Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-04-18
Wisely Settled.


Rican tariff bill, which recently
became a law, the Philadelphia
Press says
The new problem requires a new
policy. Empty territory such as
the United States has Hitherto an
nexed required pr mpt incorpora-
ton and the pledge and promise of
full political rights aud privileges,
that this new territory might rap,
idly attract and absorb population
from the states, and be in its turn
admitted TO the Union. This was
the problem of the past. It's over.
A new task is here. 1t will be fol-
lowed by Others of like character.
Puerto Rico is now full of popula-
ton. Its area is dense!y settled.
1t cannot absorb population from
the states SO as 10 be in time. as
it equals their population and is
similsted to them, admitted among
them. The present population
IS not ready for a share in its po-
litical rights and privileges. II
must be trained and developed. II
Is long before it will be It's litter
acy must disappear. Political ex-
perience must create capacity for
politica! action. A long tutelage
is before this and other islands.
Many perils and problems must
be guarded against in this period.
There are differences of labor, of
production, of industry, Of wages,
of habits and general standards of
life and of morals, which must be
wisely and car, fully considered
step by step. The long task will
not be done in day. Until it is
completed congress must keep in
its hands the same entire control
which Parliament retains over the
dependencies of the British empire.
For all concerned this is the best
course. The risk aud danger in
tFs country has always been too
rapid extension of political rights.
States have been admitted before
they were ready. The country at
large has too many ignorant voters.
II the work were to be done over
again an educational qualification
would undoubtedly be imposed.
Less haste would be shown in fill
ing the Union with states not ready
for statehood, and in bringing to
the polls voters unable to read and
write, as are nine out OF ten men in
Puerto Rico.
The party, the papers aud the
public men opposed TO our new
acquisitions and the annexation OF
the dependencies have seized on the
Puerto Rico tariff to try and lead
the house into premature incorpor.
alton. They have failed. The tar
lit was only pretext. The needs
of Puerto Rico were a mere sham.
The one opportunity which the
opponents of our present policy of
expansion saw was to discredit
this policy by leading the house to
a course aud action which would
porate Puerto Rico into the
Union before either the territory or
the population was ready for this
step.
Every paper which opposed ex
pansion has loudly urged free
trade. Those which were a year
ago protesting against annexation
have now been loudly urging that
annexation should be succeeded by
incorporation. Failing to prevent
annexation. they urged incorpora-
tion i'm order to discredit the earlier
step which they had opposed.
Every supporter of expansion has
supported the Porto Rican tariff.
There never was a clearer attempt
of the enemies of a given policy to
ruin its execution by supporting
an unwise course, certain to end in
disaster.
This attempt has failed The
house has acted so as to retain in
congress full control of the future
government and administration OF
dependencies. Narrow as the re.
publican majority is, 1t was held.
The republican opposition proved
small. A clear majority of the
house has determined that a low
tariff shall mark the division be-
tween Puerto Rico and the United
States. This maintains the prin-
ciple at stake. The revenue goes
to Puerto Rico. All
the yield passes into the island
treasury and aids in developing
the island. improving the educa-
ton and extending its public
works until the island and its pop
are ready for fnll incorpor
stion in the union, first as terri.
tory. and then as state,
When that times it will be rec
ognized. There is no danger of
over delay. The risk in this coun.
try has been of too much haste in
the admission to political rights
and privileges. The real issue the
house decided yesterday was not |
one of mere tariff. The decision
establishes the principle and prac. |
lice that the new annexed popula-
ions shall not be clothed with