The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-04
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
The Porto Ricnn unfnmy.

WEDNESDAY. APRIL 4. 1900
The Porto Ricnn Infnmy.
In accordance with the programme
Agreed upon between the Administration
and the trusts. the Porto Rican Tariff
bill was passed iu the Senate yesterday
by decisive majority, and now returns
to the House We have no reason to
doubt that it will be forced through that
body without material change.
The American people are quite familiar
with the character Of the measure. In its
worst and vital feature it imposes tariff
taxes on the domestic trade between a
Territory OF the United States and all other
parts Of the common country. This is
done in direct contravention and defiance
OF the plain letter OF the Constitution, and
Is resorted to by the Republican party to
earn a campaign contribution from the
protected monopolies which are to be the
beneaclaries Of the crime. The Republican
party thus creates the plain issue Of the
Trusts against the Constitution. and the
Democratic party accepts it.
So glaring an example Of broken prom
ises. Of hypocrisy, OF constituencies con-
tempt for oaths OF office. and OF pertdy
generally in high places. has never before
been presented to the citizenship OF
America. From the time of the military
occupation OF Porto Rico by General Miles,
down to the day when Representative
Payne withdrew the House bill providing
not a thought in the mind OF the Presi-
dent. Of any member Of his Cabinet or
of any Of the Republican leaders in Con-
gress, that free trade with possession
which had become a part Of the United
States was not a necessary and mandatory
constitutional consequence OF the cstab-
lshment Of our flag and sovereignty.
Beyond this. it had been solemnly prom
ised. by implication. in the proclamation
OF General Miles TO the islanders when he
hauled down the standard Of Spain and
raised the stars and Stripes as a sign
that thereafter Porto Ricans were Ameri-
cans. endowed by the Constitution, ex
Droprio yigore. with the rights OF all other
Americans.
When General Miles took possession Of
Porto Rico be said to the islanders:
..p,rt., 3i,, under t,e American asg Will euioy
H. me rri,iieyes srd ris .su4a i-Trutirifiss as
the ritizens of the different states and Territories
Of tIe Union .
When Governor General Davis succeeded
General Henry he said.
..l-. trad. ,,;,f ti., homo Government -ersr,l
. -, ~ p-rt, Rie, and .bfra il rs
-, .l l..f;, ,l,t 81 min f. 81 ,fl 5afr,rrr-fal
=, ri. T-,it,5 sec. 11,a st1esr cro, and tBa
e.. .ro,. IN. ko-b small n will make hut
lirIe di4ercur Win the importation recent, Of
'as iuted states 10 remove The aaiies, hg5 J.
III us annual pun D. ''0'
''Il,c highest consideration OF Justice and good
flith demand fhaf We should not disIpp1Iut tle
ronadrnt expectation g sharing boz our prospect
~ with which the people oi Porto Rico go gladly
Transferred their allegiance % the ur-d State.
and tlat $50 should treat the Interests of tIs peo-
pie a- our own. ] wish most strongly Do urge
ts4t thc customs dutits between Porto Rico aud
me United State be- abolished E
,-.s. ia ~.
ana. Ahaiig, the fIeslaeHl saIu lA MS
message TO CONGRESS.
since ihe ce-,ioh f"t' N''' Ha- "''A Ng
ried t'a principal neIht,e I'D. poo I.hA elt.>'''
ane 'iH tAIns nave "een eu'ln'e- @L1-iNt 'l
.3-r-r The markets Of spain are ciazld q, a-r
products except upon terms % which ihg Gun.
an. y.,i ,1eI 10 iuy far eaftlr and tobacco
without customs duties DO" imposes me eli"r
'..,,,r. ,,-,.-3rr ,sl mn. 81. f.,. tisr..arr.
lo-t her free intercourse with spain aud Cuba
.-',I a' 49, o ~. f;-,l- ir.,-. ..5 ,. 10. ..s
hy ON PEOPLE and. therefore. taore u-- ra de-
l41na mere iat . i.s On -. ..
ID ID 70 her products our rIafa duty is r,
abolish al customs iAf'hs between IHs t''.i