The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-10
a QUESTION FOR THE SUPREME
COIRT.

The remarkable change OF front OF the
| President and the majority in Congress
| on the Porto Rican tariff question has
amazed the whole country. There is no
doubt that when the President sent mis-
message to Congress in December he was
| in favor Of free trade for Porto Rico. He
! said in that message. our plain duty is
TO abolish all customs tariffs between
the United States and Porto Rico, and
give her products free access to our mar
kets" Now he is in favor Of putting a
tariff on Porto Rican products coming
to our markets. What caused the Presi-
dent TO change his position? Clearly the
protective sentiment in the Republican
party. The protectionists said TO him that
free trade for Porto Rico meant free trade
for the Philippines. 1t meant also the
bringing Of the cheap labor Of the Phil
ippines into composition with the labor of
the United States.
The President had not looked a the
tariff question in all Of its bearings when
he wrote his annual message to Con-
gress What he said in favor OF free
trade with this country for Porto Rico
in that document was what he thought
ity of the American people
Now. however. he sees that TO grant free
trade with this country to Porto Rico
would practically establish the doctrine
that the constitution extends itself-that
is that the constitution follows the flag
and that the Philippines would be enti-
tied 10 free trade with the United States
But free trade for the Philippines would
mean the bringing Of the cheap labor of
those islands into competition with the
labor OF this country. In other words. one
Of the strongest props which support the
Republican party would be removed-the
prop of protection 1t is not TO be Won
dered at that the President faced about
on he Porto Rican tariff question as soon
as he saw the direction in which mis- pol
icy Ct free trade with Porto Rico was lead
ing him.
But when he faced about he was met by
strong opposition from within his own
party, as well as from the Democratic
party. Leading Republican papers in the
West told him that his change on the
Porto Rican tariff question would prevent
his denomination, and might cause the de
feat of the Republican party in the presi-
Dental contest. Even ex-President Harri7
son came out in an interview in which
he said that the Republican party was
making a mistake in not sticking to its
first position.
The President has been trying every
way to stay the current of public senti-
ment that has been running against him
He even went so far as to recommend
that the duties collected on Porto Rican
products be used for the benefit of the
Porto Ricans That recommendation has
been accepted by the House and will be
probably by the Senate, but the Presi-
dent does not dare to go back to his first
position, that of free trade for Porto
Rico He now says that the question as
to whether Porto Rico is entitled to free
trade with this country without any leg
islation, that is whether the constitution
extends itself to our insular possession
is one for the Supreme Court. If that trib-
unal should decide against him. the Re-
publican party would advocate giving
up the Philippine Islands. 1t would never
consent, the President says, to the cheap
ing in competition with the products of
the well paid labor of this country.
There is another thing to be considered
! in connection with this Porto Rican tariff
question. 1t is the trade with China. The
| Secretary of State recently secured as
| surances from those nations which have
established spheres Of influences in China
that the open door policy should prevail
in the Chinese territory controlled by
them. That was on the understanding
however that the open door policy should
prevail in the Philippines, that is, that
| there should be no discriminating duties
II our tariff laws must be the same in
the Philippines as they are in this coun-
| try then there can be no such a thing as
the open door policy for us in China
! England, Germany, France and Italy
would not permit us to trade in theil
| spheres of influence in China on equa
terms with them unless we permitted tc
them the right to trade with the Philip.
pines on terms equally as favorable. That
we could not do If the constitution re-
quires the same customs laws at Manila
as at New York.
IL Is DIoDaple tlat IL the PRESIDENT anC
The Republican leaders could have fore
seen the trouble the Philippines would
bring their party they would never have
insisted on having those islands. The
President would not have been so anx-
ious to have it written in history that he
was instrumental in adding the Philippine
| archipelago to the domain of the United
| States.