The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-12-27
NO COLONIAL POICN.

As predicted by =, 81 ~lAn. the
proposed Philippine tariff hill which
was passed by the lower house " CON
gress last week is meeting with almost
universal criticism by the press " the
Pacific coast states, This criticism is
not confined to the Democratic press,
which was TO be expected TO oppose not
only that measure, but any and sll
tariff measures proposed by a Repub-
lican congress, but 1t is being vigorous
ly assailed by the strongest Republi-
can rapers Of the coast,
There was no stauncher supporter Of
the doctrine Of expansion than the San
Francisco Chronicle. It argued logic
ally and with great force Tor the re-
tention OF the Philippine stands. In
discussing the present proposed bill In
a recent issue that rarer sounds a note
Of warning TO the party and cautions
it against forcing the tn uron the
country. II says;
In regard TO the bill for rsimposiug
a tariff on importatioas from the
Philippines. the Democratic members
Of the WAYS and Means Committee
have taken precisely the position which
the Chronicle p0ed.c;eI that they
would take. They have been enabled
to raise a very dangerous issue. AMI
the power has been given them 10 DO
so by the sheer folly OF Republican
leaders The minority members of the
committee boldly charge that by the
imposition OF the proposed duties Re
publicans are deliberately setting up a
colonial system. and that they are do
ing SO at a cost which will. by the end
of next year. amount 70 $4,000 000.
This policy. the minority declare. IS
pure colonialism.' ana 'wsll-marked
imperialism. and the worst e it is
that these accusa7 lions ere true Tariffs.
and We might always say. only tariffs.
make countries foreign 10 each other.
\ nation may differ within itself in
race. complexion. religion habits and
aspirations and still be one nation. but
when a tariff wall has been set UP.
creating opposing business interests.
the nation becomes two When the
weaker Of these two Is governed by the
stronger It is well-marked imperial
ism When the stronger puts its own
citizens in all imn5r an. places OF trust
within the domain NJ rhr weaker and
controls i,s local legislation and ad-
ministrayiOn il IS pure coloH!allsm'
The logic Is relentless. There is danger
that +, viii be found resistless. For the
first time in the history ot the rarty
Republican leaders have formulated an
issue uIon which there IS I'D reason
to believe that the people win sustain
them.
We must therefore depend upon
Republican senator's 70 save the PARTY
from disaster AMI the nation from dis
credit The situation Is now very dif-
ferent from that which existed al the
time Of the passage Of thePorto Rico
bill The supreme court-at East 1One
OF it-has declared the law and put all
the responsibility on congress. 'EI-
pansOn' is no longer a mo0ted ques-
ton in the country. The people have
accepted the principle and ratified the
acquisitions made under H. There are
no longer any anti-eKpansionists in
the land. But there are as many anti
imperlalists' and an,i-coloniallsts as
ever In the canvass Of 1850 Repub-
lican orators vi@i with the most ram
pant Bryanites in their denuciation OF
imperialism and 'colonialism' They
were taken at their word, and now
we see them proposing to enact the
very thing which they 50 strong
ly denounced. The expansion is
sue being out Of the way, what
the people now have TO consider
is the question Of government. That
government must be absolutely just,
both to Filipinos and Americans The
people will insist that It shall be so.
and the party which attempts other
policies will suffer. We do not want
colonies and will not have them But
we can have no Philippine tariff with
out setting up Filipino colony They
are one and inseparable. We shall see
what Republican statesmanship In the
senate WY do for u.s.