The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-03-12

resources are small All the arms on
the island are owned by the Spanish,
who control the sale of guns and ammu-
milton.
The Puerto Hican revolutionary party
which was recently formed in New
York purposes to supply this deficiency.
At the first meeting an impromptu col
lection was taken and over $500 con-
tributed. The revolutionists are now
organizing branches in other cities, and
expect to raise enough money in short
time to send we'll equipped expeditions
to the island with large supplies of arms
and ammunition. Then, when the word
is given for the revolt, the patriots will
be we'll armed.
DR.. J. Julio Henna of New York,
who has been elected president of the
revolutionary party, says that the Puerto
Ricans and the Cubans are to combine
their resources in this country and help
each other, at the same time dividing
Spain's attention.
Money is coming in rapidly for the
purchase of arms and ammunition, he
said. Like Cubans, Puerto Ricans are
compe He'd to suffer the burden of an alb
surd and heavy taxation. Our people
by the Spanish government upon the
people are of common occurrence. Our
police is composed of ex- convicts sent
from Spain, and our people are subject
ed to gross outrages at the hands of
these men, who are invested with
power that makes them petty tyrants.
We realize our strength now. We, too,
will fight for independence, and with
Spain's waning energies divided be-
tween the two countries Cubans and
Puerto Ricans hope to achieve their free
dom. !"
1t is fair land, this little island, and
a rich one In the interior are several
mountain ranges from whose slopes
plunge down over 1, 900 streams that
empty into the ocean. Most of these
rivers are navigable part of their length.
There are 40 or more towns and cities,
and railroad almost encircles the Is
land. The principal port and capital is
San Juan This is a historic and pictur-
esque old city. It is defended by MORO
castle, where garrison Of some 1000
soldiers is maintained.
The bulk of Puerto Rico's trade is with
England, but owing to heavy duties and
taxes it is carried ON in Spanish ships
Spain comes next in rank as customer,
and the United States is third on the
list.
The productiveness of this small col
eny is surprising. The average annual
yield of coffee is 15, 600 tons; of sugar,
$1,000 tons; of tobacco, 1000, 900
pounds-astonishin figures. Besides
this, many tropical fruits are exported
The tobacco Is
said TO excel that of Cuba, and the cot
ton is very valuable There are gold,
copper, iron and lead deposits there, but
the mines are not worked. In 1898 Puer-
to Rico sent to the United States over
81, 900, 600 worth of sugar and co1fee
and fruit to the value of about So, OOo,-
900. We sent them in return flour, out-
ter, cheese, Goldfish, iron and steel to the
value of over So, 700, 900, besides 1850
tons of machinery and 1900 tons OF
coal
Taxation is the curse of the country.
The inhabitants are taxed almost every
time they turn around. They are taxed,
in fact, when they go from one city tc
the other. Travellers have to pay 81 &c
land ON the island. The taxes ON foreign
ships are particularly heavy and unjust.
The island is governed wholly by
Standards, who are sent from Madrid.
Every petty officer is a Spanish tyrant
in the ewes of the people. This horde OF
officeboiders the Puerto Ricans have to
support as we'll as furnish money to car
rv on war against their neighbors' the
Cnbaps No wonder they are ripe for
rebellion.