The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-23
Of the Porto Rican Question,
and Expansion Generally
GIVEN BY AN INTERPRETER
As CoIored by Trade and
Religious Considerations.

plain a statement of President McKin-
ley's views which attracted attention all
over the country. MIR. Nelson recently
called on the President, and the country S
colonial problem, now pressing for set
Element, formed the chief tepic of con-
versation. While Mr.. Mckinley never
gives out an interview directly, the fol-
lowing is an Interpretation Of his views
for the accuracy OF which Mr.. Nelson
vouches:
THE President Is sure that he IS TO De
renominated and reelected. No mental
process ever more serenely revealed Itself
than does the Presidents fiappy reflec-
ton on his immediate future. The Pres
ident's self-assurance is impressive and
as convincing as the prideful glow that
/ spreads over the face of a boy who has
been good that day and anticipates the
communication which he thinks is certain
to come.
ut is important that the reader of this
account OF an interview with the Presi-
dent should bear in mind the intellectual
and spiritual condition of Mr.. Mckinley,
his deep consciousness of having done
that which the country VIII accept as
right.
II am to set down here, for the infor-
nation Of those who care to be informed
! on what is happening at a cruical mo-
ment Of the country's history. the con-
illusions which I have drawn from a talk
1 have just had with the President at the
| White House.
:, The talk was interesting and impor-
| tant, and it begun upon the subject of our
relations with the various islands that
have come into our possession from the
war with Spain. There is an immediate
and pressing necessity for coming to
some conclusion as 70 the character Of
the governments which are to be estab-
lished over these places, and the Presi-
| dent feels this more keenly than can be
expected from members of Congress
There are serious conditions in Porto
Rico and in Hawaii. Affairs are going so
badly in the former island that the peo-
pie are suffering sore distress, and the
President is anxious for their relief, know
ing as well as any one can the serious
effect upon our prestige and upon the
reputation OF his own administration that
would follow an instruction against our
authority.
1.-The President believes, and this Is the
most important statement that can pos
sibly be made touching his present be
liefs, that Congress has plenty of power
over Hawaii, Porto Rico, and the Phil
ippines.
He is ready to stand on this view of
the constitution. a view that must en-
gender discussion as to the interpreta-
ton Of the fundamentar law, second in
importance only to that over the ques-
ton as to the constitutional rights of a
state to withdraw from the union
II am quite sure that 1 am stating the
Presidents belief on that Subject. al
though 1 am not sure that he is yet ready
to go into the campaign on the issue, or
that he is quite certain Of judicial sup
port for his view. He has. however.
brought himself to the conclusion that
Congress Is not bound by the limitations
Of the constitutions in legislating for the
islands.
"a change has come over him. The
resolution which made him ruler Of Ha-
wall provided that the laws of the Ha-
waiian republic should apply to the is
lands so far as they did not contravene
the constitution OF the United States.
1t was also provided in the same reso-
luton that the then existing Hawaiian
customs laws should remain in force.
Now the constitution provides that all
taxes within it's Jurisdiction shall be I'M
form. If therefore, the customs laws
had been dealt with on the same princi-
pie that obtainer with other subjects OF
legislation, the United States. tariff must
have attached TO the islands. But Con- /
gress and the President at that tine were
apparently beginning to move toward the !
conclusion which they have now reached |
I'm his annual message Mr. Mckinley |
spoke OF the Hawaiians as entitled 10 the I
rights and principles granted or reserved /
by the constitution. but ne referred only
10 civil and not TO political rights.
AT any rate, ne now holds that Con- /
gTess may pass one tariff law for Porto /
Rico. another for Hawaii. and another 1
for the Philippines. and that all may be 1
different from that % the United States
Il does not appear likely TO his mind that
any one question can ever arise az 70 the /
civil rights Of the people Of these places
Trying 10 describe Mr.. McK!nley's
view On this subject, I find It difficult 70
hit upon Technology that <wlll not be
offensive to him. How are tse islands
and these people 10 be called2 The Is
lands cannot be called Territories. for the
constitution speaks az Territories. and. Of
course. the people are not citizens Il they
are not governed and protected under the
constitution.
But would seem 70 5s critieisiug Hr.
Mckinley II I called them subjects, tnd
I wish simply 70 explain his views fairy
and without comment Perhaps II vii q
5ast 70 refer 70 them a. natives. although
al laws and rules applying 20 natives
mus apply also % American ostizsns re-
siding IN the islands
'sNr McKiniey's attitude. Their. toward
ths natives. IS Benevolent He desires -
elevate than. . educate tAen. ard hs
hopes that IN the ead they WI 5econs
worthy Il being intrssted Eita local ee.f-
government he does not taink airy q
thess natives are WORTHY DOW. except the
few N Hz-zG. up0u Enozn & IS lnssn3ea
% beSto~ the szsfTrsge fsw mare Tran
p1sssss TIE Suffrage gnce- tze Dola gov
e-ansnt
ssfr Mckinley rests bis bel.sf CT tse
sozstl trtsonzl question Of tbs Erosu1s
taken By Senator Ross- He holds taat
he eous-staEsoa Oasy apples 70 q Terri
tory Easn Z = ere O the2e - a treaty
o. leEEsiatlon- T2oa tt4s rosrt fhe-e are .
sutao-.tses 81 rs fzEor, sat re goes - !
yan3 tie anta5-sfsss. a. Senator Hoss
ICES. ard beIds tass Congress - not .
saans ~ the arz1tatious q he eTnsss-