The record-union., 1898-08-23

Tor a single moment, public taxes LEVIED
and collected here to support church es
tablishments
THE EFFECT UPON OURSELVES.
There is nothing in the whole history
of the late war more soul-grinding and
humiliating to Spanish pride than the
Rico. The story Of the reception of
General Stone, for instance, where
flowers were strewn in his path and the
people Wed with each other in efforts
own tables, the cheers and songs
for the troops, the public celebra-
t1onS gotten up in their honor,
and the outbursts of enthusiasm
generally for the Americanos - all
these things amount to the culmin-
ating humiliation of Spain. No wonder
that the 'Imparcial'' is astounded at
the manifestations Of disloyalty. 1t
cannot understand it. Such condem-
nation from what the Spanish call
their own is as steel entering the
soul.
But what does it really mean? 1t
means popular announcement OF
SPANS colonial methods. Some of it
may be insincere and the outgrowth Of
favor-currying only, but it is impos-
sible that whole communities could be
moved upon by such motives. The
Porto Rico people have had the
shackles stricken off. They realize that
they are no longer to grovel in the dust
at the sight of Spanish uniform. They
are no more to pay taxes to fatten
priests and support monks and friars.
No soldier is hereafter free to lay hands
| on their daughters and rudely salute
them without the rebuke manhood
gives to impudence. Spanish officials
are no more to grow lusty upon stolen
revenues wrung from toilers of the SOIL
Concessions are no more to be par
celed out to Spanish favorites and de-
MED to natives Of the island. Officials
not of their choosing are no more to
nave IiC6HS6 10 lay on taxes T6SdTQiGSS
of system and in defiance Of justice.
Yet Spain boasted, and has these
hundreds of years Of Porto Rico as her
model colony, the one in which success
full revolt was unknown, the island that
bred no rebels, the garden spot that
was all peace, plenty and content; the
one of all her possessions where Spain
did not have to advance excuses for ap-
plication of severity"
Yet these people, who were nowhere
nearly oppressed as the Cubans and
Filipinos have been; these people who
| really enjoyed more personal freedom
and real liberty than any under the flag
of Spain, not excepting the mother
country, hail the conquering heroes as
saviors and deliverers. And this well
coming began at the principal city of
| the largest business interests centered
and the solid men of the island dwell
1t should be lesson to US, and 1t will
be. The incident. as we'll as the whole
| war, is going to benefit US morally. We
are to learn in governing others how
better to govern ourselves. The hon
esty, straightforwardness and justice
we must conserve in our colonies will
result in giving us clearer insight into
our home methods, with higher resolves
| for betterments among ourselves and
| broader capacity to effect their realiza-
| ton.
| No matter what the cost Of the war
we are going to find ample compensa-
ton in this one fact, truth which can
not escape the attention Of students of
civil order and social prosperity. Out
Of the stagnation Of peace, through the
purifying results of war and the self
| imposition of high trusts to be exc
| cuted in the interests Of those depend
| ent upon us, We are to attain to better
methods for ourselves and to form
higher conceptions of civic duty and
| obligation.