The Portland daily press., 1900-01-19
7.3O.-Ordination service,
INSIDE THE AMERICAN CUSTOM
HOUSE.

To the Editor Of The Press:
The present Congress has before 10 the
greatest question that has come mp foI
settlement since the close Of the Civil Wal
or Is likely to come before 1t for cent
uries.
The A merican people are In possession
OF Hawaii, Porto Rico, and the Philip
pines. What shall we do with thsmS
"Give them up" cry the Antl-Im-
perialists. "Govern them as subject
Colonies" cry the Imperalists. "or-
ganizs them ms Territories" say those
who believe In the principles that have
made our country great, prosperous and
happy.
Give to Hawaii. Porto Rico, and Luzon.
sli Of them civilized communties, the
ams kind,And measure OF homs-rule that
we give to New Mexico Give to each o
local Legislature, elected by all inhabi-
tants who will take the oath Of allie
glance to the United States, and who pos
sess reasonable qualifications Of age, resi-
dence, education. and property, irtsspse-
tive Of race or sex. Brirg each OF these
communities INSIDE the A american custom
DOIst, tbthUllkHIuk WIN pfNoibtAJ tho
same reciprocal freedom Of trade as exists
| between Kansas and Oklahoma or be-
| tween Massachusetts and Florida. Each
of these Territorial Legislatures should
have the right TO enact coal laws, subject
10 Con gressiopal veto when necessary ;
| each should elect u delegate to sit In the
House or Representatives without vote,
ike the delegates CT New Mexico, Okla
| homa, aud Arizona; each should have a
Governor and a judiciary appointed by
| the President with the advice and consent
, of the U. ). Senate; each should have
unrestricted commerce with all otEer
parts Of our country.
This co7dition of affairs would bring,
alike to ourselves and to These new pcs
sessions, an unparalleled agricultural
| Iros perity-a free Interchange OF temper
ate and trCI ri products, upon scale
| hi herto unknown, at prices mutunly
| teneiicial-a permanent and increasing
| market for American manufsotures-n
| continuous field of inves tment for Ameri-
| can capitol and enterpris2-and com
merce such as no nation has ever before
| enjoyed. This natural commerce between
| the Temperate and Torrid zones would
CRATE a fleet of American vessels not de-
| Dc ndent upon subsidies fer prosperity,
and would vastly enlarge the traffic upon
| our railroads, canals. and lake and river
steamers. Our -four. beef. pork, III luton,
cattle, hay, wheat, corn, oats, and dairy
products. our cotton and linen goods
| machinery, agricultural tools, hardware,
cosl, petroleum. lumber. building mate
rails, and a thousand articles OF comfort
TASTE, and luxury, would be freely sx-
changed for sugar, tobacco. tea, CT flee,
| Chocolate, rice, india rubber, mahogany
| hemp, lutte, spices, and tropical fruits, all
of which would be supplied at far lower
prices than now prevail Compared with
these widely diffused tenehoIal to con-
a tnaa 0f InttAs the
| position of tie sugar trust. and the out
cry OF rev would-bs monopolists of
tobacco and oranges are Insignificant,
| Indeed
| Moreover, it would secure In our new
possessions permanent loyalty to the dag,
and universal satisfaction based upon
general prosperity aud enlightened self
Interest. IL would bring about an event
| ual unity Of language. lawe, manners,
| and Institutions with our own. The only
way to govern wisely these now allen
comm mites Is to enable them TO govern
| themselves as Territories under Congress
sional supervision.
| This course should be adopted at nnoe
by common consent of both the great
| poll tical parties of the country. The Re
publican Party, having now the control
Of all departB ents OF tine National gov
ernment, can orgspizs these new possess.
| ions As self-goyerning Territories. and
secure thereby continued National su-
pIemacy. II IL refuse or fail to do so, at
| the behest of hostile trusts and monopo
lies, it will give the Democratic party a
| National issue upon which eventual vic
| tory will he as certain as sunIise The
only cure for the present discomfort OF
these new possessions the only condition
| upon which. "benevolent assimilation"
can be affected, Is their admission to
| cur continental system OF unrestriotsd
domestic free trade inside tie American
custom h ouss. "Home rule for our new
Territories" should be the watohword OF
| 1900, and will become the settled princi-
| pie of the Tween tisth Century.
| HENRY b. BLACKNEL. l..
Dorchester, Jan. l. 1900.