The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-03-06
Looking for Impossible Ills.

Looking for Impossible Ills.
The ST. Louis Republic IS one OF many
Democratic newspapers whose opinion OF
BENJAMIN Harrison has been greatly
changed. and correspondingly improved N
accuracy, In the last seven years when
Mr. Harrison was President OF the United
states the opposition press found little or
nothing &c commend IN his administration;
but now that his administration has
passed into history and the lapse OF time
has softene1 asperities begOtten OF po!it-
ical antagonisms, all Of his countrymen
Including Democratic and Mugwump e.
itors, and even Populist demagogues, find
II possible 20 DO justice to those great
qualities which made him a safe custodian
OF the nations honor. and still render him
wise counselor.
The ex-Presidenrs condemnation OF the
Porto Rican tariff bill is as heartily ap-
proved by Democratic as by Republican
and independent papers. The st. Louis
Republic thinks the thoughtful leaders OF
the Republican party cannot fail to be
profoundly Impressed by its significance.
II says that. in this case, Mr.. Harrison
Stands distinctly for the best elements Of
his party" II declares him TO be "a clear
and honest thinker" safe guide for pub
lie opinion; statesman "well grounded in
an Americanism Of blood and breeding
which preserves even in a Republican
some respect for the basic principles OF
49, a I'd,
early American patriots" And, therefore,
at is useful that he should pronounce
upon the iniquity and the danger contain
ed in the Porto Rican tariff bill"
Al that is true, and the Republic might
have been even more laudatory of Mr..
Harrison without transcending the limits
Of absolute verify. But our ST. Louis con-
temporary follows up this tribute 10 the
ex-President with an outburst Of awful
apprehension that is not justified by facts
Bad as that bill is, its enactment into law
should that sad biunder be perpetrated-
would not shake the pillars Of our gov
eminent The Republic. with an Unsuitable
appetite for Ills that cannot happen, goes
on to say that
Great as is the wrong against the Porto
Ricans contemplated in that measure It's
menace to Americans OF the mainland is
Infinitely greater. Its passage constitutes
the overruling Of the American Constitu-
ton by an American Congress No more
ominous thing is recorded in American
histOry-the Constitution is at the mercy
OF Congress hencefOrWard If this action
permanently prevails. 1t denies 10 one
section of the American people the rights
10 D. fah h. 81 IL.
stitution, What is now denied to a part
Of the people may at some other time be
denied TO all, The precedent is malignant
40 a degree"
That Is nonsense, as the Republic Is
chartably assumed TO know IAN Amer
lean Congress-" great as its power is, can
not "overrule the American Constitution
That instrument is not now, never has
been, and never will be "at the mercy OF
Congress" If the adoption by Congress
OF an unconstitutional proposition were
fraught with such fatal consequences as
the Republic affects to believe, the gov
eminent would have been wrecked long
ago. There are volumes in every law
library in which our contemporary can
find the sentence OF death pronounced on
acts Of Congress by the tribunal which
overrules Congresses, setting aside as null
and void the votes OF both Houses and the
signature of the President
The safeguards OF legislation are ample.
Take this Porto Rican biI. for instance.
1t originated in the House, where "all
bills for raising revenue must originate"
1t is now in the Senate, and the thun-
derous condemnation OF it is by no means
unlikely to result in its demise In that
body. But, should II pass the Senate. It
has another stage OF legislation Just be-
yond. And the thunderous condemnation
will still be kept up. But, supposing 1t to
receive executive approval, there is Just
beyond the President that great tribunal
created by the Constitution for Just such
an emergency as this. II is a relentless
tribunal having no sentimental notions,
and, as has been often proved, no party
feeling. To its decision we can safely
trust all the questions growing out OF our
acquisition of Spain's insular provinces.
The Pos, earnestly hopes that this Porto
RICan measure will die IN the process of
parturition. But should II survive all the
perils with which it is beset, The Post has
no doubt that the Supreme Court will find
q graveyard for IL
II Is not good policy 10 worry excessive
ly and exhaustingly over any of the pos
slble disasters that lie concealed behind
the veil with which heaven from all
creatures hides the book OF fate" II Is an
are pa'pably impossible The Constitution
Of the United States IS, by It's own provi-
sions, placed where legislative laundering
can do ii no harm.