIhltc afaira He is bound
20 weigh against any personal triumph the
decentralization ana dlsorguniKatinn ~ hia
parity 10 the legislative branch ~ tho
government upon which be must depend.
80 greater calamity could happen than 90
have his party majority fau dawn on tho
very hrcshnld ~ their consideration -
these island Questions t'nder these cir
rumatnnrcs iho president ga wha, no
Thought was right. and We believe that
time sill NindiCate tho wisdom 81 hia
course