The evening times., 1900-04-04


II is hardly to be supposed that the Ad-
ministration is much surprised n the tore
OF the leading American papers today. It
has had ample notice that Tersistspse in
the Porto Rican iEfamy woulG bring dOV n
upon its head the unqualified denuncia-
tions Of almost all respectable RepuDH an
newspapers in the country. That notice
has been acted upon. and the character Of
editorial comment. especially in the Mid lie
West and Northwest ought to be pointed
and bitter enough to fill the White House
and the Hanna headquarters with dismal
'forebodings.
The Presidents own organ in ca .cago.
conducted by his particular friue5. Koh'-
saat. this morning told him plainly that
the American people will not sIner the
oblOquy this bill casts en- their honor and
good faith to be perpetrated with impu-
nifty a1d adds. warniugIy: If tn Pepub-
lican majority permits it. there Sc. be a
reckoning with the Republican parry By
Republicans next November" other lead
ing journals long connected with the or
gsnization speak with equal Independence
and indignation.
In any ordinary Circums .ances neither Mr.
Mckinley nor even Mr. Hanna would feel
like turning a deaf ear 10 such a universal
remonstranec as has developed against their
course IN regard 20 Porto Rico. Under most
conceivable conditions it would be easy
to suppress the second Magoon opinion.
and fall back upon the first which declared
that the Constitution extended TO Porto
Rico when American sovereignty did. Then
the party leaders in the House could be
quietly told to Kill the Payne Foraker bill
and reintroduce and pass the abandoned
Payne free trade plain du -" bill. In
fortunately the situation is complicated
by deal. which was well explained by a
Republican representative 10 a reporter r
the Washington Evening Star." The in
tormsnt was quoted as saying that IL did
not matter how great a popular outcry
might be raised against the iniquity the
Administration would do everything possj-
bic to enact it into law. since upon such a
result depended an enormous contribution
to the Republican corruption fund He
was satisfied that the leaders Of his party
considered it vastly more necessary to get
hold OF that money, than at this time t1
placate public sentiment. no matter how
widespread or vindlctiye il might appear.
In view Of known and indeed obvious
conditions. IL is reasonable to assume that
the party lash will be applied With indus
try and force to the backs Of Representa-
uves who are in any danger Of being in
huenced by conscience. or the wishes or
protests Of their constituents. The Job
may be tough one but perhaps not much
more so than that which Hanna has per
formed in the Senate. Although numbers
Of House Republicans thoroughly realize
that, in voting to perpetuatc the uncon-
stitutional tariff outrage on Porto Rico.
they Will be attending their political flu
nerals, We can see no reason for doubling
that. when called upon to do 50. they viii
walk into the trust pen and be counted.
ds they have without apparent shame On
previous occasions.
The probabilities are that their sacrifice
by their masters and overseers in the
shambles Of injustice to Porto Rico. will
result in but the smallest and briefest
advantage to the benefciaries of the crime.
The New York Herald" has begun a
movement, which, possibly, may settle the
constitutional status OF the island within
the next sixty days. 1t has hired a Porto
Bican, under contract entered into at San
Juan, to perform labor in New York. The
custom house authorities have refused en-
try TO this person. on the ground that he
is an alien contract laborer. A writ OF
habeaS corpus has been SUED out in the
United States Circuit Court. alleging that
the detained Porto Rican is not an
alien. but a citizen of a territory
which is a part of the United States. and
hence, is a citizen Of the United States
Civil suits-as attempts to reach the tri-
bunal Of last resort for decision on the
right to collect duties on domestic com
meree-are susceptible OF being DELAYED
for months II not yesrs-at any rate until
after the Presidential election But habeas
corpus proceedings are privileged. have the
right OF way. and must be heard The
power OF the administration to obstruct
and delay them is nearly nil. 1t is believed
that the Herald" case will be be-
fSre the Supreme Court before the middle