Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-04
III r RIcAN BILL.

In passing the Porto Rican bill, as re-
ported from the conference committee, the
senate has indicated the loyalty of the
republican party to the rights of labor.
The power of congress to regulate the af-
fairs of acquired territory, and determine
its commercial status under the law, car
ries withitthe right to prevent the impor-
tation of cheap labor from the tropics.
The democratic contention against the
bill was based not only on the free trade
idea, which is still a fundamental fea-
ture in the faith of that party, but on a
vicious political purpose Of far-reaching
effect in the fall campaign.
With a vast amount of oratorical clap
trap it was held that "the constitution
should follow the fag," and thai the COM
mercial relations between Porto Rico,
and other acquired territory, and the
United States should be precisely the
same as between the several states of the
Union. Had this theory met the approval
of congress it would have placed the in
ldDltdlllS Oh IOIlO IAlCO Ain " LAC ! III
ippines on an equal footing, under the
constitution, with the citizens of the sew
eral states of the union. The cheap la
Dor of the tropics, where men can work
for a few cents a day and live in compar-
ative comfort, would have been brought
in direct competition with American Ia
Dor. where the conditions of life are more
exacting.
With free trade, a large percentage or
our factories would be removed to the DO
main of cheap labor, leaving the Amer1-
can workingman without the means OF
attaining a livelihood. Not only would
the industrial life of the nation be revo.
1utionized, with all it implied to millions
of happy and contented w~orkingmen, but
the agricultural field would likewise be
invaded. The cane growers and the to-
hacco raisers of the United States would
by irretrievably ruined if brought into di-
rect competition with the cheap labor OF
the tropics.
Yet the democratic leaders would in
woke these calamities and throw millions
out of work, in the hope that the gaunt
spectre of want and a depression in imam
cial circles, would rebound to the advan-
tage of the political party they represent.
Had the principle commended for by the
democrats, and a few visionary repubii-
cans in the east, been recognized by
congress, a marked depreciation OF IN
dustrial values would have followed, with
q nossible financial crash before the ides
of November. There is scarcely a doubt
that many leading democrats We're ac-
tuated by the hope that such a condition
would be brought about by the apparent
deadlock in the senate, in default of any
other political beverage for their party in
the fall elections. Hence, the demagogica
hue and cry about 1.-The constitution fol.
lowing the flag"
All the constitutional rights enjoyed by
the states are not vouchsafed to terri.
tories before their admission, congress
designating where those rights begin and
leave off. Why, then, should a foreign
possession, remote from our shores, &C.
quired as government property as the re
suit of a foreign war, necessarily be a
once accredited with all the constitu
tional rights and privileges originally
granted to the contiguous states of tn,
union? Why should not congress exercis,
it's p~rerogatives in determining its com
mercial and other relations to the repub
lie?
Not only is the Porto Rican bill a vindi
cation of a principle which involves pro
lection to the industrial life of the Unite,
States, and recognizes the value of Amer
lean labor, but it will prove a beneficen
measure for the Porto Ricans themselves
The revenues derived under the operatio
Of the law &c into the Porto Rican treas
ury to build up their school system. i'm
prove their highways and pay the Incl
dental expenses of their local govern
ment. thereby protecting them from tn
burdens Of liberalization. The action {
the senate yesterday ensures a republica
victory in November.