The times., 1898-05-08
THE ISLAND OF PORTO RICO.
Discovered by Christopher COium-
bus in the Year 1893.

Porto Rico, the island which. in the
destiny Of present events, is about TO
become American property, compared
with Cuba, is OF very small territory
not so large as the smaller of the six
provinces into which Cuba Is divided.
It is only ninety miles long and thirty-six
broad, but il Is the fairest OF the islands
that have received the most bounteous
blessings that nature can bestow. and
equally with Cuba has been a subject
of the direst oppression and aggrandizing
Spain could visit upon her colonies. 1t
is the healthiest Of the Antilles, and its
possession by this country. which is prob
able almost Immediately, Will settle the
internal troubles that, due 10 Spain's
tyranny, have a very wide range, will
undoubtedly have the appreciation of ev-
cry lover of liberty throughout the broad
expanse of America.
The climate Of Porto Rico Is far health
ier than that of Cuba, owing to the alb
sence of swamps jungles and other low
lands that breed malaria. There Is no
place in the West Indies so agreeable
as far as climate and natural tempera-
ture are concerned. Yellow fever and
other tropical diseases are unknown. ex-
cept when they are brought into the sea-
ports from the other islands.
With all their troubles, owing TO the
aggressions OF the home government. the
people of Porto Rico have thought that
they had fewer grievances than those of
Cuba. Their government has not been
so Systematically harassed and tampered
with. They have in a degree been less
taxed by tyranny and taxation, but il
must be said that, on account of the
smallness Of the island. its people have
been more easily controlled by the mill
tary.
There have been revolutionary OUT
breaks from time 10 time. but none OF
them has been serious. and the people
have been kept in such a state Of igno-
rance that they are scarcely able to ten
the difference between good and bad
government. The intelligent classes
being mostly Spaniards, have been Ioyal
to the mother country. and have frowned
upon political conspTacies. The Duke OF
Veragua, a descendant of Columbus. is
senator for life from Porto Rico to the
Spanish Cortes, and hb and his ancestors
have received pensions from the revenues
OF the island for nearly 400 years.
The white population does not exceed
80 000-35 600 Spaniardsj and a few Eng
lish Germans. Dntchmen Danes Chi
nese, South Ameflca1k and Canary ISL
auders. only g6 s67 Of the population can
read and write, and these constitute the
upper and middle classes In the cities
| and larger towns. The blacks are alb
/ soIutely illitcrate- There are no schools,
! except those KEEP. by the priests ana
! they are not encouraged. In the larger
! towns are several private schools for
! the rich, but there is no place where the
/ children of the common people can get
! an education.
! De LONE. the last Spanish minister to
! this country, was fond of citing Porto
| Rico in evidence OF the blessings ana
content-producing properties Of Spanish
rule.
But IT is neither because its r.Jp;"
have been happy under the Spanish oI.c.
perate efforts TO throw II CT that Porto
( Rico is sin a dependency OF Spain. The
| Porto Ricans have long desired freedom
/ with an augmenting keenness, and, fuTth.
| ermore nine-tenths Of them wish to be-
come citizens of the United States
IN his vague references 10 law-abidinp
and contented Porto Rico. the Spanish
( diplomat was careful not to 20 into de
tailed history OF the island much less L,
give an accurate account Of the blessinps
showcred upon il by a horde Of greed,
Spanish ofllceholders.
As carly as 1870 the Porto Ricans at
tempted TO gain their Independence Thi,
was years before Cuba had been fired by
the torch of liberty. Indeed at about
this time the Cubans were taking oath,
OF eternal allegiance to the legitimate
Spanish dynasty which they alone sup.