The Saint Paul globe., 1898-10-16
Puerto Rico and Statehood.

The president of Puerto Rico, Senor
Munez, was sufficiently yielding to
temptation to grant an interview to the
New York Tribune, which was pub
lished a few days ago. In that inter-
view he took occasion to remark upon
the possibilities of early statehood in
the American Union for this recent
Spanish possession in the Antilles. The
hopefulness regarding that consumma-
tior which he expressed was seized
UPON by one of the editorial youngsters
of the Tribune as a favorable opportu-
nifty for dashing cold water into the
face of the -booded West Indian.
Upon what authority he assumed to
take such liberties, in so extraordinary
and impressive language, it is difficult
to conjecture.
Senior Munez ventured to suggest his
belief that latter short period, Puer-
to Rico would be allowed to enter the
Union as a state. With a positiveness
that, in the circumstances, seems al
most impertinent, and with an indica-
tlon Of readiness which suggests that
it's author is youthful, and not beyond
the period when discipline, Of a whole
some kind, can be applied by the sharp
twisting of a we'll developed ear, the
Tribune says:
The people of this nation do not mean. at
the present time, or latter a short period"
or in any future near enough for practical
consideration, to admit Porto Rico or Hawaii
or any such outlying territory as state.
That may we'll be understood, distinctly
and at once. There is no question that the
American people were strongly in favor Of
the annexation Of those lands they were
annexed. They are just as strongly opposed
to the erection Of either of them into a
state. And we are inclined to think that
had they been compelled to choose between
taking them in states and not annexing
them at all they would have chosen the
latter. We see no reason for supposing that
in the lifetime of the present generation
that sentiment will be materially changed.
This reads so amusingly that it makes
one laugh. Who is there within the cir
Gle Of authority in the New York Trib-
une office who shall declare, with such
emphasis, against the admission Of
Puerto Rico as a state Of this Union?
If that island should rapidly become
rehabilitated and sufficiently infused,
through its population with the spirit
OF the American republic, and if that
population should attain to the proper
figures necessary to secure admission
under the constitution, will it not
much as Idaho Nevada, Utah and 9TH
er areas within the actual boundaries
Of the Atlantic and Pacific have been
admitted in the past?
There is a sterility of common sense
in this bumptious declaration of the
New York Tribune which renders It
absolutely ridiculous or course, we
don't want Puerto Rico as a state, any
more than We want Canada, or Mexico,
as territory which may be capable Of
future admission to statehood. But
there is about as much sense in declar-
ing that Puerto Rico shall not enjoy
statehood in this Union as that the
provinces Of Canada and the states of
Mexico should not, latter a short pc
riod," be divisionally brought into the
family group Of the nation, if the ex-
igencies of the future should demand it.
And speaking Of exigencies, one Of
the dangers associated with the an
nexation Of outlying territory exists In
the fact that, in the progress Of the
creation or history, the time may come
When party, and indeed the ma
ton Itself, may be saved from ami
hllation by the admission Of such COM
munltieS. We never know until temp
tation comes what we may do.
This suggestion points out the haz-
ardous tendencies towards the indul
gerce in plans for colonization by a re-
public. All who enter into communion
under the flag Of this country become,
through the provisions Of it's constitu
ton, subject to the enjoyment of all
the privileges associated with that
beneficent instrument
The remark Of the Tribune through
its suggestiveness in this connection.
IS confirmatory of the solid foundation
for the fears which have existed in
the minds of many honest, patriotic
people ever since the subject of terri
torial expansion was broached.