Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1900-03-16
THE THIUMPH OVER PLNIS DUTY

tariff bill by tlo House oi Rcpresen-
tatives has caused Consideration in
the Republicans rank. Nearly all the
neutrality-suspicious. papers of tho .asi
condemn the measure in bitter terms
and score the President numerically
for forciug the measure through the
House. The following from the
Springfield Republican, hitherto IA
strong Republican lorgan OF Massa.
chusetts, shows the influences back
OF tho outrageous measure
"Plain duty" fell short Of carrying
the day in the lioues by 10 per cent.
aud in lapses from plain duty, II per
cent Ii equal to lOo per cent 1t has
been long time since So much cI-
citement attended Il division in Con.
gress. Both parties put forth an ex.
trnordinarS effort Ia hold mid get ont
their vote, Members were dragged
III from distance. taken from sick
beds md removed from hospitals in
order that the last atom OF power
Tor or against might be brought to
bear. And the result is TINT the Re.
pul lican mejurity with the hid Of
-FOUR Democratic vOtea, passes the bill
by an unexpectedly wide margin of
ii votes. Six Republicans only voted
for plain duty" according to the
President, and for -the highest con-
sideratiOn OF justice nud good faith"
according to Secretary Root.
Why this extraordinary effort on
behalf OF the bill? Against such II
measure had been the chief executive
und his war secretary. Against it
had been the Republican leaders Of
the House, who up to the middle OF
January were preparing free trade
measure. Against it today are 4 Amcr-
can administrators and commission.
crs III the island. Against it are the
people OF the island, who have pctj.
toned for Justice aud good faith.
for the fuliilment Of the promises ex-
pressed or implied, in their taking
over, that they were to be brought
into aud made a part Of the United
State6 of America. Against it are
two.thirds Of the Republican news.
papers Of :he nation which have hith.
eron supported the administration in
it's policy OF expansion or imperialism
Against il finally have been the
weight OF constitutional Intcrpreta-
tion and precedent, the dictates Of
humanity and over and above all the
consideration Of the fundamental
night Of these islanders to un equal
standing on the basis ut american
citizenship under tho supreme laws
Of tho United States.
And yet this measure goes through
ami its paRsngc rOuscs rare demon.
stration OF JOY on the Republican side
OF tho chamber. TO what are wo to
attribute 81 remarkable change OF
front and so unusual an exhibition OF
party fcclinsY 70 tho protected in.
tercsts affected and the exigencics OF
imperinlist politics. IA President
Schurman said. 1Iho trusts grappled
the Republican party by the throat
and made il choke to their ndvnn.
tage." The Republicans switched
suddenly from FREQ trade with Porto
Rico to II thrill on notification from
the protective tariff league that Mr..
MckiDley's managers must look clso.
where Tor campaign funds il ~plnin
duty" prevailed. This was the OK
,plnnation whispered throught the
capitol city at tho time OF tho sudden
turn-about during tho last week OF
january. And go duty was promptly
retired FROM its partnership with dos.
tiny, and the vital concerns oi tho in.
sular population became secondary 10
tile claims OF tho President to ro.
election.
But beyond this there aroso the
fear among tho imperialist that tho
concessions Of FREQ trade to Porto
ltico would establish precedent for
future action in tho case ot tho Phil.
ippinos. 1t would lend strength To
tho claim That tho Constitution Of ito
own force extended over tho now nc.
QUESTIONS in all fundamental matters
Of rights of citizenship mud equality
in trade and taxatiOn. It would rob
tho impcrialist party 0f tho innucnco CO
which opposite Congressional action
might have on the Supreme court.
And IL wonld make more difficult tho
attempt to establish colonial systom
OF subject provinces ruled over 10y mn
unrestrnincd Congressional majority
at Washington. And so tho epirit of
imperialism became enlisted on the
sido Of tariT.
lie victory, however, must prove
costly. II has aDiagonizcd many ol
those who have been its chief sup.
portcrs. II has again outraged the