The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-07
The Davis Amen

The Hon. Cushman X. Davis, senior
Senator from Minnesota has for his col
league a gentleman who is a pronounced
free trader The fact is significant as ev-
idence of the growth in the North Star
State CT a sentiment opposed TO the per-
petuation of the Chinese wall protection
system which has nursed and enriched the
trusts and monopolies until they have
grown powerful enough to buy legisla-
lures. place their attorneys and agents In
the Cabinet and on the bench, and actu-
ally to buy a Presidential election through
the use of the most colossal corruption
fund ever known in political history.
This sentiment against trusts and mo-
ropolies is SO active and well organized in
Minnesota that the cutlery of indignation
which has followed the passage of the Por-
to Rican iniquity in the House of Represen-
tatiyes, is a warning that the Common
wealth may be lost to the Republican par
ty in November, unless something can be
effected to obscure the dangerous record
just made and to mask the purposes Of the
organization until after the Presidential
election. The amendment of Senator Da-
some of his frightened majority col
leagues, would help TO accomplish this.
We do not agree with them, because
what is proposed is as bad in principle as
the original sin. Senator Davis would
give free trade to Porto Rico, which in
itself would be good, because the Porto
Ricans are as much entitled TO it as the
inhabitants OF the District of Columbia
are. or as are citizens of Massachusetts;
but the proposition to extend the priri-
lege of free trade and certain sections of
the Constitution to the island, as an act
of Congressional grace. is vicious. because
By direct implication it denies to the Ter
ritory its full constitutional rights, in
Guiding that of unrestricted domestic COM
merce which, as Mr. Serene E. Payne de-
clared in January, lis now accorded to
every other State and Territory, and to
Alaska not organized into a Territory"
As we have heretofore remarked, that
concise statement by the Chairman of the
House Ways and Means Committee repre-
scented the Administration understanding
Of the constitutional status Of our insular
possessions. and its policy toward them,
up to the time that it was changed at the
dictation of the oil. sugar, tobacco. and rum
trusts. The subterfuge argument that the
Constitution does not follow the flag; that
Congress, the creature of the Constitu-
ton, can extend its power and authority
to unorganized parts of the United States
and exclude its creator from them, in
any way and for any time it pleases,
was never heard of until the trusts and
monopolies interested in the oppression
and selfish exploitation Of our new terri
tories demanded that they should be held
and treated as conquered provinces.
If all the phenomena of the pitiable spec
tacle presented by the President and his
associates in this connection were not suf-
ficiently indicative Of the power behind the
Administration which it dare not oppose
| the frank confession Of Senator Foraker
would be conclusive. He said that II our
| insular possessions were granted free trade
| the whole fabric of protection would go to
destruction.
| Well, so it would; so ii will. The Amer
lean people have discovered that this
whole fabric of protection benefits nobody
| but the robber trusts. If it can be destroy
ed most easily by compelling the Repu5-
lican party to accord to these American
| territories their inherent and incontro-
yertible rights under the Constitution that
will be well. II the Republican party will
! not obey the Constitution, then it will be
thrown out of power next November.