It is alleged in this report of the majority of the committee that Congress is free to impose taxes at their own willone rate on Puerto Rico. another on Oklahoma. another in New Mexicoand its provisions respecting uniformity do not apply to our new possessions. If this be true. then the protected interests of monopolies and trusts may demand in their greed that excessive taxes be laid. amounting to exclusion from our home markets and the termination to that extent of their civil rights. Congress could then establish different rules of naturalization and establish a despotic government. or make for them a government as cruel as that from which we have just liberated them. Our duty requires us to deal justly and in the best faith with Puerto Rico. regardless of this effort to establish. a precedent for future use when we come to deal with the Philippines. Puerto Rico can not be presumed to assent to such legislation that infringes the principle of equity. Our timehonored declaration. that all just government is founded on the consent of. the governed. would. to them. be a snare and delusion. Let the people amend the Constitution if they desire Congress to govern foreign territory by the fluctuating will of this body. but let not Congress assume to appropriate powers. not specifically granted or necessarily implied in that instrument for any purposes. laudable or otherwise. While I hope never to see the representatives of Asiatic peoples in the Congress. or their millions of subjects allowed to compete with American labor. yet we must meet the questions as they arise under constitutional powers conferred and deal with them in accordance with and subject to and not outside of the limits prescribed in the Constitution under which alone we derive the power to deal with any territory at all. We went as far as we were justified in going when we said to Europe that America was for Americans. but if we are now to govern the islands bordering on America or on Asia by force as a colony. subject to such unequal taxation as we deem desirable. and govern them as subjects purchased from their former masters. what further rights have we to command that European monarchies shall not found imperialistic governments on American soil? if the Constitution secures to every man under the flag the rights of freementhe right to travel and live in any part of our common country. wherever our flag floats as the emblem of freedom and libertywhere is the power granted to restrain that right if we claim them as American territory and subject to our laws? May constitutional liberty be maintained in this entire nation. including every Territory embraced within its extended borders. in full force and vigor forever. [Loud applause.]
Keywords matched
naturalization Asiatic