The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-17

A column and a half Of Republicans In
the Mankato Free Press say they are In
favor of free trade with Porto Rico.
That is, Republican doctrine.-Windom
Reporter.
In this matter of Porto Rican tariff
the Herald Star believes the people are
right ard the Republican congressman
are wrong.-Ortonville Herald Star.
1t (the Porto Rico tariff bil) is a meas
ure which, if passed, the Republican par
ty would find 1t pretty difficult to defend
before the people in the next falls cam
paign.-St.. Cloud Journal Press.
It (the Porto Rico vote1 Is a poor re-
cord made In a bad causes and which
the Republican party in this state will
not hesitate to repudiate at the first op-
portunity.-St- Peter Free Press.
But, waving the constitutional argu-
ment altogether, and even conceding that
it is within the power of congress to
pass the law approved by the house on
Wednesday, the measure is intrinsically
unjust and unwise. 1t is not fair, hu-
name or politically eXpedient to enact H.
A platform of commercial alienation for
the island that came to us with smiling
face and open hands will be a sorry Re-
publican cry in the coming campaign
Winona Republican.
The measure is said to have sufficient
support in the senate to pass it, and the
president, whose course has been that of
faithful party man rather than a
statesman Of conviction and decision, will
sign it.-Albert Lea Times.
It Is possible, Of course, that good men
may vote for the Porto Rican tariff bill
from honest motives, but the appearances
are against the supporters Of the bill.
The benef1ciaries Of 1t are the Tobacco
trust and the sugar trust, and there are
no other benef1ciaries Neither the
bacco trust or the sugar trust are infant
industries, and they neither need or de-
serve the benefits Of q discriminating
tariff. Congress has no more moral
right to discriminate against Porto Rico
than 1t has to discriminate against Ari-
iona or the indian territory, and II this
bill ever becomes q law the men who
make 1t so will have more explaining to
do than Will be comfortable for them
Princeton Union
Porto Rico is now United States terri
tory, as much so as any state in the
Union, and 1t appears to us thai cSElgre~s
has no more authority to levy a reve-
nue. tax on its products that come to us
than 1t has to tax the flour output of
Minnesota that is transported to and
finds a market in New York city; or to
tax the beet sugar that Oxnard makes
in Nebraska and Is transported to some
other state to find a market The prod
ucts of Porto Rico that find a market at
any port Of the United States are simply
transported from one section of the
country to another section, and are not
imported.
So long as the island is territory be-
longing to the United States-and not an
anti-eXpansionist questions our rightful,
lawful and full possess1on-a so-cafled
revenue tariff tax on its products would
be pernicious. and a law levying 1t would
be establishing a precedent that the Re-
publican party cannot afford to sponsor.
Consistency has ever been a boast of
Republicans as to their partys principles,
and the party expects its Representative
in congress to be consistently Republican
as to their official acts. 1t would not be
consistent TO annex the island and then
levy tariff on its products, as though It
were g foreign" country or territory of
foreign power. Neither Is the proposi-
ton to compromise as the amount of the
tax levied. The Republican party has
never yet Compromised on a wrong
It Is too old to do SO now.-olue Earth
Post.
If the Republicans wish to spike the
guns of the ants who are devoting all
their time to shouting imperialism at
the administration they should give our
new island possessions the same free
trade which exists between the states of
the Union. Any departure from this
will be really the establishment of a col5-
NAL policy-imperial with all It's faults
and aknesses.-Princeton Union.
Give everybody under the American
flag the same trade rights is Republican
doctrine, 1t Is the presidents and the
secretary of wars recommendation, and
It is what the people of Minnesota want
Window Reporter.
Porto Rican planters, merchants and
manufacturers have protested against
the tariff bill recently passed by the
| house. If President Mckinley hopes to
be renominated and elected he can Tot
afford to assist in passing that very I'M
popular measure through the senate. Let
him stand by his message and previous
declarations In favor of free trade with
Porto Rico If he cares for the success
of the Republican party. and he certainly
| must, in the approaching campaign
Lanesboro Journal.
Even The presidents open support of
the Porto Rico tariff bill would not rec
oncile the people to 1t now. He has had
his say, and he cannot have another
guess. His first impulse was right, and
the public applauded; If he has recon-
sidered and changed his attitude, ne is
wrong, and 1t viii be given him to see
that he is wrong.-St. Paul Dispatch. 8
A slight majority of representatives
shame-faced every one and every one in
fear of consequences. passed this brutal