The evening times., 1900-03-29


Speaker Henderson is regarded as a re-
markabIy able man and politician by all /
those who admire and respect him; but after |
bis latest performance his most insane /
adaator will hardly venture TO point him 1
out as a genius in the art of letter writing. /
He has made the egregious mistake of TAX |
ing his pen in hand to defend his COM |
pIicity with the Porto Rican crime. \
Offences which can neither be justi- |
fed palliated nor in any manner explained. |
should never be made subjects Of written /
communications: but Mr.. Henderson ap- |
pears to be obliYious OF the fact.
The letter 10 which We refer is devoted
10 an attempt to convince the public
that the Payne Porto Rican infamy is a
measure OF justice and mercy which would
have been in blissful operation long ago II
it had not been antagonized by the trusts
These hideous creations Of demoniacal
greed. he asserts, want Porto Ricsn sU-
gar. tobacco. and rum TO roll over our
American mainland like an avalanche OF
degrading luxury. destroying the cabbage
gardens OF Connecticut the humble beet
patches Of Nebraska and the little Medford
rum stills Of Massachusetts. at one fell
swoop
We observe with much interest tEat
there are several things i'm support of his
humorous explanation vhi Mr.. Hender-
son could say. but does not. He is silent
about the Presidents original view Of our
plain duty" toward Porto Rico. and Secre-
tary Roots plea for the islanders.
lie does not even mention the
minor fact that he. as well as Mr.. McKin-
ley. Mr.. Payne. and other Administration
leaders. was openly and avowediy ior free
trade and respect for the Constitution
until OEuard My-ilH and other trust at
t0rneys and lobbyists fell upon the Iusular
and Ways and Means Committees Of the
House. and boldly demanded "a change Of
front and the continued oppression and
persecution Of Porto Rico in the interests
OF their proprietors.
To put the matter plainly. Mr.. Henderson
makes a ridiculous spectacle OF himself
when ne attempts TO convince anyone that
the trusts are Tor free trade with Porto
Rico. such a proposition negatives itself
aud is unworthy of discussion. He knows,
and ought TO realize that the country
knows that il was at the command Of the
oil. sugar. tobacco. and rum trusts that the
President publicly ate the honest words Of
his annual message and stultided himself
and the Heudersous. Paynes and Dalzells
OF the House Of Representatives tumbled
over each other in their haste to get back
into the good graces o. their Industrial
patrons and masters.
The individual who, in part occupies the
chair vacated by the man who tied down
and capouized the popular branch of our
National Legislature. might write letters
until he wore out a battery Of tyDewriters
and produce less effect per ream Of them
than Senator Davis Of his own party did
yesterday when, in a few sentences he *
posed the hypocrisy and perGdy OF the
Administration in its attitude toward Porto
Rico Senator Davis called attention TO
the fact thet reciprocity treaty had been
negotiated with the British West Indies,
giving those foreign islands free trade in a
whole schedule Of commodities upon which
it is sought 10 make our own American
territory Of Porto Rico pay customs duties.
Perhaps Mr.. Henderson will write another
letter to explain thatl
We are greatly edited to observe that
the more fragrant the intended Porto Bican
crime is shown to be. the more persistent
the Administration and its coparceners are
that it shall be perpetrsted. They do not
explain why, largely because there is but
a single explanation and they do not con-
slider il prudent 10 give that, although one
prominent House Republican has been
frank enough to make confession Of the
truth. However. admissions or confessions
are unnecessary to shed light upon a mat
ter which is as plain as a pikestaf with
out any such illumination. Dir. Hanna
may denOunce the author OF the disclosure
and defy the late Lindley Murray in one
breath. and his lieutenants at the other
end Of the Capitol may swear themselves
black IN the face that there is no Doodle
il the Payne iniquit,; but that viii never
convince the American people that st is
rot strictly based upon a deal in behalf
and for the sole benefit Of the Republican
campaign fund.