The Winslow mail., 1901-02-28
PROJECTIONS OWN.
Another Instance of American ABB
sOlutism Under McKinley's
Management.

Manag ement.
It is announced from Washington
that the Philippine commission has pre-
| pared a new tariff law for the islands
| and that it has been submitted to the
president for approval. This manner
of dealing with questions of taxation
in our new possessions will commend
itself to the beneficiaries of the tariff
in this country. They will regard it as
scientific and natural and they will
/ presently suggest that the same meth
cd be adopted at home.
While we have no particulars con-
corning the processes by which the
commission reached its conclusions
relative to the Philippine tariff. 1t is
not difficult to imagine how the thing
was done. The commission is composed
of five Americans. So small body
should be able to legislate on the tar
iff. or anything else, with much expe-
dition. The interests which are. to be
served by the tariff may confine their
| energies wholly to the commission.
There is no party In opposition to over
| of the people who are to be taxed to in
terpose with protests.
A protective tariff bill framed un-
der such circumstances ought to be
measure wholly after the presidents
| heart. He has had some experience
in the line of tariff legislation himself,
but, while his achievements resembled
of ha les n
some extent. they were sadly lacking
in certain features of absolutism which
characterize the new departure in the
orient.
Mr.. McKinley's tariff bill, like that
of Mr.. Dingley, was written by the at
torneys of the protected interests
themselves. He began with blank pa
per. Each protected interest was
asked to write it's own section of the
bill. All complied with alacrity. The
result was a measure having some con-
f1icting sections which had to be recon
ciled. but which, in the main, was satis-
factory to every man who expected to
make money out of it.
Under the whip and spur of the eau
Gus. republican opposition to the meas
ure was silenced, but not so with the
democrats. On the other side of the
house there were men who. although in
minority. were privileged to speak
for the intended victims of the meas
ure. These victims found no advocates
in the party assuming responsibility
for the bill. Like the Filipinos, they
were neither heard nor considered.
A minority only had to content itself
with such opportunities for expostula-
tion as the majority permitted and
such explanations OF specific injustices
contained in the measure as a czar-
ruled debate afforded.
From the standpoint of the protec-
zionist the Philippine plan has many
advantages over even so high-handed
a proceeding as this. 1t is all in the
family. 1t may be star chamber. if
necessary. 1t is not to be interrupted
by protest. 1t is concerned only with
one side of the question. With not even
a minority of conscientious republic
ans to placate or to gag, it is smooth
sailing. With no democratic congress
men, even though in a minority, to
point out palpable wrongs and injus-
tices. the bill, once framed, is present
ed for approval not to representative
body having some constitutional rights.
but to a president assuming to govern
outside of the constitution and under
no restraint save that of his own will.
Thus written and enacted into law.
hoo ri !,
proceedings except the men who are in
on the ground floor, so to speak. the
Philippine tariff ought to be a model
of outrageous oppression and robbery.
1t it fall short of this in any respect
it will be because it's authors in Manila
and its sponsors in America will have
manifested forbearance hitherto un-
known and to which it has been sup
posed that they were strangers.
This small episode i'm Americana bso-
lutism, with which it is to be feared
that the people are rapidly becoming
familiar. should not escape most seri-
Gus attention in the United States. We
have grown accustomed at home to the
principle of inequality underlying just
Sucn measures OF CdXdtlO0, out In their
preparation and enactment the forms
of constitutional government, often a
ghastly pretense only, have been OBJ
served. We have seen the representa-
tives of a great party silenced.
whecdled and bullied when such meas
ures were under consideration, but
there has been a semblance of popular
assent. In the Philippine case there is
not even an apology for the violation
of the first principle of American lib
erty.
Necessity often is pleaded as an ex-
cuse fer tyranny. Necessity has been
offered many times in this country in
extenuation of illegal and unjust meas
ures of government. Necessity always
has been the refuge of despots who
were brought to task for their usurpa-
tions. But there can be no such de-
tense in this instance.-Chicago Chron-
icle.
OPINIONS AND POINTERS.
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