The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-22
PUERTO RICO ASKS FOR HONEST
TREATMENT.


There seems to be decided inclination
on The part of some Of the members OF
the United States senate to dodge the
Puerto Rico tariff question altogether,
and TO leave the question untouched I'M
til after election. They feel that they
are in a dilemma, and whatever action
they take will result Unfavurably to their
party in the fall campaign Their idea
is for congress to do nothing. and 10
leave to President Mckinley the task Of
providing some temporary means for reg
ulating the trade between the island and
the United States.
The news of this sad condition Of af-
fairs has created CONSERVATION in Puerto
Rico, and on March 10 a meeting was
held at San Juan. at which 1900 people
are said TO have been present aid petit
ton adopted praying for aid and setting
forth the lamentable conditions existing
in the island. This petition has BEEN
forwarded to Washington, and. among
other things. it contains the following:
''Ffrst-The CONSERVATION into which
the business community in general has
been thrown on account Of recent cabled
news from the United States setting
forth the negative attitude OF the senate
as regards the tariff question.
''SeCond-The utter inability OF the ISL
and to hold out much longer under eX-
listing conditions. as the senate'S delay
in coming to a decision on the tariff sim
ply aggraVates the almost absolute state
of penury throughout the Island
'Third-The urgent necessity of a final
settlement Of the question as a means Of
saving to their owners, mostly men of
small means, the sugar and tobacco
crops, which would pass under the con-
troll Of spectators II no conclusion should
be reached, this being the time for plant
ing new crops. and failure to act
most prejudcial results.
"FOurth-The distress and alarm that
are daily more harrassing in all branches
a fixed and definite standard for trans
actions. and the grave apprehensiOns as
to the future now so generally enter
| tained by all merchants"
The blessings of American rule and
freedom from the tyranny of Spain do
not as yet appear to be highly appre-
ciated by the Puerto Ricans: and their
condition is not calculated to Inspire con-
fidence in American institutions and the
present government In the minds Of The
people of the Philippine islands
The third clause of the petition should
effectually set at rest the false claim,
! set forth by the Republican congressman
who voted for the tariff bill in the house
of representatives, that the sugar and
tobacco crops are controlled by tho
trusts. and that. therefore. the trusts
oOtJI lIxr
ing to favor the imposition of a tariff
These crops. so the petition states. are
in the hands Of the owners, men Of small
means, and to save them from the nav
of the trusts prompt legislation Is nec-
essary. The welfare Of the island, the
very existence of its commerce., depends
upon the enactment Of permanent gis-
lation, not the passage Of temporary
| measures. The trusts may be expected
| to favor the plan Of no legislation as the
| next best thing for their greedy inter-
ests to the imposition of a tariff. Under
either plan the tobacco and sugar crops
OF the island will be placed in the hol-
low OF their hands.
Inc Only HOnOfdDIe course, the only
patriotic course for congress to take ia
to extend to the Puerto Ricans all the
benefits and privileges Of the United
States constitution. This must be done
if the pledges given and the promises
made by Gen. Miles. Gen. Davis and
President Mckinley are to be faithfully
kept. The honor OF the government anG
of the nation is involved in this. and IL
good faith is not kept with the people
of this island, the effect upon the people
in the other new possessions Of the
United States will be deplorable. The
evasion of the question involved in The
proposition of Senator Beveridge is sim
ply playing fast and loose with the hon
| or of the country, and if the dictates OF
| honor. the sacredness Of solemn prom
| ises, the voice and wish Of the people are
| to be ignored, and congress is to fol-
low the dictates of the great trusts and
monopolies, there is no doubt the people
will wreak their righteous wrath upon