The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-08
The Republican Spectacle.

Mr.. MeKialey's position in regard to the
attempt TO loot the Porto Ricans for the
benefit Of the oil. sugar, tobacco, and
rum trusts is not any more pleasant or
edifying to contemplate than IL is com
Portable for him. In spite OF inspired de-
mails it is evident that. before the inter
ested magnates made their now historical
descent upon him, and compelled him to
deny bis words, his conscience, and his oath
10 defend the Constitution, no man in
the country was more thoroughly con
WINGED than he that duty and good faith,
As well as the fundamental law OF The
land. demanded that the Illegal eNactions
OF Dingleyism should not be imposed upon
the commerce OF Porto Rico. It is true
that wishing to evade the constitutional
consideration involved, be made his recon-
mendstion to Congress without referring
to the sacred right which the island pos
sessed. under American sovereignty. TO the
relief he proposed. Secretary Root was at
one with the President. and even more
strenuously urged that free trade should
be accorded with as few words as possible.
Both OF these trained and ruseful politi-
clans realized that the little trade with
Porto Rico could not hurt the trusts. BY
permitting it they believed that the con-
stitutional status Of our separated Terrific
ries might be avoided until after the Pres
idential election, and that the Administra-
ton would be able to achieve popularity
through a policy OF apparent equity and
generosity toward a suffering American
community. The White House attitude
was completely illustrated in the Payne
letter OF January "a. in which the Chair
man Of the Ways and Means Committee
declared that Porto Rico was entitled TO
free trade, because that right had been
recognized in the case OF every other
State and Territory. and OF Alaska, not
organized into a Territory"
Under what promises or threats Nj. Nc
Kinley was induced to change his mind it
is not for us 20 say. What is important
in the present connection is that, having
changed IL. he felt compelled to convert
all the Republicans in Congress pos
sessed Of consciences who had followed
him originally to his new way Of thinking
or. at least, acting. Il is notorious that
il took many White House conferences
with Representatives inclined to be hon
est to so depraye them that they would
consent TO save the Payne infamy from
defeat; but success finally crowned the ef-
fort. and great many Republican mem
beers are now sorry that IL succeeded.
From end 10 end Of the country the people
are denouncing this Administration sur
render 10 the trusts, and Representatives
by the dozen who supported the infamous
measure are booked for defeat in the No
vember elections.
To cap the climax Mr.. Mckinley the
gove without the assistance Of whose thun-
Gerbolts Henderson, Payne, Dalzel. and
Cannon would have been helpless 20 jam
the bill through the House, is now with
characteristic righteousness attempting 20
shift an the blame on the legislators WHO
obeyed him and voted for ID under duress
Tie causes 81 90 De advertised that he e.
stilI, as he always was, in favor Of free
trade Tor Porto Rico. and that be only sur
rendered his convictions On the overwte m-
ing demand OF his party in Congress. 4
similar explanation Is made 10 behalf OF
Secretary Root who drew the Payne bill,
but "only because the act was forced upon
him. BY whom2 Il was not Payne or his
followers in the House. Il must have been
the missionaries whose arguments were
SO powerful Eith AIR. Mckinley.
Il happens that the unfortunates who
we're cocrced by the white House into sup
port Of Taessure which their souls and
what is nor, the point-their knowledge
Of political Consequences. ahhorred. are
rlotously minded toward the amiable chief
who is attempting TO make them carry the
bag while he poses as the pure person who