The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-19
PORTO RICAN SITUATION
What an English Correspondent Says
ofthc Island aud Its Inhabitants.

There IS no room for doubt that the
more educated portion OF the population
who are pOssess0rs OF real estate or
other property in Porto Rico appreciate
that the change Of ownership of the isl
and is TO their material benefit IL
is also necessary 20 bear IN mind that
the Porto Rican has always been treated
by tho Spauiards as belonging TO an in
ferior caste, and the knowledge Of this
fact has been most calling 10 the inhaOi-
tants here. Moreover, such treatment
has not been justified by circumstances,
considerable number of the more
wealthy families Of the island being fully
equal I'm refinement culture, and general
intelligence to the most arist0cratc rep
resentatiyes and officials sent to this
country from Madrid.
In so far as the Spaniards engaged in
commerce are concerned, l think they
regard the change Of government with
oquauimity. Spanish merchants in these
countries are generally keen business
men who do not allow their patriotism 10
interfere with their pockets, and they
quite realize that in the present instance
their interests and rights viii be FUZZY
protected An increase in the volume OF
business TO be transacted VIII go far to-
ward palliating any harsh feelings that
may exist to-day as the result Of recent
occurrences. and the United States gov
eminent need have small reason 10 fear
that the spaniards who remain in the ISL
and will prove other than laW-abidihS
and industrious citizens.
AS regards foreign residents generally
there can be no question that they VIII
be- better of under United States than
under Spanish rule They will enjoy
sounder security for life and property
than has hitherto been the case; they
will have a legal remedy in disputes con-
nected with commercial transactions or
other matters where they are unJusuy
yreated-a remedy which the intricacies
OF the Spanish courts have debarred the
great majority OF injured persons from
appealing to in the past.
But with the mass Of the native IN
habitants other considerations crop up,
and-trouble may occur in consequence
Amongst the 10000 people comprising the
lower class Of the population Of Porto
Rico the code of morality is OF n very
low order Respect FOR law and order has
never been rigidly enforced by the Span
ism authorities, and this leniency has re-
suited in a license as TO all moral obli-
cations becoming almost an ingrained
part Of the native character.
From the observations / have made In
the island l am inclined TO think that the
country people are averse to steady work
and have small respect for individual life
or property All this Will have 10 suffer
alteration under the new regime. The
rural population Will have 70 work 10
live and The amount Of the contributions
they will be called upon 10 pay In the
shape Of taxation will assuredly be heav-
Ter than hitherto. Crime Of all kinds viii
meet with speedy and severe punishment
and the people will have to learn and
fully appreciate the fact that the justice
meted out 20 them is no easy mistress
90 serve under.
The transition stage whilst this lesson
is being inculcated will, in all human
probability be productive of many ele-
ments OF discomfort. and the United
States authorities must expect TO encoun-
ter some unpleasant difficulties when
dealing with these sources of mischief.
In time the effect of just administration
will solve the problem, but during the
process of solution the Americans must
not forget that they are dealing with
foreign race. allen alike in language. re-
Uclon. and sentiment 10 the dominant
features of their own great republic, and
they will do well sometimes TO call to
mind the Old Italian proverb of Gle
who goes slowly goes far"
The population of Porto Rico is OF so
mixed a character as 10 make II difficult
10 classify. OF the 5000 inhabitants Of
the island fully one third are negroes,
another third are mulattoes, the remain
der in many cases show marked traces
OF q mixture Of African blood in their
veins. Indeed. 10 draw hard-and-fast
line where the pure white families-end
and those with a trace of the negro be-
gin is almost impossible.
The number OF foreigners in the island
is very limited. or British subjects the
total is stated not 10 exceed 800 including
many negro immigrants from Jamaica
and other West Indian colonies. France
is n0re strongly represented. some 1000
persons claiming French citizenship.
Ponce being their principal centre. In
most of the chief towns Frenchmen are
established IN both wholesale and retail
business. more especially in the latter
branch Of trade The German colony.
although not very numerous, has import
ant interests both in financial matters
and in the import and export trade OF the
island
The number Of Americans resident in
Porto Rico before the war was very
small. but here. as In Cuba. many OF the
natives have taken out naturalization pa
pers In the United states for the purpose
OF claiming protection whenever they got
into trouble. This abuse Of the naturali-
cation laws of the United States was not.
however. carried on 70 the same extent
By the Porto Ricans as by the Cubans.-
Correspondence Of London Times.