The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-12
THIS Is A PREDICAMENT.
Bede's Budget


In the campaign of 1895 the editor OF
The Budget had the pleasure of address
Ing Republicans in every congressiona]
ulstrlct IN Minnesota, and he talked the
same sentiments everywhere. He didn't
at any time have to consider what dis
trlct ne was In. But this coming fall Il
VIII De so different if the present delega-
tlon In congress are renominated
III the FIRST, Second, Fourth. Sixth and
seventh districts we shall have to whoop
IL up Tor tax on Puerto Rico as the
only means of raising revenue for the ISL
anu ana prove that the sugar and tobac-
co trusts wanted free trade, but, because
OF the wisdom and integrity of the mem
oers from those districts, the trusts Sc
cured only 30 per cent of their demands
we shal nave to show that the president
olon Know anything about the matter
When ne told us our plain duty in De-
cemper' as the members of congress lIa1
peen away from Washington several
months out mat, on their return, he soon
saw that our plain duty" wasn't ths
thing to do at all, and would set a Drec-
edent Tor doing our duty which would b.
rulnous to the republic in the future.
VI course this argument could lie used
only Tor the five congressman ir oues-
tlon- When It came to the matter OF
members of the legislature who are to
support hnute Nelson for the reelection
10 the senate, We should have to excuse
Ihe senator for demanding our plain
duty to Puerto Rico, and show that he
ooesn know anything about public af-
talrs, but, on account Of his nationality
must be reelected for the sake of party
harmony, while the members of the house
aforesaid would continue to save the
country and distribute wisdom around the
capitol.
In the Third and Fifth districts we
should have to demonstrate that a duty
which is plain in December could be
tracked in March, and that the president
was right when he wrote his annual mes
sage. 1t might be shown that he was
coerced by congress into shifting his DO
slt1on for party harmony, but that he
still adhered to his original recommen-
dation 1t would be proper to show that
the sugar and tobacco trusts were in ia
vor of the, tariff, as they feared. if we
let in Puerto Rican products, such act
would be used as a precedent to open
the door for the Philippines and the Ori-
ent The sturdy manhood and unfinch-
ing integrity Of the plain duty congress
men could be used with good effect, and
In their districts no excuse need be Of
Tered for the attitude of Senator Nelson.
And, lest at any meeting some insur-
gent should, In the wickedness of his
heart, cry out, Where's Cush Davis at
IN this Puerto Rican matter2'' we would
have two answers ready and labeled for
their respective districts. In the plain
duty districts we would point to Cush
as the Daniel Webster Of the modern SEN
ate, who clearly perceived his duty. under
the laws, customs and constitution Of our
country, and did 1t without the shadow
Of turning. But in the districts in which
the people are ignorant. and all wisdom
resides in the persons of the nnis.epre-
sentatives, we should inform cur hearers
that, while Cush Davis has some recog-
nized ability, his talents run along mar
row, international lines, 50 that after
Puerto Rico was annexed to the United
states it passed out Of the zone Of his in
tellectual activities. We would show thai
cool-headed person like the senior sen
ater can think only along the $50. hermal
lines OF the temperate zone. and is not ca
pable Of analyzing hot proposition from
the tropics. 1t could also be shown to
the satisfaction of the senator's warmesy
admirers that one who thinks in cont
nents can't see a little insular problem In
the right perspective, and that the very
magnitude Of his mind makes him a blind
leader Of the people.
1t will be seen, therefore, that the Re
publican campaign speaker must be pro
Vided with an enlarged repertoire this
year. He must have at least two speech
es and several codicils, and the party will
be most fortunate if it doesn't find its
work suddenly interrupted by the confu-
sion of tongues.