The evening times., 1900-03-01
CIRCULATION STATEMENT
THURSDAY. MARCH 1. 1900.
The Porto Rican Crime.

As far as the House OF Representatives Is
concerned the crime against our sunerin ;
fellOw-Americans in Porto Rico. and
against the Constitution OF the United
States. is complete. The Republican party
and its Administration have crossed the
RubicOn. They have at last thrown OFF all
preteuce of respect for the fundamental
law OF the country or Of the
rights Of its inhabitants sacred
ly guaranteed by that law They have
registered the declaration that, hence
forward they will own no allegiance
TO the Constitution. oaths OF office To the
contrary notwithstanding. and will do no
act Of legislation that is not in the inter
ests OF and dictated by Tie oligarchy Of the
trusts and monopolies they so hunb.y aud
criminally serve.
In these circumstances there is hardly
room for doubt that the Republican ma
tority in TIE Senate will ratify ihe action
Of the House. and increase the illegal tar
III against Porto Rico 20 the original %
per cent demanded by the oil sugar to-
bacco. and rum trusts. The rate was only
cut down by the House Ways and Means
Committee as a SUFFERING 10 ensure the
votes OF Representatives " hose cOnsciences
revolted at grand but could stand petit
larceny. The bill once in cor erence. no
trouble viii be experienced N cooking it
to suit the Hanna control.
IN view Of the facts or tie case it would
be folly for Democratic Senators to offer
any serious or prolonged resistance to the.
Payne iniquity. The sooner it is placed
r on the statute books the sooner il viii be
wiped out by the Supreme Court Il is
dastardly outrage on the Porto ieicaus
who so gladly threw OFF the yoke Of Span
tsh sovereignty and accepted ours under
the promise OF our Government that they
shoGid enjoy the blessings and privileges
Of American institutions. But they must
bear their burden with what patience they
may. knowing that the honest people Of
the country. which is equally theirs and
ours, will punish their oppressers in No
vember; and. knowing also that there is
power in the United States which an Ad-
ministratioR and a majority in Congress.
owned. controlled. and operated by the
trusts and monOpOlies. cannot long defy.
however great may be their combined
ability 10 do mischief and commit public
crime for the time being. That power is
the Constitution. which will speak by the
voice Of its prophet the Supreme Court-a
tribunal which never yet has tolerated the
impudent assumption that any territory
under the flag and sovereignty Of the ma
tion can be considered OF treated as for
eign. or denied any basic right enjoyed
BY citizens Of the component States OF the
Union
Were It not for the cruel suffering
which thi ing any viii impose upon nearly
a million loyal Americans We could regard
the political situation created b. the
course Of the trusts and their executive
and legislative agencies, not only with
equanimity. but with positive delight
The defence Of American justice and the
Constitution against the designs and as
saults OF a rcbber enemy. is an issue upon
which a united Democracy can sweep
the country. Tn this connection there is
great encouragement in the record of yes
terdays vote. Out OF all the Democratic
members Of the House. only { ,ur could be
found sufficiently open to trust influence
to violate the principles OF their party in
the matter Of monopolies oppressive of
the people. and their duty to support the
Constitution. This is brilliant evidence
that the vast majority of Democrats are
still true to the faith Of the Fathers. not
withstandiug the unfortunate differences
that have kept the party disunited for
years, and given the organization Of the
oligarchy an enormous advantage on the
political battlefield.