The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-19
Our New Possession.

The raising yesterday of the Stars
and Stripes in completed occupation of
the island of Porto Rico commits the
United States to the colonial system
and brings the American people face
to face with grave and untried duties.
Heretofore we have had to deal with
the government of peoples inhabiting
our own continent, situated within the
temperate zone and having, if not
among them. at least not far removed
from them preponderating American
element schooled in the principles Of
Anslo-Saxon civilization. Hereafter we
shall have to allow for marked differ
ences In race and climate no less than
for inequalities in personal training
and endowment; and we shall have TO
feel our way to an enlightened and
satisfactory adaptation of means TO
ends over a course beset with many
difficulties and making requisition
above all else for untiring patience. We
are not in sympathy with those who
hold that the American people are un-
equal to this new vista of responsible
ity or that their free institutions are
necessarily to he imperilled because the
nation assumes under dictates of
humanity this unfamiliar trusteeship:
yet it is we'll to look the difficulties in
the face and prepare for them.
Some of these are indicated in an in
forming letter from Porto Rico printed
in the London Times. The writer saws
American sovereignty will be welcomed
by the intelligent classes, both Span
ish-born and native, and by the foreign
mercantile resident class almost with
out exception: but he also notes that
of the 100000 inhabitants of the island
not less than 100000 are illiterates oc-
cupying the place I'm the scale of human
degradation to which they have been
depressed during four centuries Of
Spanish misrule: and these, he thinks,
cannot be cured Of ignorance, laziness
and perverted conceptions of morality
in a day. This observer adds: 'I am
inclined to think that the country peo-
pie are averse to steady work and have
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 contribu-
tiOns they will be called upon to pay in
the shape of taxation will assuredly
be heavier than hitherto. Crime Of all
kinds viii meet with speedy and severe
punishment, and the people will have
to learn and fully appreciate the fact
that the justice meted out to them is
no easy mistress to serve under The
transition stage whilst this lesson Is
being inculcated Will, in all human prob
ability, be productive of many elements
of discomfort, and the United States
authorities must expect to encounter
some unpleasant difficulties when deal
ing with these sources OF mischief In
time the effect of just administration
will solve the problem, but during the
process of solution the Americans must
not forget that they are dealing with
a foreign race, alien alike in language,
religion, and sentiment TO the domin-
ant features of their own great repub-
lie, and they will do well sometimes to
can 10 mind the old Italian proverb Of
He who goes slowly goes far"
The foregoing hints at difficulties To-
Gated within the island itself. There is
domestic danger against which We
should also guard. The American peo-
pie have now to show to the world that
they possess the persistency, consist
ency and self-control necessary TO a
successful assumption of colonial re-
sponsibilities. colonial experiment
which is subjected to all the fuss, con-
fusion and unsteadiness of partisan
politics dominated rather by dema-
gogism than by craftsmanship will fail
just as surely as effect follows cause.
The fickleness now apparent in public
opinion. which, in less than three
months after the victorious conclusion
Of a wonderful war, 10 showing signs