The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-30

| in the path of our plain duty, and taken
! from an obstructing partisan opposition
! an issue which it had attempted to steal
/ for the purpose Of binding the American
people, and thus stripping the republic
of those possessions which have cost the
nation so much in money and In blood.
''No partisan opposition shall rob US Of
that issue 1t is ours, and ours alone,
first announced by our president and
saved to US by his wise recommends
ton
Can men ask why those loyal to the
government in the house voted for a tariff
and why we will not vote for it here?
Why, senat tors with the immediate ne
cessity for revenue for Porto Rico star
ing the house in the face it had that
reason for its course. Porto Rico's press
ing need induced the house to ado2t this
indirect tax which supplied the emery
ency. Were that the situation here our
similar action might be similarly justified.
But our appropriation of the more than
81, 900, Co., the government had already col
lected from Porto Rico, giving them al
most as much ready money now as the
proposed tax affords in the two years of
its life, solves the problem for US and re-
moves the reason for voting for that tax
which was influential with the house. If
you say that this simple, wise and just
suggestion should have occurred earlier to
members of the house or to the president,
I answer that Just these simplest things
are most seldom thought of because of
their very simplicity. Just these simple
things mark the great statesman, and
great craftsmanship. Just these simple
things save causes in the courts, battles
in war. and nations in their crises and
emergencies.
Reciprocal trade with Porto Rico is
no precedent for the same thing with the
Philippines. None of our measures with
Porto Rico are necessary methods for our
administration of government in the Pa
cific archipelago and more than our Ha-
waiian bill furnishes an example for Por-
to Rican legislation. The free hand given
congress by the constitution means ap-
propriate measures for Porto Rico deter.
termined by the conditions of that island
and its relations to us and to the world:
appropriate measures for the Philippines
determined by the same considerations of
wall, determined by Ike standards of
common sense: appropriate action as to
Cuba and to such other portions OF the
earth as may become ours or fall under
our protection, as the circumstances, con-
ditions and all the elements Of sound
judgment may dictate in each particular
case.
yet those who. for partisan purposes.
oppose the government attempt 10 inter
Irvine tariff with the constitutional prin-
ciple OF 8 free hand. They try to miRgie
reciprocity with Porto Rico with Cal
houn's doctrine, that the constitution ex-
tends over territory belonging to the
United States Gentlemen OF a partisan
opposition. you shall not make this false
issue You shall rot be permitted TO say
that reciprocity with Porto Rico means
that Calhoun's doctrine Is again alive and
cons itution itself declares IS not a part
of the United States. but is territory be-
longing TO the United States For II. as
YOU declare. the institution does extend
over these possessions. If they are q part
% the United States, then you. IL you
were in power. could not get rid OF them;
for no power on earth or in the heavens
can cast adrift or ALLEVIATE in any way
a single foot OF soil that has once become
a part Of the United States So that II
your position is correct your success in
the coming elections would not relieve
Americans from competition with Filipino
labor. which you say free trade would
create. but, on the contrary. would for
ever fasten that competition On them For
your success means that The constitution
extends over these Islands. that they
thereby are a part OF the United States,
with free trade and an privileges ~
states: and. II that IS so. Il IS 4 condition
you could never change. since you could
not ALLEVIATE foot of the sell OF the
United States
Reciprocity with Porto Rico VIII help
that island: ii cannot hurt rs No. & VII
help Us uaeresthaa IL Will help Porto Rie0.