The Washington times., 1901-09-29


more permanent things-for things
that changing Administrations have no
power to change. Is II not in the ma
ture of moclSery to raise the flag In
Porto Rico and bid its hopeful people
hail il as an emblem of emancipation,
while the governor we have sent them
reads a proclamation, from the loot OF
the staff, announcing the absolute
power of Congress over them?
How would the pioneers of the
West have regarded a. declaration that
they were not citizens of the united
States. or duty laid upon furs they
sent to the States, or upon the salt
and gunpowder sent from the states
in exchange, even If a preference OF %
per cent had been given them over the
people of Canada? 1t is safe to say
that no such Interpretation of the
Constitution or the rights of the peo-
pie of a Territory will ever be offer
ed to men of American descent.
The situation of the Porto Rican
people is scarcely less notifying to
us than to them: they owe allegiance,
but have no citizenship. Have we not
spoiled our career as u delivering ma
ton? And for what? = gentleman
connected with the beet-sugar indus
try, seeing my objections to the consti-
tutionality of the law, and having
friendly purpose to help me over
them, wrote to say that the duty was
absolutely needed to protect the beet
sugar industry. While approaching
his friendlinoss, / felt compelled TO
say to him that there was a time for
considering the advantages and dis
advantages of n commercial sort IN
volved in taking over Porto Rico,
but that that time had passed, and to
intimate to him that the needs OF the
beet-sugar industry seemed to me TO
be irrelevant in constitutional dis
cussion.
THE wise man did not say that
there was Il future time for every
thing; he allowed that the time for
dancing might be altogether behind
us. and less pleasant exercise before
us. We are hardly likely to acquire
any territory that will not come at
some cost.
That we give back to Porto Rico
all of the revenue derived from the
customs we levy does not seem to me
to soften our dealings with her peo-
pie. Our fathers were not Modified by
the suggestion that the tea and stamp
taxes would be expended wholly for
the benefit of the colonies. 1t is to
say: We do not need this money; it
is only levied to show that your coun-
try is no part of the United States.
and that you are not citizens of the
United States, save at our pleasure
When tribute is levied and Immediate
ly returned as benefaction, it's only
purpose is to declare and maintain a
state of vassalage.
But / am not sure that the beet
sugar objection is not more tenable
than another, ard probably more con-
trollins consideration. which ran in
this wise: We see no serious COM
inercial disadvantages. and no threat
of disorder. in accepting Porto Rico
to be a part of the United States-in
that case 1t seems to be our duty; but
we have acquired other islands in the
Orient, of large area, populated by a
turbulent and rebellious people; and
II we do by the Porto Ricans what our
sense of justice and of their friendi-
ness prompts US to do, some Illogical
person will say that we must deal
in the same way with the Philippines.
And some other person will say that
the free intercourse was not given by
the law, but by the Constitution.
Il will not give a license to a friend
to cut tree upon my land to feed his
winter fire. because my enemy may
find in the license a support for his
claim that the wood is a common"
The closing paragraphs of this address
ire especially interesting:
I'VE are now having it dinned into
our ears that expansion is the law
of life, and that expansion is not prac-
ticable if the Constitution is to go
with the flag. Lord Salisbury. some
years ago, stated this supposed law of
national life. In a recent address Mr..
James Bryce says. by way of COM
" He thinks it like bicycle, which
must fall when it comes to a stand
still. 1t is an awkward result of this
doctrine that when there is no more
room for expansion. aEd time must
come, perhaps soon, when there will
be no more room, the Empire will be-
gin to decline
'.If Great Britain, with her accepted
methods of territorial growth, finds
the problem of growth by expansion
q 1rl ha t1 uFilI ha har DOR fo,
us, for we are fettered by our tradi-
tfonS as to popular rights, at least-if
not by our Constitution.
But expansion is not necessarily of
a healthy sort; 1t may be dropsical.
If judgment is passed row, the at
tempted conquest of the BOer Repub-
lies has not strengthened Great Brit
ain. She has not gained esteem. She
has not increased her loyal popuia-
ton. She has created need for more
outlying garrisons-already too numer-
Gus. She has strained her military
and financial resources, and has had
revelation of the need of larger
armies and stronger coast defences at
home. The recent appeal of Lord
Salisbury at the Lord Mayors BAN
quet for more complete island defences
Is more significant. Did the South
African war furnish a truer measure
of the Empires land strength than the
familiar campaigning against half
savage peoples has done? The old
coach, with its power to stand as well
as move, may after all be a safer car
riage, for the hopes and interests of a
great people, than the bicycle.
Some one Will say, increasing years
ard retirement and retrospection have
broken yourtouch with practical affairs
and left you out of sympathy with the
glowing prospects of territorial expan-
sion that low open before us; that ii
has always been SO; the Louisiana and
the Alaskan purchases were opposed
by some fearful souls. But L have been
making no argument against eXpan-
sion. The recent acquisitions from
Spain must present widely different
conditions from all previous acquisi-
tions of territory, since 1t seems to be
admitted that they cannot be allowed
to become part of the United States
without a loss that overbalances the
gain; that we can only safely acquire
them upon the condition that we can
govern them without any constitution
al restraint.
zone who has retired from the SER
vice, but not from the love of his
country, must be pardoned IL he finds
himself unable to rejoice in the acquisi-
ton of lands and forests and mines
and commerce at the cost of the aban-
donment of the old American Idea that
Governman ant of absolute powers is an
intolerable thing, and under the Con-
stitution of the United States an i'm
possible thing. The view of the Con-
StltutlOn L nave SuSStnN'u VIII ioi
limit the power of territorial expan-
sion; but 1t will lead us to limit the use
of that power to regions thai may
safely become part OF the United
States, and to peoples whose American
citizenship may be allowed. God
forbid that the day should ever come
when, in the American mind, the
thought of man as consumer shall
submerge the old American thought OF
man as a creature of God. endowed
with inalienable rights.
Among the other papers are THE obi
cations of Wealth." Some Hindrances t.
Law Reforms Military instruction il
the Schools and Colleges. "A Talk Abou
the Little Ones" Compulsory Dishon
esty," Abraham Lincoln" In Behalf o
the Red Cross Society" and Hail Co
lumbia."
In these papers, especially those whicl
deal with some social or personal Ques
.ion the genlality and humor of Mr.. Har