New-York tribune., 1900-01-30
DELIBERATIOY WINNING.

DELIBERATION WINNING.
The disposition TO rush thoughtlessly into
Puerto Rican legislation regardless of the dan
ger of tying the country's hands In dealing with
the other problems of expansion seems TO have
Deen revised. There is a prospect that
Puerto Rico will receive the commercial con-
cesslons to which ii Is entitled. of which no
selfish domestic interests should be permitted
TO deprive it, and at the same time receive them
without any unfortunate committals. either
political or constitutional on the part of the
United States. Reports of Puerto Rican trade
show great falling off in imports and exports
since the end of Spanish domination, and it is
evident that speedy and ample relief must be
given 1t is neither specific interest nor the
general protective policy that specially needs
safeguarding. What is required is that law
makers shall stop to think of all sides of the
question. and shall avoid doing by careless,
sweeping legislation things which they would
not do Of specific intent. and which they do not
need to do to accomplish their real present
object. The danger has been the same one
which was with so much difficulty averted just
before the Spanish war. when many influential
persons. carried away by sentimentality, We're
bent on recognizing the Cuban republic We
think that everybody is now agreed that this
would have been an act of folly In due time
Cuba may be Independent, but what an almost
unendurably troublesome time would the United
States have had in intervening and then bring
ing order out Of chaos hampered by such a rec
ogntion!
The Tribune does not believe that Puerto
Rico or the Philippines ever ought to be in
cluded among the States OF the Union. 1t be-
lieves that their life and conditions and inter-
estS so different from our own that the at
for rnT1f IN f1o wit tbpir
aid would be fraught with grave consequences.
1t believes that since events have forced us to
concern ourselves with outside possessions we
should carefully devise a system for governing
each according to its needs, with the utmost
freedom for its local development and with
avoidance of all attempts to control it for our
benefit rather than its own But at the same
time we should not make them "rotten bor
oughs" and centres of political intrigue. There
is nothing unrepubcan in this. Are Canadians
slaves because they are under the British flag,
yet not part of Great Britain? Are residents
in British crown colonies, who are not able to
carry on a semi-independent government like
Canada lacking in any of the rights of free
men, that they may not hold UP their heads
before all men, or that British statesmen need
make any apology because of them in claiming
to be the administrators of as free country as
there is in the world?
But even people who are carried away by
sentimental notions about liberty, like our
ligious neighbor The Independent" which is
rhetorically indignant at The Tribune for saying
our new possessions should not be looked upon
as future States-even they, unless they wish
to take snap judgment and to commit the cOun-
try to an absorption policy in the dark, ought
to be content to go slow about extending the
Constitution to new territories. In marking
them for States a matter of course, and de-
carlng that any other disposition of them would
babbling names instead of facing facts. A gov
ernment is justified by its results and its fitness
for the time and place of it's existence not by
the label that theorists give it. Those who take
a reasonable view of government a machine
for practical ends, and not as a text for gushing
philosophy on humanity and liberty. ought to be
glad to see the policy of the Nation develop
gradually, even if they hope some day TO see
island States If Puerto Rico were found some
day fit for Statehood, separate laws made
now would stand in the way Of Incorporation,
while extension of the Constitution and laws
now would be the preiudgment of the question.
Turning back would be almost impossible. and
denial of like privileges to Cuba other West
India islands and the Philippines would also
be practically impossible Therefore it has been
important to start right and hasten slowly We
have a great and troublesome problem before
us. It is a work new to the American people,
and they must feel their way to its solution,
and not go at it headlong and on impulse.