New-York tribune., 1901-07-23
FACT VERSUS PREJUDICE.

The approaching proclamation Of free trade
with Porto Rico offers an opportunity for mis-
representation too strong to be resisted by some
Of the ant-imperialists who wanted that island
subjected TO our domestic fiscal system and bur-
dened in its poverty by our heavy internal reve-
pue taxes. They find it now highly convenient
10 forget that their demand that Porto Rico be
treated like any other Territory, that IL should
be made 100 per cent American and that the
uniform rule Of taxation prescribed by the con-
stitution should be made to apply there meant
compelling the Porto Rcans TO pay on tobacco
and other products subject to impost under our
laws taxes which would have made the raising
of those articles utterly impossible for domestic
consumption. They pretend that what Porto
Rico is now TO have is just what they wanted
II 10 have two years ago, and that the delay
has only resulted in a period Of unnecessary
hardship and injustice 10 Porto Rico. Thus
1.-THE Aew-York Evening POST yesterday, speak
ing Of the Presidents coming action said: 1T
''may possibly occur 10 him at present that
what If is right TO do now IT was right to do
two years ago. if only for the reason that the
porto Ricans would have been much better
''off during the Intervening period
Now even antl-imperiaist critics, bound by
their prejudiees not TO admit that anything
connected with the Porto Rican legislation could
DE tight, might Ut leaat pe eApeeteu 10 It:Idin
from such positive misstatement The Porto
Ricans would not have been better off If the
opponents Of the Foraker law had had their
way. or even if they had conceded the consti-
tutional question. which they would not do,
and could have secured free trade without the
accompaniment of the internal revenue taxes
necessary If Porto Rico were to be brought
under the constitution Porto Rico at that
time was suffering from the devastation of a
hurricane Agriculture was PROSTATE. Land
owners had no money. Almost all the available
wealth was concentrated in the hands Of the
commercial classes With free trade they would
have made great profits by selling here at high
prices products bought there In time of depres-
sion. and left the burden of direct taxes for
local government TO the people least able TO
pay. The temporary duties laid this burden
for local government on the shoulders best able
30 bear it, and still left plenty OF opportunity
for profitable export and import trade, as Is
shown by the records of the growing COM
merce Of the last two years.
The traders found market for their goods
the duties levied on their commerce put the
islands finances on a stable basis. the farmers
were put on their feet. and the island was
brought 10 such a condition Of prosperity that 1t
can now support Itself entirely from local tax
alton. as IL could not have done without great
hardship two years ago. The Foraker law has
borne good fruit. During the period of want
incident TO the hurricane and the establishment
Of new political and Industrial conditions IL
generously freed Porto Rico from all contrbu-
fions TO the Federal government turned over to
its treasury customs duties collected in our own
ports as well as In those of Porto Rico freed
its poorest people from local taxation. and col
lected money for local expenses from the CON-
rnerciaI interest which could afford to nay IT.
Tie progress of Porto Rico under that system