Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-03-28
As 10 Puerto Rico,

u~a W RpSO > 'AbAA~NS ~ $780, &
70 our markets because he believed .
i, was right and bes', considering
the condition OF that island. and .
not because it WAS required by the
constitution. He has no! changed P.
that view. Ii that were the sole
principle involved, we are author
lied to say, he would insist upon
it though he stood alone. Since his
recommendation, however, another
principle has been invoked iuvol-
wing the most vital question con
nected with the whole matter OF
our new territorial possessions.
The president believes tina; con-
gress has the constitutional power
to levy duties upon the products OF
the new territorial acquisitions.
This is denied. especially by demo-
Gratis. II they can prevent its as
sertion; still more. If they can have
such action by congress as denies
its existence, then they can 60 TO
the country with The argument
that the administration has, by its
policy. acquired new populations
unified for statehood, yet claiming
the rights of iull citizenship and
the right to inundate our markets
with their products free from Gus
toms duty, thus impairing the
value of our own labor by compe-
tition with the cheapest labor in
the world.
The question. therefore, is not
between principle and an expedi-
ency. 1t is question between two
principles, one OF them funda-
mental. II is between asserting
one of them in the interest of
Puerto Rico alone, or the otker in
the interest of the whole country
now and hereafter. In the latter
case any departure from the right
constitutional principle cannot be
reciified. and the damage done will
be irremediable. Not a single
step, once taken, can be re,raced.
In the former case it will work nc
injury TO the interests of Puerto
Rico. That island is today with.
out revenue and the people are suf.
fering. 1t has no government ex-
cept military one. 1t will be
some time before any machinery
for raising revenue can be put In
operation. Meantime Puerto Rice
must be taken cane Of and enabled
as rapidly as possible 10 furnish the
revenues for its own expenses. By
the bill which the house has passed
1t is relieved from every other form
OF tax except this rs per cent of The
existing tariff laid upon its pr,,
ducts coming into the United
States and the products of tn,
United States entering Puerto
Rican potts. Every dollar of thi,
is turned back to its own use. TIL,
measure Is for revenue, and onl,
temporary al that, and can be fol
lowed by free trade as soon as TIL,
great principle which recognize
the power of congress to legislat
for these new territories is vindi
Gated. The necessity of this inter
probation of the constitution, afte
the debate in the house, is para
mount, and is considered impor:
ant to our success in the Philip
pines.
The piincipleof free trade recon
nended for Puerto Rico, and whicl
the president evidently hopes i,
due time to see prevail, has, there
fore, yielded only for the tim
being to more important princi
pie. The necessity of the case an,
the honest difference of opiuio,
which led to the new issue ar
frankly recognized. The presiden
appreciates that he must to a larg
extent rely upon his own party i
the administration Of public affairs
He is bound to weigh against au
personal triumph the demoraliza
tion and disorganizalion OF hi
party in the legislative branch c
the government, upon which b
must depend. No create. calamit
could happen than 10 have hi
party majority fall down on tn
very threshold of their considera
tion of these. island questions
Under these circumstances the pres
ident did what he thought wa
right. and we believe that time vii
a