The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-31
FIDDLING ON A TARIFF
WHILE THE INHABITANTS OF
PUERTO RICO ARE STARVING.

The following Is a synopsis OF an ad-
dress on the Puerto Rican tariT DILL at
the Ben Franklin club. Minneapolis, by
H. L. Chaffee:
1--WE ST ould feel under special obliga--
ton to little Puerto Rico. From the port
Of Ponce to San Juan the American army
met with little opposition. Iheir en-
for an ovation. These people looked
upon US as their deliVerer and regarded
the American flag as an emblem OF hoerty
and justice. The little school girls OF san
Juan dressed in white, literally streWed
the pathway of our soldiers with flowers
''The people of Puerto Rico had not
learned OF the deSpotic power or our great
trusts, power which could reverse the
pledge Of Gen. Miles-a power which could
take possession of q party by capturing
the ways and means committee. How tne
demon Of greed and aVarice must nave
laughed in ghoulish glee when poor ut
tie Puerto Rico was stricken down. what
a victory for the commercial despot over
Justice AS a corporation has no soul,
future punishment hath no terrOrs for the
sugar or tobacco trust, but If there is no
Hades, there ought to be. and l suspect
when the conventions are heid TINS sum
mer, more than one member Of congress
will eXclaim, This Is hades.
1.-The bill provides for a per cent duty
on goods coming out and also going into
the island. We believe first that II IS
unconstitutional and contrary to the
fundamental principles Of this govern
ment. Second, that 1t is unjust to Puerto.
Rico Third, that 1t is unjust to the pro-
ducers and consumers of the United
States. For over one hundred years We
have governed the United States under
the constitution and within the construc-
ton. The constitution provides that all
duties shall be uniform within all Of our
territory. 1t provides further that no ex-'
port tax shall be levied, but without go
ing into this question at length, it IS suft-
Client to say, that such constitutional law
yers at Edmunds, Hoar and eX-President
Harrison declare the bill to be uncOnSt1-
tutionaI. 1t would seem that the trainers
through a severe lesson on taxation with
out representation. propose to make 1t
impossible for congress to exercise the
same despotic power. but even If, by any
possible construction, 1t could be made
lawful. it would be an injustice to the ISL,
and.
to Rico, said that all Puerto Ricans ex-
pected that the coming of the American
flag would give to them all the rights and
privileges which Americans everywhere
else enjoyed, respecting trade, and, he
adds, they were disappointed.
''Dr. Ames, a resident of Puerto Rico,
says, What the people there most need is
well established government and next to
that free trade with the United States,
yet their condition today is said to be
worse than under Spanish rule 1t would
be unjust to ourselves if the admission of
free sugar would lower the price as
claimed by the sugar trust. then we want
free trade with Puerto Rico In the inter-
est Of every consumer Of sugar in the
United States.
"Mr. Oxnard. president of the American
Beet Sugar association, appeared before
the committee, asking for tariff on the
ground that without 1t sugar raising
would become very profitable there, and
that the sugar industries of Puerto Rico
might increase. If We would make Puer-
to Rico valuable possession, we should
encourage the cultivation of both sugar
cane and tobacco; we should make it pos
sible for them to prosper. Those people
need food, they need flour. meat and 9TH
er products. Even Spain did not levy an
export duty. but in this bill you propose
to tax these poor, naked. haIf-starved peo-
pie upon every sack of flour or pound Of
provision which they import from us
1T would seem that the despots are not
all dead. These beet sugar men do not
want much; every beet sugar factory first
demands a subsidy or subscription from
the town or county In which they erect a
plant. then they demand that the state
shall give them bounty on every pound
of sugar manufactured. and then they go
| before congressional committee and de-
mand that tariff shall be fixed on sugar
coming into their territory from other
parts of United States territory.
Nero 1iddled when Rome was burning,
but Nero lived in a semi barberous time
England spends $50.0 900 month on a.
war for conquest with millions Of her
subjects starving to death in India, but
England has become hardened by centuries
OF Imperialism. 1t remains for the Unit
ed States through their representatives. in
congress to fiddle on a Is per cent tariff
with 20. per cent of the inha bitants of
Puerto Rico In a starving condition. The
man who dreams that he can reverse
and overturn the constitution must little
understand the hearts of the people
With finite strength he wrestles with the
Infinite for against him is an immortal
principle. against him are arrayed battaI-
lions stronger than any marshalled by
mortal arm or money power the Unborn
ineradtcable sentiments of the human
heart. against him are the eternal prin-
ciples of truth. justice and equality.
which Is God. Woe to that man or to that
party which ignores these principles
whether dealing with Puerto Rice, Cuba
or Luzon."