The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-04-29
coon DEMocRArIc ARGUMENT.

| GOOD DEMOCRATIC ARGUMENT.
A most interesting explanation has
been made 10 his constituents by Rep
resentative Marion De Vries. of Cal
fornia. one Of the four democrats who
voted for the Puerto Rican tariff bill
of his reasons for so voting. The ex-
PLANTATION is one which should sat
isfy every democrat on the Pacific
coast. at least. as to the propriety Of
that form OF legislation. 1t is an ex-
PLANTATION which amounts to a strong
commendation of the wisdom, courage
and patriotism of the republican party
in passing that measure against the
spasm of sentimentality which arose
at one time so strong against it. The
Astorian commends the words Of Mr..
De Vries to the local democratic lead
ers who are talking so glibly about that
mistake" of the republican party Mr..
De Vries in his explanation says:
While the bill voted upon in terms
applies to Puerto Rico alone today, the
course of debate in the house dur
ing its discussion has made the pow
ers OF congress under the constitution
the al7issue. As one voting upon the
measure. regret that Puerto Rico
should have been made the subject Of
the test. We have annexed Puerto
Rico and the Philippines by treaty.
They are ours in fact. On the one hand.
it was asserted in this debate that
the federal statutes were de facto ex-
tended to all these possessions. On the
other, this was denied and the pow
er asserted to legislate specifically for
each under the constitution. Able law
yers contended for each position.
Courts alone, and this case the United
States supreme court, can effectively
decide this controversy.
The bill before the house. as PASSED
reduces the duties So per cent to the
Puerto Ricans and delivers to them all
the taxes raised. 1t is temporary in
character, in terms extending but two
years. Their tariff duties Hereunder
are FAR less than were the taxes i'm
posed by Spain. We have given them
great relief and at the same time have
asserted a principle Of government in
such a form that its constitutionality
can be determined.
AS a representative from the Pacific
coast, deem it of paramount i'm
portance before proceeding to final dis
position Of the Philippines that the
powers of congress thereover be fully
announced by the supreme court of
the United States as at present con-
stituted. Questions of grave and su-
preme Importance with reference to
these islands have been developed by
this debate. Are the laws Of congress
by treaty with Spain so extended to
these islands de facto that congress
cannot prevent without some protec-
ton the innundation Of the Pacific
coast with the products of cheap ORR
entail labor? Are these Chinese exclu-
sion laws by the treaty Of peace, de-
facto, and beyond The powers of con-
gress to otherwise legisate, extended
to the Philippines so that the several
hundreds Of thousands Of coolies
therein can pass freely within the
gates of San Francisco? This bill as
serts the principle that such is not |
the case. and that congress can legis-
late otherwise. As a representative of |
California. conceive it my sworn
duty to assert This principle of gov
ernmcnt for the protection of the in
dustres and the labor Of that state.
BY passing the bill we have taken
step for an early decision upon these
points, decision that will. TO my
mind. be a great factor in moulding
the future course Of congress with ref
erence to the Philippines-a decision
without which no intelligble action can
be had by congress with reference
thereto, While it is not a pleasant
duty to separate from ones colleagues
in the house upon matters OF such
grave Importance, conceive the high
est duty and sworn obligation Of
calls him first to serve
his constituency and state rather than
his party.
Il have firmly believed in the ad-
vantages Of extending our Oriental
commerce, and that the retention of
the Philippines would cOnduce great
" to that end. The democratic state
platform Of 1898 so permits and de-
.iaree This howavev y1oi,af ha bod