The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-05-31
GREATER AMERICAS VICTORY.

Hon j. t. Conner gives 1t as his opinion that the
recent ruling OF the supreme court in the Porto
Rlcan cases may necesstate an extra session of
Congress. 1t would seem that the decision indi
Gates that all tariff duties levied upon Philippine
lmportatlons under the Dingley are illegal and
this would throw the doors wide open to importers
to have their goods sent to the United States via
Manila and thus avoid all tariff duties. The History
OF Porto Rcan tariff legislation includes three per-
lods. First the period while the island was under
military possession after the signing of the proto-
col and before the ratification of the peace treaty.
second, the period between the ratification and the
IS per cent act, during which time duties were col
lected under the Dlngey schedule, and third, the
period after the passage of the IS per cent tariff
bill. The court holds that duties collected during
the first period were valid on the ground of military
expedlency. The island was under martial law and
the commanding general had a right to impose
such duties as military necessities prompted. The
court declares that all duties levied during the sec
ond period were illegal for the following reason:
the island became possession of the United States
Immediately upon the ratification Of the treaty; did
not, however, become entitled to all the rights of
statehood and could not acquire either these rights
or restrictions except by specific act of congress,
therefore until such specific action taken there
was no tariff relative to Porto Rico and state of
absolute tree trade existed. This decision, while
1t compels the government tc refund all duties paid
during that period, is thoroughly in line with the
Precedents OF the court from the time of Chief us-
tlce Marshall to the present, and much to
the American people. 1t sets aside the democratic
contention that the United States could not govern
the Philippine Islands and Porto Rico without adj
uniting them to all the rights of statehood and
citizenship. The nightmare of Chinese and Malay
voters is dlspelled and the government is given
comparatively tree hand to enact measures for the
benefit OF the people of these islands and govern
them until such time as it shall see fit to admit
them to the Union. The decision is of vital i'm
portance to greater America and establishes the
right OF America to enter the class as one of the
great world powers. 1t is victory for sanity in
government of but little less Importance than the
victory of Dewey in Manila bay. Thus another
great question Of the last campaign is laid to rest
and the republican party can, like Monte Cristo,
hold up its fingers and score s'TWo." First the
proclamation of Agunaldo settled the Atkinsonissue
that Americas only mission in the Philippines was
to destroy and exploit and now the bugadoo of
Malay citizenship has been settled by the supreme
court.
Since the time when the poet told of the warrior
beating his sword into pruning hook there has
been greater sign of the utility of the machines
of war for the pursuits of peace than now comes
to notice from France. The French are hereafter
to fire cannon at approaching hail storms and thus
prevent them; they to use the destructive can
non against invasons not of of armed foes, but of
the even more destructive grasshopper, and finally
the smoke from belching cannon is to protect the
tender vineyards from the ravages of King Frost
II the French experiments successful the boom
ing cannon will soon cease to be an ominous sound
but will come to us as blessed harbinger of plen
tltul harvest and we'll filled granaries 1t would
have been better for the world if this use of the
of the cannon had been the first and only one dis