Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-05-08
NIKE BANQUO's GHOST
PORTO RICAN QUESTION WILL
NOT DOWN.
Misses Up to Haunt the Republicans
azd Keeps Them Busy "Explaining''
&ke Attitude of the Administration
War Taxes Likely to stand.


washington corresncndence.
The Porto Rican question will not
SAsWn- The Republicans are so abnor-
SAaIly sensitive over it that they cannot
4E'esrsin from explaining every time a
democrat mentions the administration.
Gel Grosvener constitutes himself the
special champion of the concrete phrase
81 imperialism embodied in the Porto
8Scan tariff and government Law. One
's< the Democrats the other day jocu-
harry remarked that President McKin-
Sey had not changed his mind about the
FAzin duty" Of free trade, but had per-
Haasfed it to be changed for him.
1Siat happens to be the exact truth.
<s5Bf the Republicans seem to think that
sAey can improve matters by making
excuses and eyasions that would not
deceive 10-year-old school boy. III
shEs INSTANCE Representative GrosTenor
EeDeated with parrot-like fnsistence the
argument that Senator Foraker made
t7E2t before the measure was voted on
aa the Senate, only Grosyenor did it
zs1Hch more clumsily than Foraker.
The President didn't mean free trade
right away" pleaded the member from
Ohio. che meant it whenever Porto
&Seo bad become prosperous enough to
stand the change" Getting still deep
ar into the argument Mr.. Grosvenor adj
szitted that perhaps the President did
INST care for the measure, but disliked
90, ~, (c,,or,c-et
The Democrats receive this sort of
e-xplanatton in about the same spirit of
5EErisioB that the whole country will
express. The Republicans seem not to
understand that they are making a bad
szRstter worse when they insult the in
ssElligencs of the country with this sort
st subtePfuge and evasion. Although
Ore discussion ragged in the House for
zaaariy two hours, the Republican mem
sseas lodged the fact that by their gov.
4srnment2l bill they had left Porto Rico
ms a colonial dependency. They are
inst anxious to discuss that phase of the
ssaafter
It is announced by the administration
rtFsat the new civil government of Porto
Stfco win be ushered in with true mill
sszry pomp and splendor. There win be
soldiers In shining accoutrements on
Rand and grim battleships in the har
S9r at Ponce to warn the confiding
Porto HIcans that beneath this velvet
glove OF civil authority and behind the
eorlgn OF the carpet-bagger there is al
~ 1f.fe q IA
imperialism ready to exact the pound
~ flesh If the demands of the civil in
U7ders are resisted in the slightest de
gree. 1t viii be a sad contrast to the
R6rto Rii.ans when they remember how
gs5aay welcomed Gen. Miles two years
sEo, with garlands of flowers and pro
qsessions Of white-robed Children. They
Sought they were welcoming the adj
vent % freedom and independence
They viii be made to realize that they
exchanged the imperial rule of masters
INF noble birth for the more vulgar one
kult up 10y corporate power in this
country.
Thc administration evidently intends
SD make great capital. in the coming
rtagupaigu, of this change from military
~ civil rule in Porto Rico. 1t sends q
agAa..,oyant message to Congress beg
gHIg for further time until it can de
eide on which carpet-baggers it will
eszud 60 the island to replace the mill
aary rulers, who presumably are to bC
withdrawn.
Some cynical critics wonder if The
solitary is really to be withdrawn Of
NNly su5ordinated to the civil branch
at the government, 1t is limited in adj
rniuistretion circles that if the Porte
Rfcans prove rebellicus under Mr., Nc
Kinley's new oligarchy, they will fine
ere military in the saddle again yer,
prOmptly.
War Taxes to stand,