Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-03-30

Washington, March 30.-The confer
ence report on the diplomatic consular
appropriation bill was agreed to by the
senate soon after it convened Consid-
Grafton of the Porto Rican tariff and
government bill was then resumed
MIR. Beveridge und.) addressed the
senate in support of the proposition for
free trade between the United States
and the island of Porto Rico. Mr.. Bev-
eridge opened his argument with strong
declaration of the right of congress, UNI
der the constitution, to deal with the
newly acquired islands as their different
conditions and changing needs demanded.
Mr.. Beveridge took broad grounds He
said the issue Joined in this debate i'll
volved the power and progress Of the re-
public throughout all it's future. If con-
gress had not free hand in dealing with
new territory, he said, it might be i'm
possible to hold such territory. To treat
Porto Rico as we treat Hawaii and to
deal with Hawaii as we deal with the
Philippines and to apply to all without
delay the same fixed formula of laws
which custom and the intention of state
hood had prescribed for the territories
from which our states were formed. he
declared to be proposition as mad as it
was novel.
Mr.. Beveridge then discussed at con-
siderable length the constitutional phases
of the question and said:
1.-The principle of the free hand, Of the
liberty of our common sense, of the dis
erection of our best thought, means that
in Porto Rico we may adopt free trade if
that is best; in the Philippines tariff, if
that is best: in Hawaii a territorial form
Of government, if that is best, as the sit
uation of each possession and the welfare
of its people and the people of the United
States may suggest. And there is no
business in the world that would not run
into bankruptcy on any other plan.
"Not Only IL Matter of Duty"
"Reciprocity with Porto Rico is not
only matter of duty; it is a measure of
economic wisdom. 1t is the reciprocity
for which the great statesmen of the re-
public have planned and toiled And it
is reciprocity not with foreign country,
but with our own possession. 1t is a
reciprocity of nature. Porto Kican prod
ucts supply what we need and cannot so
well produce; we supply what Porto Rico
needs and cannot as well produce. 1t is
reciprocity decrced by natural laws to
which our acts must in the end conform.
1.-The reciprocity recommended by the
president in his first message gives US an
experiment in colonial administration.
right ut the outset, that is absolutely in
valuable and that will not occur again;
an experiment that cannot iniure us, and
yet reveals all the results of reciprocal
exchange of products between us and our
own possessions as completely as if that
course had been pursued as to all.
"ireat and Hateful as this reason is,
there is another charged with yet more
destiny determining consequences. 1t
is the effect Of our action on the Latin
American-the Spanish mericnnm mind,
over which our influence has been grow
ing for quarter Of Il century and which
the welfare of the republic requires shall
become dominant and controlling 1t has
been the dream of American statesmen
for three-quarters of IL century to make
the great republic the friend and pro-
tcctor of the weaker South American
republics. until finally the colors of our
flag might intertwine with theirs, the
symbol of mutual trust. mutual affection,
mutual trade. mutual prosperity and
mutual defense. Into deeds this great
thoughts do grow. and must. until Pan
American congresses actually convene
beneath the stars and stripes and the
bureau of American republics is part
of the machinery of our progressive gov
eminent.
'This great advantage. this long foster
cd influence in South America, we pro-
pose to foster still. We have appropriate
al, .i,,
by the president. We will adopt Il civil
government and reciprocal trade And
thus. by a generosity without precedent,
we establish forever our friendship with
all latin America. which Republican
statesmen have so long. so patiently and
SO painfully been erecting. We heed the
past. We open our eyes to the future. we
accept the lamp for our feet which Gods
great goodness has given us"
Views of GIadstOne's Son