Evening journal., 1900-03-17
TARIFFS FOR OUR ISLANDS.


Vital for the welfare Of American la
Dor, American manufactures, American
products and producers, is the question
Of the absolute right Of Congress toI
legislate concerning the acquired is
lands. It is indispensable that the con
stituuonalpower to levy tariffs upon In
coming Philippean products at United
States home ports and upon United
States products exported to our is
lands be established beyond cavil.
There can be no doubt as to this right
las there can be no doubt that it is a
duty 70 subject island products to a
tariff when imported. Nevertheless. the
democrats have, for political purposes.
raised the question and it must be
promptly settled.
The president is anxious to relieve
Porto Rico by giving 1t free trade; but
seeing that such a course if adopted
now without first establishing our
right and power, and demonstrating
our disposition to protect our home
labor from cheap island labor would
leave the free trade democrats a pos
sible opening to demand free trade for
all the islands upon plea Of Integral
part he consented TO have the power
to lay tariff upon our island products
established by the Porto Rico bill levy
ing a tariff OF Is per cent. Of the Ding
ley rates, for two years, and appropri-
ating the money for benefit Of Porto
Rico.
Such a course is at once sound states
manship, good politics. wise care fol
American labor interests and generous
charity for an afflicted. distressed ano
suffering people
The New York Mail and Express has
the following clear and strong articl,
upon these phases Of the matter:
THE case is a very simple one Tn,
president made his recommendation
last December to give Porto Rico's pro
duets free access to our markets be
cause he believed it was right and best
considering the condition OF that is
land, and not because it was require,
by the Constitution. He has no
changed that view. II that were thu
sole principle involved, we are author
lied to say he would insist upon /
though he stood alone. Since his rec
ommendatiCn, however, another prin
ciple has been invoked involving tn
NEST vital question connected with tn
whole matter Of our new territoria
possessions. The president believes tina
Congress has the constitutional powe
70 levy duties upon the products of III
new territorial acquisitions
This is denied. especially by demo
Gratis. If they can prevent its asser
ton; still more, if they can have sue
action by Congress as denies its exist
ence, then they can go to the countr
with the argument that the administra
tion has. by its policy, ACQUIRED ne'
populations untitled for statehood ve
claiming the rights Of full citizenshi
and the right to inundate our market
with their products free from custom
duty, thus impairing the value Of on
own labor by competition with n
cheapest labor in the world
"The question, therefore, is not b.
tween a principle and an expediency.
Is a question between two principle
one Of them fundamental. II Is b
tween asserting one Of them in the II
terest OF Porto Rico alone, or the 9th
in the interest of the whole count
now and hereafter. In the latter ca
any departure from the right constit
tional principle cannct be rcctiiied. al
the damage done Will be irremediabl
Not single step, once taken, can