New-York tribune., 1900-04-12

teal justice to the people Of that island which
will be better appreciated when its actual accom-
plshnent is seen. 1t gives substantial free trade
and the fullest opportunity for the development
of the commerce and industries of the people,
while placing the necessary burden Of local tax
alton on the exporters and importers who at
present can best carry ii. Any attempt to extend
the Constitution TO the island and secure abso-
Lutte free trade would have involved internal
revenue exactions much larger than the tariff
imposes and their collection from people less
able 10 meet them and also less directly affected
by the coming revival of prosperity. The bill
also gives TO Puerto Rico itself the opportunity
to adopt another fiscal and revenue system OF
its own soon as 1t may desire Those who
have asked absolute free trade a measure of
fairness and humanity toward Puerto Rico have
achieved the essentials Of their wish, and if the
welfare of Puerto Rico their real concern
they should be satisfied. All that they have not
won is the extension of the Constitution and the
practical guarantee of future Statehood not
merely to Puerto Rico, but to the Philippines.
Those who want to bungle our administration in
the East will make great outcry, but advocates
of free trade who really want to know the truth
may reasonably watch with patience the work
ing of law which, except for the constitutional
principles involved, is not much different from
what they asked for. And they should do the
Republicans in Congress the justice to remem-
her that they voted contrary to a strong and
hysterical outcry even among their own parti-
sans. Certainly they were not trucking or
keeping their ears to the ground. but trying to
solve new problem of government as wisely
they knew how in the face of misrepresentation.
Y these politicians are bad as their detrac-
tors say they would not be voting for unpopular
measures, trusting to sober second thought and
the results of their work to justify them.
For weeks the opponents Of the Puerto Rican
bill have been triumphantly proclaim1ng that
The Tribune was the only important newspaper
in the country which favored legislation for the
island as a separate estate. Thai not quite
true for The Tribune had the valuable support
of several prominent Republican papers East
and West But, having borne the brunt Of the
abuse and been made the centre of attack with
little editorial aid, The Tribune may be par
GoneG if ia thc hour Of victcry il ta&es pride in
a work the responsibility for which it did not
shirk in the hour of fighting From the first
The Tribune proclaimed that the annexed isl
ands must be governed justly ana for the vel
fare of their own inhabitants, according to their
differing needs, and not exploited by American
adventures as future States OF involved In
domestic politics. We have steadily urged &
separate tariff for Puerto Rico merely as a
precedent and test of constitutional powers not
at all as q measure OF protection. NOW, Wnen a
practical free trade measure. without vestige
of protection, is passed which does establish
that precedent and prepare the way for wise
and free handed dealing with the Philippines,
The Tribune has reason to rejoice and to feel
that it had large share in bringing about the
happy result, though it had to face fatuous de-
mands for protection, thoughtless official recon-
mendations TO the President and artfully nurt-
ured sentimental panic among the people.