The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-24
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
SATURDAY. MARCH "a. 1900.
Can the People BE Dc6eds

Can the People BE Defed.
The people of Iowa are unalterably opposed t,
the establishment of any tariff duties between
the United States and any territory acquired as
result Of the Spanish American war the people O
which accepted the sovereignty of this Government
without resistance and voluntarily passed under
the jurisdiction of its legislation and laws
The more the Administration forces in
Congress pondered over this unanimous
declaration by the Iowa House of Repre-
sentatives, yesterday, the more uncom
Portable and desperate they felt. They
might defy the comments of their own
party organs in Chicago, and refuse to
believe the evidence of their senses con-
corning the tidal wave OF denunciation
flowing toward them from the whole Mis-
sissippi Valley; but they could not ignore
a monumental and official fact like the
Iowa resolution. There is every evidence
that the blow was as staggering as it was
unexpected. 1t was a remarkable COM
mentary upon Senator Foraker's prediction
of ten days ago, that the storm would
blow over and the country would forget all
about the iniquity In a short time. On
only added TO the popular excitement and
Indignation. AT last the Administration
has overloaded that patient ass, the Ameri-
can people. 1t has submitted to every
thing from Eagsnism. Algerism and
Sampsonism down TO the deal between
Gage and the Standard Oil bank, with
scarcely an audible murmur. But viola
tion of solemn pledge TO Porto Rico and
deliberate inhumanity toward the people
of that national territory. in defiance OF
the Constitution of the United States,
and at the demand of the trusts, is the last
straw
Mr.. Mckinley and his principal advisers,
and the Republican Senators and Repre-
sentatives. are all amply convinced that
The country Is thoroughly aroused against
them. and that, If they carry out their
purpose TO make the treatment OF Porto
Rico as foreign territory party issue, and
on that ground drive the Payne Foraker
bill through the Senate, they will incur a
terrible risk OF defeat in the impending
campaign. But long immunity from the
wrath OF man and Of God has rendered
them callous. and. In addition, they are
ha
Administration. declare with open Gym
icism that the Payne-Foraker bill is deal
with the trusts for heavy campaign con-
trfbution which can be secured in no other
way. The outburst of national protest and
anger is much greater than had been ex-
pected. Nevertheless, as between public
opinion and the cash promised by the
trusts, the Administration will consider
the latter and force Congress to persist in
the unconstitutional and criminal oppres-
sion of Porto Rico.
The natural presumption is that. in
adopting this course. the Administration
feels itself strong enough to defy the con-
sciences OF the American people and the
principles held sacred by them. The ex-
perience Of 1896 seems to have impressed
the Republican leaders with the convic-
ton that the people are a negligible guam
tity compared with the possession of a
huge corruption fund. But can they be
right in entertaining such a theory? No
doubt there are as many purchasable votes
this year as there were four years ago
and quite as many politicians Of the baser
sort ready to stuff ballot boxes and per-
vert returns. On the other hand, there
are vastly more voters who know the Re
publican party for what it is than were
thus illuminated in the former campaign.
1t has pretty well thrown of the mask of
hypocrisy by this time, and is hardly
ashamed to acknowledge itself the servile
creature OF the trusts and monopolies it
most VIGOROUSLY is.
Therefore it is barely possible that the |
impudent position assumed by the Admin |
istration and fits following, after the burst
ing OF the Iowa bombshell, is neither as
good nor as safe politics as the trust-Re- |
publican combination may imagine. But |
any doubt on the subject is liable 10 be |
dispelled on the sixth of November next.