The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-17
TEN PAGES TODAY.
A TROUBLESOME DECISION.

The decision OF Federal court at st.
Paul to the plain effect that the constitu-
tion follows the flag has thrown the
president of the United States and his
revolving satellites into confusion.
Driven into a hole which they can neither
close up nor draw in after them, they
stick their startled heads out into the open
and with the game sort OF cowardicc that
makes the small boy whistle as he ira
verses stretch of spook-infested forest
exclalm In unison OF Judge Lochren's de-
cieion: '1t is nero obitur dlctum.'
Admit that Judge Lochren's decision is
"mere obitur dictum" what is the admin
istratlon's attitude with respect to It? Is
Il primarily ono Of harmony or OF oppo-
sition2
Let the record answer.
Who does not recall the presidents mes-
sage in December that at is our plain
duty to extend free trade to Puerto Rico?''
Who has forgotten Secretary Roots un-
qualified Endorsement OF that discarded
governmental formula? Who has ceased
to remember General Miles pleasing but
meaningless declaration made under the
advice and with the consent OF the presl-
dent to the Puerto Ricans themselves,
that their country was part of the United
States and that the privileges and bene-
factions of our constitution fell upon them
as upon American ctizens2 Who does
not boar in mind that tho president wrote
that famous December message after con-
sultation with Judge Magoon OF the war
department in which that worthy took
the identical position but recently en-
braced in tho decision handed down by
Federal Judge Lochren at st. Paul.
But then a great change was In store
for the president and his official retrnue
What influence stood behind the scenes
and prompted that shameless and indie
feasible changer An influence WEIGH this
administration stands pledged to defend
and abide. and compressed within the sell
hsh interests of the OIL sugar. tobacco
and rum trusts.
This influence whispered something into
the Machievellian ear Of the chief magls-
trate and his official coterle with Me-
phistophelian cunning and what was the
result7
The constitution did not follow the
Gav II was not our plain duty to estab-
lish free trade between the island OF
Puerto Rico and the mainland of the
United States. Miles had spoken with
out authority. Root delivered himself
prematurely. Magoon had to revise his
law an6 change his opiniop--not once but
twice.
Meantime the president has given It out
that there should be no halt until the
courts should pass upon the proposition
OF whether or not the constitution ex-
tended TO acquired territory. This was a
cowardly dodge and an lmbeclle bluff. as
subsequent events have shown to the sat-
isfaction of every non-partisan and hon
est judgment.
The Jorg Cruz case afforded an oppor-
tunity to test the proposition. So did the
Baez cases in Puerto Rico. Tho FIRST was
avoided by releasing the allen contract
aaborer." This second was knocked into
limbo by pardonlng the criminals.
Now. Judge Lochren's decision has been
ignored with the complacent declaration.
upon the part OF trust controlled and
manipulated administration. that sit is
more obitur dictum"
No more perhdious chapter has been
written in American history than that
which covers the administrators dealings
with Puerto Rico, Shall the American
people endure TT Certainly not II they are
wise and demand administrative integrity
and the eafety of our system of eoustl-
tutional government