New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-14
PORTO RIC4N BILL COuuENDED.
STRONG ADVOCATE OF FREE TRADE
WITH THE ISLAND CONVINCED OF
IT'S WISDOM AND JUSTICE.
From The Outlook.

The effect Of this legislation is to create for
PerI9 Hlc9 a provisional government in which the
will be represented in the House of Delegates by
when fulGls the function Of an upper chamber bv
appointees OF the President and in the in
Governor and Executive council The real foun-
tain head Of power remains, however in the United
states as represented by The President and the
Senate, that power being qualified by the provisions
Ricans 10 participation in the local government.
We say that the fountain Of power remains in the
President, because the Executive Council which he
IS 70 appoint is TO determine the qualifications for
suffrage of those who elect the House Of Delegates.
If we assume that this provisional government is
legitimate and wise then the tariff provision APP
pears 10 US to be not seriously Objectionable. While
we should have preferred no tariff with authority
by bonds The necessary funds for immediate use,
we do not think that a tariff provision which is to
ment is able TO raise revenue In any other way
De- seriously condemned as oppressive or Offensive.
would ever have been fought for the principle Of
Parliament had passed law that the taxes in
posed by Great Britain should cease whenever the
colonies found any other of raising
sary revenues for the colonial government
eminent itself will necessarily depend upon the
point Of view of the one who makes the estimate.
that ali people have right to govern them
dition and that the United States should
submit the question OF political organization and
Rico. in the trst instance, viii OF course condemn
a scheme which vests quasi-mperial powers in the
PRESIDENT Of me United States even though that
scheme DE only temporary in its purpose and be
popular representation.
But the objections made to the ac-
qurenent or Porto Rico and the so-called imperial
ist!c government Of II made the acquire
ment Of Louisiana and the autoCratIC powers for
its government, which We're for the time Id III
the President 1t remains for the future to de-
termine whether the objections VIII prove practically
any serious in the than in the
other. The opinion of The Outlook OIL this sub
5ect mas been repeatedly expressed, and needs.
therefore here only 10 be briefly reaffirmed. That
opinion Is that suffrage is not natural right; that
TIE responsibility for the good government OF Poro
hico rests upon the people Of the United States;
that We cannot escape from that responsibility ands
that our duty Is to organize government thar
lfe, liberty and properly shall be protected
aud power OF self-governH eut shall IN the future
be developed among the people which will email bic
them 10 assume permanently the powers which il
would he hazardous now 10 confer upon them.
II appears % us that. willie criticisms might be
made IN detail to this measure II Is one the
wnoie TO be commended; that under II the rights
Ia life. liberty and the pursuit OF happiness will
plOhdbiy be far better protected than they Would
under government founded at once iversal
suffrage, and that enough e popular representa-
ton - provided for TO make n reasonably certain
that the government VIII grow 10 be a self gov
eminent as fast the people prove their capacity
therefor. Whether this is the VIII depend
largely Upon the character OF the men appointed
ny the President and the watchfulness exercised
by press and people over the experiment