The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-07
AMERICANIzrNG PORTO RICO.

There will be many changes to be made in
Porto Rico before it will be Americanized.
In order that this may be done thoroughly
and without too much friction it should be
slow process. The processes of nature
are all slow, and the works of art and of
statesmanship which are accomplished
without haste or hurry are apt to be most
beneficial and enduring. There will be a
great field for craftsmanship in the Amer
icanizing of Porto Rico and substituting
Anglo-Saxon government, institutions,
ideas and methods for those which have
prevailed there so long. Probably this
existing ideas and methods will be wholly
eradicated. The Spanish language will con-
tinue to be spoken by a majority of the
people for some generations, and traces of
it will continue perhaps in the form of a
patois or creole language for hundreds of
years 1t is SO in Louisiana to this day.
where there are still numerous traces of
Spanish as well as French blood, language
and laws. There are communities in
Louisiana where a sort of French patois is
spoken to the entire exclusion of English,
and the inhabitants are American only in
name. There are also distinct traces of
the Spanish ownership and occupation of
Louisiana, which lasted from 1862 to 1900.
The geographical nomenclature of the
State is largely foreign, the names of her
rivers, lakes and counties, or as they are
termed there parishes, being largely of
French or Spanish origin. Iberia and Iber-
vile are Spanish, and Terre Bonnie. Fell
ciana, Plaquemines, Calcascieu, Avoyelles
and many others are plainly French. The
saints are well represented, the names Of
nine parishes beginning with Saint. Our
army of occupation will stumble on saints at
every turn in Porto Rico Probably the geo.
graphical nomenclature of the island will re-
main largely as it is, though some of the
most foreign names will be gradually Amer
icanized, especially in pronunciation. The
island is divided into seven departments or
provinces viz, Bayamon, Arecibo, Aqua
Ailla, Mayaguez, Ponce, Humacao and
Guayama. Perhaps the American tongue
can master these names, but there are
others which are; harder
In regard to laws and judicial proceed
ings and forms what is called the civil law
prevails in Porto Rico This is substantial
ly the ancient Roman law modified by the
Code Napoleon as it prevails in most Latin
states as distinguished from the common
law of England, from which it differs
more in forms and methods of procedure
than in principle. The civil law still pre-
walls in Louisiana, as it does also in Quebec.
where it is a survival of French rule 1t
is recognized in the United States courts
in Louisiana and no practical inconvenience
has resulted from its continuance. 1t may
be permitted to continue, with some neces-
sary notifications, in Porto Rico.
The complete separation of church and
state, the withdrawal of all public support
from the Catholic or any other church. the
repeal of all laws recognizing the right to
collect tithes or taxes for the church, the
relief of the people from onerous taxation,
the enactment of a just revenue law, the
establishment of free schools, are some of
the things that will demand early attention
in Porto Rico. the conditions there are not
as bad as they are in Cuba but as we are
likely to come in possession of the island
very soon and as our responsibility for it's
government will begin soon we take
possession, all these questions will demand
early consideration. 1t is probable that at
first we will establish a sort of semi-mili-
tary government, based on existing laws,
and that this will continue until such time
as commission can frame a new code of
laws and Congress enact territorial form
of government. This will be the beginning
of the Americanization of the island, a
process which must occupy many years.