The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-01-05
Ex-President Harrison's Plea for the
Porto Ricans-

Porto Rieans.
From the Chicago Times-Herald.
Ex-President Harrison has done his
country q great service by his frani
and incisive demonstration of the prop
| osition that the Constitution does fol
low the flag. His words will carry ex
ceptional weight because of his pc
culiar position. Though he is the chiet
appointee Of the President to the inter
national board OF arbitration, and the
administration has fought for a diff
ferent view of the status of the neaR
territories, he declares that no inter
question that all the acquired islands
were a part of the United States. even
il at the time of the cession the Phil
ippines were in revolt against Spain
Though the administration and ma
jority of the Republicans in Congress
put an unequal tax upon Porto Rico
this stalwart Republican asserts with
eloquent emphasis that Porto Rico
has its inalienable rights, sacred as
those Of the states, under that pro
vision of the Constitution which com
mands that all duties, taxes and i'm
posts must be uniform throughout the
republic.
II personal history and party predi
lections and prejudices had Deen allow.
ed to influence General Harrison they
would have led him away from, not to
ward, his conclusions. But such con.
siderations are subordinated to the
splendid sincerity of an intense con
viction which is founded in the deep
constitutional studies Of one of our
ablest lawyers and statesmen. Small.
er men who have known it all, and
who have been crashing along with
their new theories and fats of arbi-
trary power. may well pause upon the
words Of this able publicist and ex.
perienced politician.
Government by dat cannot exist on
American soil. Government by the
people is the only possible government
under the American flag. Such are
the ideas for which General Harrison
contends with qnanswerable argu.
ments. We carly not part but all Of
our liberties and all of our political
equality with US. ANYTHING less would
be incompatible with the doctrines
upon which we pride ourselves. II we
deviate in any particular, making dis
tinctions between one territory and
another. we vitiate the whole. We be
come sponsor for government over
the people that is not Of and by them
for taxation without representation
for everything that we have con
demned as tyrannical. No soft
phrases about benevolence can con
ceal the fact. The man who has to
rely on benevolence for his laws is q
slave" Every section of the bill Of
rights may be outraged if the power
and right to govern arbitrarily for any
purpose is maintained.
We DeiIeve that it is possible tC
govern the new territories like the
old; that this is not only possible but
that it is by far the best means tC
bring about peace and contentment
But if there is to be any discrimina
tion, anv exclusion. then it is better
to let all the islands go. AS Genera
Harrison intimated. it is a mistake e
reason that the sound of Dewey's guns
in Manila bay heralded a new mission
for this country. Rather did they
herald the same old mission sounded
bv the guns Of Washington" the
grandest mission Of which we are ca
| pable. the mission Of liberty and
equality under the law.