The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-04-05
INDEPENDENCE IN THE SENATE.

Some republican senators are showing
remarkable independence OF the party
lash in their position on the Porto hican
tariff Notable among these are Davis
and Nelson of Minnesota, Beverldge OF
Indiana and Proctor of Vermont. Inc
two last have recently made remarkable
speeches appealing for freedom of trade
between the islanders and this country
The reception accorded Beyeridge's ar-
pument by his colleagues was nothing
less than shabby. Though the galleries
were filled with an audience anxious to
hear what the Young Indianian had TO
say and public interest in his position
was evidently deep, the republican SEN
ators underworld by mere rudeness 10
show their disapproval of him During
the progress Of his speech they got up
in groups and left the chamber others
showed studied inattention by reading
writing and talking, and did everything
possible TO embarass the speaker. What
made their i'll manners all the more hate
ful 10 lovers Of fair play was the TACT
that Mr. Beveridge made his speech
when he did because of the serious H.
ness of his wife, 20 that he could leave
10 attend her rs soon IA possible 1t
was an unpleasant exhibition Of bigotry
and served only to make the speakers
situation painful while adding emphasis
to the importance Of his words
Senator Proctor is an older man than
Beveridge and has been prominent IN
the republican party much longer, and
nerhaps on that account his sentiments
are given more weight His speech was
an earnest appeal without being orator
ical one Of the most remarkable por
tions Of it was that in which he present
ed in parallel statement of the purpose
Of the Porto Rican tariff by one Of its
defenders and "A statement made, not long
before the revolutionary war. of Eng
lands purpose in taxing her North Am
erican colonies 1t was as follows;
Under our measure Porto Rico is to
he taxed, and the island pays both ways
on merchandise which they ship to or
receive from this country. and we have
provided that the amount heretofore or
hereafter so received shall be placed at
the disposal Of the president to be used
for the government now existing, or
which NAV hereafter be established in |
Porto Rico, for the aid and relief of the |
people thereof and for public education |
public works, and other governmental |
and public PURPOSES therein, until 9th
erwise provided by law.
The bill imposing duties on certain
kinds Of merchandise when imported in
10 the colonies, required the payment |
uf such duties to he made in gold and |
silver and ordered them TO he paid into |
the exchequer. where. with the produce !
of all former Parliamentary duties they |
Were 10 be set apart as n separate fund |
10 be- applied under the disposition of
Parliament for deiraying the future
charges Of protecting. defending, and
securing the colonies. ~ Russell's Life |
of Fox, volume |, page 45,
He called for conscientious adjust
ment Of our relations with onr new de
pendency in these words:
We may do many wrong and foolish |
things without violating the constitution |
but 1t does not follow that we must do |
them or ought 10 do them, and claim, |
Ny President, that the plain people, the
sensible honest American people. who |
look at this question from no stand |
point Of interest who are not sugar men, |
nor tobacco men, nor men who have any |
commercial or class interests which it |
is claimed must be placatod by our ac-
tion are the best judges Of what is fair |
and right and honest and that their !
Judgment in the end must and will pre- |
vail If we are not bound by the letter |
Of the constitution we are bound by JUS
tice and humanity to deal with these |
questions in the spirit of American in |
stitutons and American civilization
The people, Mr. President, look uron
this rs n matter Of principle, u question
of good faith aud common honesty; and
their moral sense has been shocked and
the national heart and conscience stirred
10y the fear that this measure of taxation
will Ice adopted by congress.
The people believe ~ the president
did when he wrote in his annual message
that our plain duty is 10 abolish the Gus
toms tariff between the United States
and Porto Rico The people know that
sentence 10y heart and they will repeat
II millions of times within the year from
its dcliyerauce unless we perform what
the president says is our plain duty.
II IL of vital consequence that this
Our first important step in legislation for
our new possessions. should he such rs
to commend itself To the Judgment and
conscience of the American people
The great majority of the American
people regardless of party will heartily
endorse the senator's views
THE Ways and Means committee of