Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-01-03
ANOlHER TAR IF WAR
CThe New Work pressJ

I ne New plh blPSS,D
If legislation is even to be introduce
cd In Congress ON the lines laid down
by the Secretary of War In the Porto
Rico paragraph of his annual report,
American projections fight for life,
which all Thoughtful citizens have fore
seen as aresult of the acquisition of the
Spanish dependencies begins now.
| There Is not an argument adduced to
this Congress by Mr.. Root for the free
admission Of the tobacco, sugar and
other dutiable imports of Porto Rico
which may not and will not be adduced
to the next for the free admission of
the dutiable imports of the Philippines
and Cuba, nor to those which follow
for the admission of the dutiable i'm
ports of Jamaica, Santo Domingo, Pa
mama and every tropical state which Is
ready to barter its worthless indepen-
dence or its costly allegiance for the
priceless jewel of commerce. share
In the great home market of the United
States. Every one of these will plead
in time, as the Philippines and Cube
can plead at once, that, in the eloquent
Language of the Secretary, "the highes
consideration Of justice and good faith
demand that we should not disappoin'
the confident expectation of sharing In
our prosperity with which the people
of Porto Rico so gladly transferred
their allegiance to the United States
and that we should treat the interests
of this people as our own"
We have so often rofuted the reason
ing for the Porto Rican free trade
which has been imposed upon the Secre-
tary's recent acquaintance with eco
monte affairs that we do not propose
to repeat the process in detail at this
writing. We say simply, what we hav,
shown repeatedly by the briefest con
sultation Of laws and statistics, tha'
the abolition of the American tariff Is
not necessary to the prosperity of Por-
to Rico. We add only a regret that the
gentleman whom Mr.. Mckinley select
ed for this post on account of his Legal
should not have extended |
his vast researches to the tariff law OF |
his country. Had he done SO he GER
tainly would have had nothing to say |
about beet-sugar competition which |
has now for two years been so heavily |
that Germany views her dc |
clining exports and cries out upon thu |
ruin of her only profitable agricul- |
tural industry"
But, grant whatever Is asserted con
the prosperity of the Porto Ri
cans, the question for Americans is
whether they have such q surplusag' |
Of prosperity of their own as to be con
.ent to share It with whoever Is ready
% exchange for 1t n nominal national
ty There are many sorts and condi-
ions of Americans who have the vest
I'd right to make answer to this query
rhereare the beet sugar growers from
New York to Oregon. There are the
'ane sugar growers of Louisiana, the
ruit raisers from Florida to Califor-
Tia, the tobacco leaf planters of Penn
ylvania, Connecticut, Kentucky, Ohio
t is out of their pockets, II is veritably
'ut of the sweat of their brows, that Is
o come the share in our prosperity"
which Mr.. Secretary would have Con
;ress so royalty dispense. II is for them
o answer mo" in such tones as, in
he mouths of their brethren, the wool
growing farmers. made an earlier Con- |
,ress hear. when this Congress comes
o deal with the Secretary's recommen-
IatioD that "the customs duties upon
he products of Porto Rico be remov-
d." 1t Is for them to organize now
allegations that will entomb this pro-
'osal in the waste basket Of the House
Ways and Means.
II is for the Republican party to
earken when their voice is raised. It's
uty for the manufacturer has been ac-
His market has been
protected against all corners.
Let 1t once be said truly that the Re-
ublican party is not prepared to do
Is duty by the farmer, and 1t may bid
God night to earth and Office. No mat
or whence it comes, the party of pro-
ection cannot treat this announce
lent of tariff policy save as a declara-
ion of a new tariff war.