The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-15
Circulation Statement.
The opprcssion of Porto Rico.


not We. organized-marched in procession
from an interior point, thirty miles 10 San
Juan. headed By an emaciated woman car
rying an American flag. II took these poor
pilgrims two days to accomplish the jour
ney. during all of which time they we're
without food. Their object in thus drag
ging their dying bodies across the country
was to reach the presence of the Imperial
Procousul Allen, and beg him for bread or
work.
The promptness with which the Crown
Governor met these people and promised to
let them break stone on the Government
roads, on terms to be settled by the New
York contractor. is evidence enough if we
were without any other, of the alarm occa-
stoned in Administration circles BIZ this
formal Inauguration of the Porto Rican
bread or work movement. No people in the
world are as easily reached and convinced
by object lessons as are the American Peo-
Die. Already they know teo much about
the causes of distress in our tyrannized
West Indian possession. not to recognize
tire outrage put upoa its unfortunate inhao-
itants for the benefit of the sugar, to5acco,
rum. and perhaps one or two other trusts.
and without which the former would te
prosperous and not starving.
When the people of Porto Rico gladly
hailed and Loyalty accepted cur flag ana
sovereignty. they were promised the full
enjoyment of American liberty and Aneri-
can institutions. Up to February OF TIE
present year. there is no doubt that Presi-
dent Mckinley supposed this pledge was
10 be fulfilled. After careful study CT the
subject, aided by the written opinions of
his legal advisers. and after securing the
views of leading constitutional lawyers. lie
had reached the definite conclusion thar.
with the ratification of the Peace Treaty
with Spain. Porto Rico bscame an inteyl al
part OF the United States. and that tie
Constitution of the United States there
upon instantly extended over the Island
ex proprio vigore. In his annual message.
transmitted 10 Congress in December, 1889.
he declared it to he our plain duty to
give free trade to Porto Rico. and in pun
suance OF that declaration the Republican
Chairman OF the House Ways and Means
Committee introduced bill TO give it ef-
feet. Serene E. Payne was the author and
introducer OF the measure, and he ex-
planned it TO pro-monopoly consti -uent IS
a necessity, since free trade between the
various parts of the United States had been
accorded to all the other States and Ter
ritories, and to Alaska, not yet organized
into Territory"
II free trade had not been an obvious
right of Porto Rico in its new political r.
lation, under the clear mandate OF the
Constitution. it would have been demanded
by every consideration of justice and de-
ceney. By Wrestling Cuba and Porto Rico
from Spain We absolutely destroyed the
profitable trade which Porto Rico previous
ly had carried or with the other colony AMI
the home country. We deprived the Porto
Rican producers Of their old markets, AID
then shut them out OF ours by means of
the Dingiey tariff. This condition Mr.. Nc
Kinley originally proposed to have RENE
died by Congressional action, although, If
he had chosen. he might have accomplished
the same thing by executive proclamation.
Ratification OF the Treaty of Paris made
Porto Rico constitutionally part of this
are parts of it, and it was only necessary
for the President to announce the fact Off
cially TO end the matter.
He chose to Dodge that opportunity and
duty. and 10 throw the responsibility upon
Congress. But no sooner was the Payue
free trade bill before the House than the
representatives Of the trusts which mon
ID
with those produced in Porto Rico,
swooped down upon the White House. and
the yellow house inhabited by Hanna,
swearing that. unless tariff barrier were
erected against Porto Rico. in spite of
pledges, or Of justice, or OF the prohibit
tive provision Of the Constitution, there
would be no Republican campaign con-
tributions in 1900 representing oil, sugar,
tobacco. or rum. Then it was that the
Administration turned tail and ran. Our
plain duty" was at once violated and the
fundamental law of the land defed IN an
order to the trust and monopoly creatures
in Congress to prepare and jam through
the hypoeritieal and despicable Payne
FORAKER Porto Rican tariff bill 1t was
done and starvation in Porto Rico is the
net result. The law. while IL pretends
10 make great concession from maxi
mum Diagiey rates. yet places the pro-
hibitlon OF Porto Rican productions high
enough so that the native farmers can
not sell their raw materials at a profit,
and so that the Island cigar and cigar
cite manufacturing industry is utterly
destroyed. That the fiscal system thus
imposed upon them is wrong on grounds
OF economy and equity IS self-evident,
and the outrage becomes the more fla
grant and intolerabie when it is remem-
bered Il is being inflicted upon an Ameri-
people innocent of any wrong. In fiat
eentrayention Of the Constitution
The authors of this inhumanity pretend
that the constitutional question in the
connection Is only moot question But,
in using every available trick and delice
10 proven. it from coming before the
Supreme Court. they have shown that
they recognize the untenableness of their
position. and expose their knowledge :hat
the basic constitutional rights of the
Porto Rlcans will be secured to them
whenever a case covering the ground can
be passed upon by the tribunal OF last
resort.
IL addition to the crime OF deliberately