The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1900-02-03
PORTO RIcAN TARIFFS.

"bS UhSNtN tNutEESs
The administration has made Porto
Rico possession OF the United States.
Under the constitution its people are
entitled to the rights and privileges that
are granted the inhabitants OF any terri.
tory not yet admitted as state. TEey
are guaranteed equal and just taxation,
yet the Republican ways and means
committee of'the house proposes to en-
act law fixing discriminating duties
against Porto Rican imports. The action
at the committee partially commits the
Republican party to the doctrine OF
colonial government, q form OF govern
ment against which our iorefaihars
fought when they won American indie
rendenee. And colonial government is
M obnoxious today as it was in the DAYS
al the revolution, whether we apply il to
ourselves or exercise it over Others.
The constitution plainly provides that
customs and revenue laws shall be uni,
form throughout the territory OF the
United States; but the committee takes
the position that Porto Rico is not a part
OF the United States. 1t is either part
Of this country or it is a colony, and CO
lOnial government means imperialism
imperialism means a government with
out the consent OF the governed. We 30
no: believe the people OF this great re
public would fasten upon another people
that which they would fight sgainst
themselves At first the administration
was inclined to give the Porto Ricans
the benefits Of our tariff laws, but great
pressure has been brought TO bear, and
come OF the Republican leaders wish to
have the supreme court pass upon il be-
fore fully committing the party TO the
uncertainties OF an untried policy.
The question has been passed npon BY
TIE supreme conrt. California was in
vaded by Americans, as was Porto Rico
1t was afterwards ,eied by Mexico to
the Cni'ed States, as Porto Rico was
ceded. and, as in the case al Porto Rico,
the question was raised Is TO whether the
territory became at once a part OF the
United States. This question was car
Tied before the supreme court, importers
contending that the tariff laws Of the
United States did not apply to the an
nexed territory. The court in its decis
ion said: "By the ratification oil the
treaty. California became a part OF the
United States, and as there is nothing
differently stipulated in the treaty with
respect 10 commerce, it became instantly
hound AMI privileged by the laws which
congress had passed to raise a revenue
from duties on imports and tonnage"
Article Of the treaty Of peace between
the United States and Spain declares:
Spain cedes TO the United States the
island of Porto Rico and other islands
now under Spanish sovereignty in the
West In4ies, and the island OF Guam in
the Msrianas, or Ladrones." There is
no stipulation as to commerce. There
il no qualification whatever except in
article 10, to the effect that the "inhabi-
tants OF the island shall be secured in
the free exercise OF their religion" In
article 8 it is provided that the civil
rights and political status OF the native
inhabitants Of the island shall he deter
mined by congress-
The treaty gives congress power to
act, but its action must be within the
limits OF the constitution. 1t is very
evident that the Republican party is
placed in an unenviable position. In
favor OF a protective tariff, it is now fac +
ing two problems, either OF which will
make it appear Inconsistent. To bring
the cheap Porto Rican labor into compe- +
iition with American labor upsets its /
protective tariff theories. To treat the .
island as a colony Is un- American and /
unpopular. Which horn OF the dilem- I
ma the party will take is a question .
for the future to solve. Not all OF the
glory OF expansion is in the acquisition
of territory.