The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-26

The principal result of the Republican
House caucus Saturday night appears to be
the conviction on everybody part thai the
Payne Porto Rican tariff infamy cannot he
put through in its present shape, no mat
ter how ugly the trusts and the Admins
iration may cut up about the matter The
caucus. which was called conference in
order to attract the presence Of weak sis
tiers who might be afraid to attend under
The other term. developed the fact that at
least thirty Republicans are determined
not 10 vote for the Payne bill. Probably
some OF these recalcitrants might be pla-
Gated by material changes in the measure,
but most Of them, as far as can be learned.
stand with Mr. Ittlefeld Of Maine and
therefore cannot be induced to outrage
their consciences By supporting measure
Of any kind enacting foreign tariff against
domestic territory, in clear violation of the
Constitution of the United States
One of the subterfuges suggested to whip
the stray animals back into camp is in
tensely amusing. 4 single objector is re-
ported as declaring that while he could not
vote Tor the bill 10 its present shape, if it
we're limited in operation to two years, he
thought he could overcome his scrupies
and accept il. The idea appears 10 have
been seized upon with -vidity by the man
ayers. who. however. cannot have a very
high conception OF the standard OF party
Intelligence in Congress. Because they
know. and everybody who has given the
matter the most cursory study knows. that
neither the Payne bill, if enacted nor any
ether unconstitutional act for the oppres-
sion OF American Territories and people.
would be allowed 10 dcface the statute
books for one much less two years.
The Republican leaders are in serious
dilemma but they walked into II with open
eyes. When President Mckinley DELHI
erately adopted Jencrsonian Democratic
expansion as the policy Of Republican
Administration. he must have known that
a free trade corollary went with the gos-
pei. and that short OF an amendment 10 the
Constitution the open door would have to
be maintained between the mainland and
Porto Rico and the Philippines. as much
as between New York and Boston. We
have always assumed his thorough appre-
citation Of the interesting proposition to
which we refer. and have accorded him
much admiration and respect for the states
nanship and good common sense displayed
in thus becoming the Moses OF his fol-
lowers. to lead them ont OF the Egyptian
darkness OF an exploded provincial fiscal
system into The bright light Of modern
and civilized organization Tor unrestricted
American intercourse with the powers and
peoples OF the world
il is TO be feared that in recognizing as
mandatory the equities aud duties incident
TO the situation. Mr.. Mckinley did not
himself realize how helplessly his party is
in The iron clutches Of The trusts and
mouopolies which have been able to aceu-
mulate countless millions at the expense
of the American people through their en-
joyment of q prohbitige tariff protection.
Perhaps he may even now be surprised TO
see that his Administration is expected at
the stern demand of the trust magnates. 10
treat the Constitution Of the United States
as obsolete null and void. if It happens
10 stand iu The way Of their s0rdid inter
ests The President is not free agent in
such circumstances. For practical pur-
noses he must bow TO the party oligarchy.
whose throne aad council board are in the
Standard oil Bank in New York and
whose political prophet is Hanna. This
power is the only real and final enc in an
organization which once marched to vic
tory under the command Of men like Lin
colin. Seward. Chase. Greeley, and Sumner.
and which sWore by the tcnets Of the sim
pie Democratic faith OF the martyr Presi-
dent It soorns the thought that any Re
publican in the House of Representatives
should dare 10 interpo5e his conscience be-
tween the trusts aud their legislative de-
signs. and the campaign fund viii be
made to suaer II they are baked OF the<.