The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-19
.NADE 4 GREAT HI
Long of Kansas Talks to Com
merciaI Congress
AT CRIPPLE CREEK. COL.
Says "0ur Trade Should Go
Under Our Flag"
At CRIPPLE CREEK. COL.

slssippi CONNIE rcial Congress. His speech
is the talk OF everybody and he has beer
congratulated by men from every state
His theme was. "Our Trade Should &C
Under Our Flag" Discussing it, he said
There has recently been much discus
sion on tina subject of territorial expan-
sion. This discussion was precipitated by
the remarkable victories attending our
! army and navy in the war with Spain.
/ If we had been less successful we would
not have had this question for settlement.
But our successes were SO unprecedented,
| and the defeat Of Spain was so signal
that the question Immediately presented
was whether we should accept the legiti-
mate RESULTS of the war or attempt to
evade the responsibility that followed our
victories.
The sober common sense of the Amerf-
can people triumphed over timidity and
conservatism, and the treaty Of Paris was
made that gave to this country Porto
Rico and the Philippine Islands. The dis
cussion has been in progress ever since,
whether We should continue to retain the
philippine islands or in some way or man
rAer abandon them. This discussion is
practically ended. The American people
have decided that we should keep the
Philippine islands and assume the respon-
sfbili lies that have come to US as a result
Of the war with Spain. Those who op-
posed expansion Immediately attempted
TO have congress stake a position that
would hive resulted in great em5ara S.
ment in tue government Of these islands
and would IN the end have inclined the
American people to get rid Of them.
If the Philippine islands must be treat
Cd in al respects like Oklahoma and All
IONA; # the people Of these islands, who
are strangers to us and to our institu-
tons. hawe, at the outset, al of the rights
and privileges of citizens Of the United
Sttaes. Of course the people Of this coun-
try would not want TO retain the is
lands.
Congress. however, declined to accept
this view of the situation and passed the
Porto Rican act which raised the whole
question of the right and privileges of
the people of these islands and the power
Of congress to 1egislate for them. The su-
IRENE court has recently held this law
! constitutional
1.-THE court held that the duties collected
under the Dingley law on goods coming
from Porto Rico into the United States
after the ratification Of the treaty with
Spain were Illegal. The DingIey law only
authorizes the collection Of duties on
/ goods coming into The United States from
foreign countries, and the court said
Porto Rico was not a foreign country.
| The court also held that, while Porto
Rico ceased to be a foreign country upon
the ratification of tho treaty, yet it did
not become a part Of the United States.
It became a territorv appurtenant and
| belonging to the United States. 1t IS a
possession of the United States.
Under the constitution, duties must be
uniform throughout the United States,
but there is no provision requiring uni
fornity between the United States and its
territor yand possessions. So the court
held that congress could provide for du-
ties on goods coming from Porto Rico
into the United States.
THE decision IS far--eaching IN effect.
It decides that t.,,s nation may own ter
ritory which is not q part ~ the United
states, and may govern Cr0endent people
who are not citizens o. the United
States. It gives. congress - free hand in
0tltlUZ Win TIE ft I4te1tltf-4- .5kOAt4ttS out
of the acquisitions o. Porto Rico and
the Philippine islands. 1t removes all
constitutional objections TO expe aston.
This decision clears the political at
mosphere and avoids many OF the diff
culties that would have come had the
power Of congress been restricted. It en-
ables the United States to establish in the
Philippine islands a form Of government
suited 10 the conditions there existing
government that will be able TO collect
revenue sufficient TO pay its own expenses
and not make the people Of those islands
or their government a charge upon the
treasury OF the United States.
The Fifty-seventh congress WIN legfs-
late on these questions. A civil govern
ment viii be established IN the Philippine
islands; the political status and civil
rights Of these people Will be determined
by congress. and they viii be started on
the road which leads to self-government.
with the settlement OF these questions
growing out Of territorial expansion OF
the United States there viii be immedi-
ately presented for consideration more i'm
portant questions relating to our com
mercial expansion.
During the first century OF our exist
ence we have largely been engaged in
developing the wonderful resources Of our
country here at home. We have oDened
ND the farms and mines. We have con
structed railroads. We have established
the foundation of the most wonderful
nation that has existed in the history OF
the world.
That work is largely completed. The
N- 81
been occupied. Manufacturing plants
have been established in all parts Of the
country, and in the second century Of our
existence our people, who have made such
wonderful success at home. are anxiously
looking 10 other lands where they can
secure a share OF the worlds trade.
When the United States achieved its
political independence from Great Britain
the question Immediately arose whether
It should attempt 20 90 its own manu-
featuring or DEPEND on other countries
for such products.
There was then. and has been since
q number OF people who insisted that the
question CT price CT an article should be
the only ore considered. and that the
people Of this country should be permit
ted to buy their manufactured goods
wherever they could be obtained the
cheapest
But there was then ard has been
since q number Of people who insisted
that this country should do its own
wark; that we should build Up factories
here st home and endeavor 70 dc our own
manufacturing
The -I'fst congress passed 2 law which
provided Dor the support Of the govern