The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1900-03-10
Washington, ID. C., News.
From our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, March 5, 1900.
Two violations of the Constitu-
ton in single week is the record
Of the Republican majority in the
House-a record that should drive
the Republican party from pewer.
It does not mitigate the sffeRse
against constitutional government
that one Of these violations
should have been an attempt to
partially right the wrong commit
ted in the other. A rishful thing
wrongly done is often as bad or
worse than wrong. When the
Republican majority, driven by
the party whip, passed the bill
levying u Is per cent duty on the
products of Porto Rico for pc
ried Of two years, a grievous
wrong was inflicted upon the Per
to Ricans and the Constitution Of
the U. S. was violated. Later,
when the Republicans became
alarmed at the vigorous protests
frem all sections of the country
against the proposed robbery of
the helpless Porto Ricans, they
again violated the Constitution by
doing a right thing in principle in
the wrong way--passing a billplac-
ing more than $2,000,000, already
in the Treasury, and all future col
lection under Dingley duties upon
Porto Rican products, at the dis
porsal of the President, to be ex-
pended under his discretion for
the benefit of Porte Rico. 1t is
perfectly right that every dollar
Of this money should be spent for
the benefit Of Porto Rice, but, as
Representative Bailey SO foreibly
pointed out, it is everlastingly
wreng, to turn over to the discre-
tien of one man msney in the
Treasury of the U. S., when the
Constitution expressly gives the
right to dispose of money in the
Treasury to Congress, and not to
the Executive. But COED may
GENE cut of evil. These things
serve to accentuate in the minds
of the people the attitude of the
two great political parties toward
the Censtitution-to make plain
that there is only one Censtitu-
tional party and that is the Dem
ocratic party.
Senator Jones, Of Arkansas,
said of the attitude of the Demo-
cratic Senators toward the Porto
Rico bill "The Democrats ac-
cspt the issues rendered by the
Republicans. Porto Rice has been
annexed to the United States
1t is an Integral part of the coun-
try. The flag preclaims our SOW
ereignty there, and the Constitu-
tion follows the flag. The Re
publican proposition that we can
enact discriminating legislation
against the Porte Ricans and
Porto Rican products is NOR
strous. We will fight it in the
Senate to the limit of eur extent,
and we will fight it before the
people from now until the ballots
are cast in November. "
Senator Stewart, whe has been
counted as ceutenancer It not
an actual supporter of iaperlal-
ism, said in a speech against the
Porte Rico tariff II don't want
any territory in which the Consti-
tutien dees not fellow the flag.
We cannet discriminate against
any section of our own country.
If our principles of free govern
ment are not broad enough to
cover any territery under the flag,
then we would better bring back
the flag.
Instead of avoiding the col
lisien Of imperialism and prgI.
protection, as the Repuhl-
| cans whe fathsred it intendn,
| the Porte Rico tariff bill se1ms
| likely to preeipitate the collifon,
| and the Republicans to be cs1led
on to say whether the countf,
shall give up the Philippines .,
the protective tariff. II the Su-
preme Court decides, as many be-
/ lieyes it will, that all territerJ
owned by the q. S., is constitu-
/ tienallly speaking, a part OF the
u. S., the choice will have to be
specially made, and Senator For
/ aker has openly said on the floor
| of the Senate that he would favor
/ giving up the Philippines.
Junketing is catching Secre
tary Root, accompanied by three
members Of his family is officiall,
junketing in Cuban waters, abeare
d government transport Secre
tary Long is arranging to take tht
| Hsuse Naval Committee to New
pert News on q government YES
| sell, and there is talk of a con
gressienal junketing party to Por
| to Rico, made up of the Join
House and Senate Committee AM
their families.
There seems to be troubl.
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