The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-09

IRE was a part OF the national policy
which looks forward 10 the absence OF
aforeign Tag on any part OF this contin-
ent, and II Is also valuable as affording
US a coaling base and rendezvous In
time OF war. It has an additional value
because OF its nearness TO Cuba. II
that island is TO be Independent its or
derby government IL a matter Of grave
consequence to us. and the presence OF
a part Of our navy at Porto Rico win
enable use TO exercise great moral In
f1uence without direct interference with
the affairs Of the Cuhans.
The conditions on the island and the
smailness Of It's area forbid its becom-
ing for many years very closely identi-
fed with American character and meth
DDS. In way. it viii bear something OF
the same relation 10 this country that
New Mexico does. The chief resources
OF Porto Rico are tobacco and a fine
quality OF iron ore, but the climate is
enervating and accIimation is very slow.
Americans who have taken Up their
residence in either Cuba or Porto Rico
soon find themselves succUmbing TO
climate which encourages Incidence.
The population OF Porto Rico Is about
500 900, and as the island is only about
the size of Connecticut. considerable ad-
d,ional work could be done without
overtaxing the present inhabitants
Most Of the island has been cultivated
and the products have been sent to the
markets Of the world for years. No
doubt American energy would greatly
stimulate both mineral and agricultural
production. but it is capital and direc-
ton that are needed and not skilled la
tiyes under white overseers will suffice
for some time TO afford all the supply Of
products that can be utilized.
Before any marked improvement can
be expected. country roads must be con-
structed and railroads built There is
nothing in Porto Rico 10 attract inlmi-
grafton more than in the great area OF
land in Florida, Louisiana and other
Southern states through which rail-
roads already run, and which are far
better situated for the employment Of
American labor than either Porto Rico
or Cuba. Indeed for most Of the North
ern races the opportunities for wealth in
the Northwest and some of the middle
Southern states. like Georgia and Ala
bama, are far greater than in either of
the Spanish settlements. \ man at
tempting to occupy virgin territory in
the United States will find markets
which do not exist In the islands of the
Caribbean sea. and he will not be handi-
capped by being a stranger to the Ian
guage and the customs Of those around
him. 1t viii take many years to edu-
cate the people of those islands UP TO
the conditions which exist in the United
States. To the natural Incidence of the
HALVES Is dtUSu the tiiiStdhNH IOltDIS
which have grown up under Spanish
misrule, Heartily as they might well
come American domination in prefer
ence to the oppression of Spanish rule.
there Will be racial jealousies, suspi-
clons and prejudces. which can only be
overcome through generations of pa
tient adaptation.
This warning seems necessary be-
cause Of the misapprehension which ex-
lists as TO the opportunities afforded to
venturesome young Americans who are
attracted by the semi-tropical climate
and the novelty OF the scenes which
have been somewhat exaggerated by
newspaper correspondents. Without
wishing to discriminate against any
other state. Washington offers far more
enduring opportunities TO the vigor and
intelligence of the young men OF the
United States who are seeking new
fields