The Portland daily press., 1900-03-17

New York, March ls-President Schuf-
man Of Cornell Univsrsity recently
wrote tho following letter on the Porto
Rionn controversy to . personal friend,
and the Evening Post has received his
permission 10 poblish 10,
Ithaca, N. r, March ~.
Dear Sir-- agree with you that the
United States IL under obligation TO ex-
tend its tarin laws 20 the island Of Porto
Rico. But capnot acoept your eonten-
tion that this obligation is derived from
the constitutions, hioh, In my Judgment,
does not Of its own force apply 20 an
nexed territories. The obligation 10 NOR
al, not CONSTITUTIONAL AS the President
said, with truth and felicity, It 10 sour
plain duty
We are bound to this course By solemn
pfomises. The supreme and irrssistibls
reason for removinR2all customs barriers
between the United States and Porto Rico
IL the promise made by General Miles
when trst landing American forces on
the ialaBd that the Porto kicans should
enjoy the same righte, privileges and Inn
munities as the people OF the United
States. On this understanding the Porto
Rioans should accepted Amtrioan SOW
ersigny, not only without OPPOSITION. but
with joyful trust and confidence. 1he
present issue Is simply this: Shall we re-
Huulntcp UT buhlA We tng MnDtOGhA
engagementsf Shall. this grsat rspub-
lie break faith with the little island Of
Porto Rioof Having secured the frLits
of General Miles's promise, shall we
now renoupoe the promissi
The American people win not tolerate
any paltering with solemn obligstlns.
Recognizing the national good faith as
the nations cbisfest good, they will CON-
demn any violation Of it as the black
est .crime. All over the country this Porto
Rioan question has stirred to the depths
the natioral heart and conscience; legis-
lation inspired by breach OF good faith
will bring terrible Hsmesis. 1t Is said q
tariff is needed between Porto Rico and
the United ststss to provide a case for
the courts, to determine the extent OF our
jurisdiction over the new dependencies
and especially the Philippines. answer
that no convenience, no expsdiency. no
other obligation ever 1ustitles breach
Of national good faith.
Let me edd. too, that this Porto Rican
legislation is testing US before the syss Of
the Filipinos, who keep we'll Informed OF
all our doings, They will judge by this
legislation OF the value Of American
promises. Wien the ablest and most
statesnaplike OF ARuinaldo's emissaTfes
to the Philippine Commission onoe ex.
presses the fear that the American gov
erpmsnt might not keep the promises It
was fnakinG-fcr Spain, said hs, made
promises and broke them-I silenced him
with the reply;
"Signor. the United States is not
SPAIN" Is he now to learn, are all the
Filipinos now 10 learn, that II the flrst
legislation for our new dependencies we
prove faithless to our pledges and re-
ercant to our oblieationsf Suoh an ex-
hibitiou will strengthen the hands Of
ARuinaldO and the insurgents because,
.unhappily 1t can be used to support the
persistent statement that the Anne hos
are no more Trustworthy than the Span
iards. At the very moment when We need
60 inspire confidence In the minds OF the
conquered Flliptncs shall We commit an
act which will confirm their distrust of
us,quioksn their suspicion and breed new
and perhaps ineradioabls antipathiesf
God forbid.
j. g. SCHURMAN.