The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-12-02
AS TO PUERTO RICO.
Obstacles Which Will Arise in
Uncle Sans Path.
During the Transition Stage There
Will Undoubtedly Be Much
Discomfort Among the
Natives.

There is &c room for doubt that the
more educated portion of the popula-
ton who are posscsso1s of real estate
or other property in Puerto Rico appre-
ciate that the change of ownership
of the island is to their material bene-
fit. 1t is also necessary to bear in mind
that the Puerto Rican has always been
treated by the Spaniard as belonging
| to an inferior caste, and the knowledge
of this fact has been most CALLING to
the inhabitants there. Moreover, such
treatment has not been justified by
| circumstances, a considerable number
| of the mora wealthy families of the
island being fully equal in refinement,
culture and general intelligence to the
most aristocratic representatives and
officials sent to this country from Mad
rid.
In so far rs the Spaniards engaged in
commerce are concerned, | think they
regard the change of government with
equanimity. Spanish merchants in these
countries are generally keen business
men, who do not allow their patriot
ism to interfere with their pockets.
and they quite realize that in the pres
will be fully protected. An increase
in the volume of business to be trans
acted will 60 far toward pallating any
harsh feelings that may exist to-day
as the result Of recent occurrences. and
the United States government need
have small reason to fear that the Span
| iards who remain in the island will
prove other than iaw-abiding and in
| dustrious citizens.
AS regards foreign residents general
ly, there can be no question that they
will be better off under United States
than under Spanish rule. They will
enjoy sounder security for life and
property thar has hitherto been the
case; they will have legal remedy in
disputes connected with commercial
transactions or other matters where
they are unjustly treated-a remedy
which the intricacies of the Spanish
courts have debarrcd the great ma or-
ity of injured persons from appealing
to in the pact
But with the mass of the native in
habitants other considerations crop up.
and trouble may occur in consequence.
Among the 100000 people comprising
the lower class of the population of
Puerto Rico the code of morality is of
a very low order. Respect for law and
order has never been rigidly enforced
by the Spanish authorities, and this
leniency has resulted in a license as
to all moral obligations becoming al
most an ingTained part of the native
character.
From the observations ] have made
in the island am inclined to think that
the country people are averse to steady
work and have small respect for in
dividual life or property. All this will
have to suffer alteration under the new
regime. The rural population will have
to work to live. and the amount of the
contributions they will be called upon
to pay in the shape of taxation will
assuredly be heavier than hitherto.
Crime of all kinds will meet with
speedy and severe punishment, and the
people will have to learn and fully ap-
preciate the fact that the justice melted
out to them is no easy mistress to
serve under.
The transition stage while 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 en-
counter som" unpleasant difficulties
when dealing with these sources of mis-
chief. In time the effect of just adj
ministration will solve the problem.
but during the process of solution the
Americans must not forget that they
are dealing with a foreign race. alien
in language religion and sentiment to
the dominant features of their own
great republic, and they will do well
sometimes to call to mind the old Ital-
ian proverb of "He who goes slowly
goes far"
The number of foreigners in the Is
land is very limited. OF British sub
jects the total is stated not to exceed
500, including many negro immigrants
from Jamaica and other West Indian
colonies France is more strongly rep
resented, some 1000 persons claiming
French citizenship Ponce being their
SCutCAs III IlOSt Vi 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 important in
terests both in financial matters and
in the import and export trade of the
island.
The number of Americans resident
in Puerto Rico before the war was very
small, but here, as in Cuba. many of
the natives have taken out naturaliza-
tion'papers ir the United States for the
purpose of claiming protection when
ever they get into trouble. This abuse
of the naturalization laws of the United
| States was not, however, carried on to
the same extent by the Puerto Ricans
as by the Cubans.-Puerto Rico Cor.
| London Times.
| Sincerity.
Sincerity must always remain the
| ingredient of all our actions. of our
thoughts and their expressions. In
| sincerity is the curse of life and can