New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-09

speech which he made in the Senate near the end OF
trine OF unlimited power over Territories. On the
of his Mr. one Webster snd upon the
very proposition involved in this bill On the go
AN arbitrary government may have Territorial
In distant possessions because an as
by different laws and different systems. Russia
Kamtschkatka by different codes or ukases we
can do no such thing They must be OF us-paiEt
progress what is 70 disfigure and deform the Const
is likely to turn the Constitution under Which we
live into a deformed monster-into curse. rather
eminent, not founded on popular representation.
think if it go on-for there Is great danger that
1t will go on-that this Government will be broken
The, territories with which the courts have dealt
have been In the main vast thny inhabited
circumstanees they have shown themselves SO care
il upon an smaller than that of Connecticut
they had been called upon to deal with popula,
time Of tn. Revolation7 Il IS .noohesiysble that
no have been e9en more e strensy asserted
tainly against the denial Of those monuments OF
, ment i' stands isD'''S iOi WINS"
/ do not think the stipuatons of the treaty Of
cession are entitled to weight in deciding the ques-
ton. If 1t be conceded that the rules and reguia.
to the Of He could
well be held that the % eoR Swses
by treaty as that they could be enagged over s the
n
treaty above tie Constitution and makes IT the
supreme law of the land II that instrument can an
set aside as to all: The President and two-thirds
of the Senate would only have to secure the con-
sent of a foreign sovereign to abolish the House OF
Representatives, , -,
The United States has acquired Territories In the
aggregate several times in excess OF It's Original
limits and has governed them al under t the COT
may prove that the DISADVANTAGES of applying the
been greatly exaggerated but whether they have
been exaggerated or not, the evils resulting rom
islands will fall far short Of measuring the f dis
tt if n odeP to exercise despoc power
/ recognize our full duty to do our utmost to
o oeGuT new possessi6ns But regard It
gu that our brorH that rsedom does
not follow the flag Is it not 0 clear tha S t tne
tortion and robbery than ever disgraced India?
THE MINORITY REPORT
The minority report is signed by all the
Democratic members of the Ways and Means
Committee and Representative Newlands, the
Silver member. 1t says IN part:
The undersigned members of the committee are
unable to agree with the conclusions of the commit
tee in respect to the bill reported to Teguase .ns
respectfully submit our views as follows: :. .on-
The bill raises two questions, which must De con-
First-The right or power under written Con-
secondEWhether, if we have the power. should
Congress exercise it in the manner provided IN the
The bill is framed upon the idea and the assump:
Puerto Rico unrestrained by the provisions of the
Constitution.
The report then takes up the constitutional
provision that all duties ETC.. shall be uniform
throughout the United States" and presents de-
cisions that the term United States has uni
versaI application territory held. Proceed
ing, the report says:
II the position taken by the majority of the COM
mittee in
the correct one and Congress has the power to
of the limitations of the Constitution it must fol-
low that Congress- is not restrained by that in
duties the minerals and ores of the Territories
Alaska, the lumber of Oklahoma. and on all other
products of these Territories. when imported into
importations of products of every kind into the
Territories from the States or any one of them
claimed in our land It is Wholly inconsistent with
the theory and form OF our Government Line eX
ism. And against 1t we enter our most solemn
territory as a political dependency and subject to
unequal taxation Our Union is one of States with
blessings of free government rest alike upon all Of
or in the youngest member of the Union, or in the
newest acquired territory. II does not matter IN
under our Constitution with the object of finally
being admitted into the Union as state. In sup
Court are uniform and in harmony with the doc
Why was it the people of that island so gladly
welcomed General Miles and the armies of the
United States in July 1898 when they invaded their
territory and struck down the power of Spain?
Was it because they believed that as the
shackles of Spain stricken from them they
were to be admitted to the immunities and bless
ings of our liberal institutions, as well as our en-
lightened civilization? We told our soldiers
were hailed as redeemers.
After calling attention to the Presidents re-
cent recommendation for the abolition of all GUS
toms duties between Puerto Rico and the United
States and the report of the Secretary of War to
the same effect, the report concludes as follows
We do know why these sudden changes have
occurred. We cannot believe that the President has
been converted from the opinion he lately
pressed that he now admits the unwiSdom of the
Solemn advice he recently gave to Congress
We are not advised that his opinion hastily
formed and that he has not maturey considered the
subject upon which he advising us.
We do not believe the people of this land. ardenty
attached they are to our free institutions,
be brought to favor policy which Expresses the IN
habitants of territory owned by the United States
anywhere, and over which the flag of the Republic
floats, even If such policy should in a de-
gree to enrich some citizens of the Union. We pro-
policy which makes this Republic take the place OF
the ruthless monarchy Spain in despoing Puerto
Rico now a portion of the United States
We recommend that the pending bill do not pass.
JAMES d. RICHARDSON.
CLAUDE "A. SWANSON,
FRANCIS G. NEWLANDS.
S. NJ ROBERTSON.
GEORGE b. MCCLELLAN.
S. B. COOPER.