a.
r
'Che Conservative , 11
ministration aud instead adopted the
following resohition :
"The retention of our new possessions
and the extending of all the blessings of
liberty and the higher civilization that
we enjoy to such possessions , providing
them with a government that will be
generous to them and just to us. "
General Low Wallace : "When the
President recommended free trade with
Puerto Rico , that was William MoKin-
ley speaking from his heart ; when he
urged Congressmen to eat their utter
ances and vote for a duty on the indus
tries of the island , going aud coming ,
that was Mark Hanua , the great Ohio
suspect. "
Ex-Governor Washburu , of Minnesota ,
in writing to McOall : "It seems to me
that the position taken by you is abso
lutely sound. For one I can see no reas
on why we should impose a duty on
sugar coming from Puerto Rico any
more than we should on sealskins and
salmon coming from Alaska. I believe ,
in a word , that your position from a
constitutional standpoint is absolutely
correct and I can hardly think the
supreme court would ultimately take
any other view. Further , even if there
were no constitutional inhibition , it
seems to me very unwise , and very bad
policy for this government , at this time
to discriminate against the poor people
of Puerto Rico , who have recently conie
under our flag ; and , moreover , to my
mind it is little less than an outrage.
The 'sugar trusts' and the 'tobacco
trusts , ' are undoubtedly able to take
care of themselves , and why not give
these newly acquired citizens a fair
chance in the world ? "
Smith of Indiana
Ex-Attorney-General ,
diana : "It is conceded that Puerto
Rico constitutes part of the territory of
the United Statr-i and that our title to
it was acquired under the treaty making
power of the constitution ; and it fol
lows , therefore , that the moment the
title passed from Spain to the United
States the constitution extended itself
over every part of the island. Any at
tempt by congress to segregate the con
stitution and extend a part of its provi
sions to our island possessions is a violation
lation of the letter and spirit of that in
strument , amounting almost , if not
quite , to an overt act of treason. We
took these people from choice , not com
pulsion , and by that act we extended to
them the protection of our constitution.
If we have made a mistake in adding
this territory to our country it is not too
late to correct it. "
Kansas City Star , Expansion Ind
"Reduced to its simplest terms , the
statement made by the Cabinet member
on the dictation of the President , signi
fies that the administration is still at
taohed to the fetish which has been
pelted BO vigorously by the public since
the enactment of the Puerto Ricau tar
If
T rr
ff bill , and that it has reconciled itself
; o the idea of sacrificing justice and na-
; ional honor by way of conciliating the
protection pirates , who plunder the con
sumers of the country to fill their own
pockets. "
Chicago Times-Herald , Rep. : Not
since the speech of Senator Proctor set-
ing forth the harrowing sufferings of
Cuba under Spanish misgovermnent has
American sentiment been so universally
aroused as at the present moment over
the bill to exclude Puerto Rico from
'reo access to American markets. In
dignation mingles with the amazement
of the republicans throughout the coun-
iry that their representatives should be
so dead to popular opinion as to flout
it. "
Boston Correspondence , Springfield ,
Rep. : "A sardonic wit , who had a
rudge against a politician devoted to
; he practice of shyster law , once found a
woodturner's sign , and affixed it , direct
ly under his foeman's law office sign ,
so that they blended as follows :
Jehonidab Griggs , Attorney.
All kinds of Turning and Twisting Done
Here.
New York Tribune , Rep. : More
presidents have been beaten by trying
to please everybody than by obeying
their own convictions of duty.
Chicago Inter-Ocean , Rep , : . The
Puerto Rico tariff bill is a substitution
of Imperialism for the Expansion ap
proved by the American people.
Philadelphia Telegraph , Ex.-Rep. :
The demand that Puerto Rico shall be
compelled to pay customs taxes on its
commerce is puerile and discreditable.
What is infinitely worse , it is a demand
which if complied with , will stulify
this nation. The proposition to set up a
new aud unheard of tariff system for
the island of Puerto Rico is a stupid
piece of folly , economically speaking ,
but what should condemn it utterly is
that it involves an act of injustice and a
violation of the good faith of this nation
utterly intolerable to the good sense and
right feeling of our people.
Portland Oregonian , Rep. : Why
shouldn't Puerto Rico be treated like
Hawaii ? The greed of protected Trusts
on the Atlantic seaboard is the obstacle.
Philadelphia North American ,
Rep. : The present condition of Puerto
Rico would have beeen absolutely in
credible and inconceivable to Americans
of two years ago. We thought we knew
our own hearts , and we should
have said with entire confidence that
wherever our flag went it would go as a
messenger of benediction. Has a year
and a half of empire stripped us of al
the fine feelings of humanity with
which we went into war for Cuban lib
erty , and turned us into a race of mer
cenary oppressors ?
Senator George Frisbie Hoar : A duty
on exports is forbidden by the coustitu-
ion , and the proposed duty of 15 per
cent on goods from the United States
and Puerto Rico would be a violation of
hat prohibition.
Ex- Speaker Reed : The attempt to
nake three-quarter citizens out of the
Puerto Ricans is certainly original.
Senator Cnshman K. Davis : What
s the reason that this tariff rate , anom
alous , [ unheard-of , unprecedented , and
emporary , should be applied to Puerto
llico while the other day a bill was pass
ed in the House appropriating $2,000-
000 for Puerto Rico from the Treasury ?
From General Miles' proclamation on
invading the island : Puerto Rico un
der the American flag will enjoy the
same privileges and the same immuni
ties as the citizens of the United States
and Territories of the union.
Ex- President Harrison : "I regard the
bill as a most serious departure from
the right principles. "
PATERNALISM.
the article , "Books ,
Breeches and Boots , " would say , why
not suggest a remedy ? We have the
other kind of sohoorbooks furnished by
the trust at very high prices and new
kinds required every few months. The
books of the older children are not
allowed to be used by the younger chil
dren. We do not know that the scien
tific apparatus which the principal gets ,
and which is not needed in school , are
furnished by the trust , but we know
we must pay for many books , and many
school children abuse their books.
Yours truly
S. E. RUSSELL.
Pbntwater , Mich. , March 15 , 1900.
The chief traffic official of the Santa
Fe told a meeting of Kansas shippers
the other day that the railways could
defend a radical advance in rates "on
account of the overdose of prosperity
from which we are suffering. ' ' Increase
of business has brought great increase
in the expense of doing business. It
will cost the Santa Fe $250 a mile more
to operate its roads this year , according
to the Fame official ; which means nearly
$2,000,000 more than last year. Fortun
ately , however , the earnings are likely to
fully keep pace with the expenses. The
Railway Age.
F. A. Sterling is telling a story illus
trative of the wit of his brother-in-law ,
Jos. Ohoato , ambassador to the court of
her gracious majesty. Mrs. Ohoate told
the story to her brother in a letter.
The Ohoates were breakfasting at
Windsor castle , a few weeks ago , and
boiled eggs were served. By some mis
chance , Mrs. Ohoate dropped an egg up
on the floor. She was horrified. Seiz
ing her husband's arm , she exclaimed :
"Oh , Joe , I've dropped an egg ! What
shall I do ? "
"Do ? " said Joe. "Why , cackle , of
course. "
