The Irish standard., 1909-04-24
TARIFF FOR FILlPINos.

er advocated the acquisition of the
Philippine Islands. In recent maya
zine article he explained why he went
to the islands on the urgent solicita-
ton of President Mckinley. While
governor Of the islands he discharged
his duties faithfully and followed the
instructions forwarded to him by his
superior authorities in Washington.
AS an American pro- consul no man
could have done better for the inter
ests of the United and it's Oriental pos
1 sessions than the present occupant of
the White House.
Ten years ago, few Americans had
heard of Judge Taft. The first time
his name became nationally known wa.
when he issued a court injunction
against labor organization and sent
labor leaders to Jail for disobeying mis-
mandate. At the request of Mckinley
he went to the Philippines and made
himself popular with the natives. For
an official who governed against the
consent of the governed, no man could
have given better satisfaction. In fact,
he impressed the little brown men as
one worthy of their confidence, and
they have confidence in him to the
present day when he is the head of
the American republic, of which they
are obsequious subjects, and not citi-
zens. ''' 81
AS president of the United States,
Mr. Taft is in a. position to be Of much
service to the brown men of the ORR
entail colony. - The commercial rela-
tons between the United States and
the Philippines have changed accord
ing to the terms of the Paris treaty,
and under the new tariff bill the
F'ilipinos will. be skinned scientifically
if, Taft does not come to their aid,
and interpose objections in their be-
half. This he lis doing, thus proving
himself true friend of the. victims of
plutocracy. Last week he sent to
congress special message in rein
ton to the Philippine Islands, recon-
mending the passage of a separate
tariff bill for their special benefit, IN
order to permit as much customs rev.
enue as possible to be raised on i'm
ports. to the Islands. Heidi not rec
ommend free trade for their exports
this country, as he should have
done, but he demanded that American
products shall be subject to tariff on
reaching their destination SO as to
raise sufficient revenue to escape colo
NAL bankruptcy. IN his message Pres
ident Taft says: 49,
1.-The bill now transmitted has been
drawn by board of tariff experts
Of which the insular collector of Gus
toms, Colonel George r. Cotton, was
the president. 7The board held a great
many open meetings in Manila AID
conferred fully: with representatives of
all business interests in the Philip
pine Islands. 1t is of great Importance
to the welfare Of the islands that the
bill should be passed at the same time
with the pending Payne bill with spe-
cial reference to the provisions of
which it was prepared. I respectfully
recommend that this bill be enacted
at the present session Of congress as
one incidental to and required by the
passage Of the Payne BILL
What has been done with the bill
recommended by Mr.. Taft is not
known outside of congress. Judging
Of the Indifference displayed by the
trainers of the tariff bills in both
houses to the wishes of the American
people at home, what can the Filipinos
expect from them? They are absolute
ly helpless What do Payne and AL
drich care for the grumbling Of semi
| civilized people in the Orient when
they snap their fingers at the great
American people with ballots in their
hands? Taft understands the situation
in the Philippines and does not want
the people robbed of their CONNER
cia1 rights as they have been robbed
of their political rights for the bene-
fit Of the class that Payne and Aldrich
represent in our legislative halls.
The Filipinos can raise internal rev.
enue by legislation in the Philippine
assembly, but tariff revenue laws are
enacted by the American congress, aud
the Filipinos must be satisfied. The
American congress should permit the
"Filipinos to regulate the tariff on all
articles going into the islands, ana
treat American exports in the same way
as exports Of other foreign countries, 50
long as the United States will not adj
NIT their products free to this coun-
try. We trust Mr.. Taft will succeed
in obtaining partial Justice for the
islanders and that If matters are not
fairly adjusted he will veto the AL
! drich bill. Perhaps that is too much
To aYnect fro,, DAryIh1fran YorARi :,