New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-13
NATIONAL AND INsUL4R PARTIES.


An amusing reminder Of the wisdom of keep
ing the insular possessions Of the United
States and our domestic party politics entirely
apart is furnished By the proceedings Of the
Republican National Committee. At the meet
ing in Washington a communication was re
ceived from the American Federal party of
Porto Rico. asking TO be associated with the
Republican party of the United States and to
be represented in its next national convention.
a delegation likewise appeared from the Re
publican party of Porto Rico, asking for recog-
milton as a branch of the Republican party Of
the United States and representation in the
national convention.
Now, il happens that these two are the local
political parties in Porto Rico. They were or
ganiZed at early stage of the American
occupation, and have been rivals for power
ever since. They differentiated solely by
their views on internal Porto Rican questions,
as is highly proper, since those are the only
political questions in which they have or should
have any part Just at present the Republican
party, which, be it noted. has never had any
connection with the Republican party here but
is merely a Porto Rican organization which
happened TO take that name, is In the ascen-
dency, and directs Porto Rican policy so far as
II can be said to be partisan in a system where
the Governor from the United States has so
great influence. If the prayer of the Federal
party should be granted by the National Com
mittee we should see the spectacle Of a Gov
ernor sent out by a Republican administration
conducting the affairs Of Porto Rico, so far as
the elections there determined his course, in
opposition to the local branch OF his own party.
That. Of course, would be ridiculous and mis-
chievous. The Governor whatever his politics
at home, in Porto Rico should be simply an
American the representative of the national
sovereignty, without local party bias. ready to
cooperate with officials of either party who
may be chosen to assist him. We have not the
ministerial system of government like the Ca
nadians, but our insular Governors should not
withstanding their active administrative func-
tons, be in a sense like the Governor General Of
Canada in his detachment from local parties
The desire of each of the Porto Rlcan parties
is evidently TO attach to itself for local pur-
poses the prestige Of the Republican party Its
principles mean nothing to either. If the De-
mOcracy were in power they both would prob
ably seek affiliation with It, On the other hand
the Republican and Democratic parties have
absolutely no basis for opinion on the topics
which divide the two Porto Rican organiza-
tons 1t would be highly unfortunate for the
national and local parties to be affiliated in any
way. Such utilization would mean that uues-
lions at Washington which should receive Judi
cial treatment would be made the subject Of
partisan controversy Officials from the United
| States in Porto Rico then could look only TO
the local allies Of their home party for cO-opera-
| tOn- They would, in Office, be the target of an
! opposition not based in the least on the char
| acter OF their policy. Such a situation would
| be disastrous to the island and to the United
States.