Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-09-22


that you are likely to meet with delay
in the realization Of your hopes from
two principal causes.
sit is wall known 10 the United
States thar Porto Rico ia Roman
Catholic country, and there is a grave
objection on the pnrt OF many good
people against the admission of a
purely Roman Catholic State into the |
Union. This ia based not so much on |
opposItion to that particular religion as |
on the feeling that the domination of
amy sect would be preiudicial to our
principles Of government. We have,
psrhaps, TO- 100000 of Roman Catholics
in this United States but they are
scattered throughout the various
States, and intermingled where
with the Protestant scots 80 that no
| one has majority. We have no estab-
lished church and under our policy
| Congress can pnsa no act concerning
religion or limiting the right of any
citizen to Worship G0d as he plsaseB.
1.-THE result is that all the churches
are absolutely free ana none concerns
itself with politics. Each watches to
see that the other docs not get control
of the State.
"Now that the Spanish government
has been, expelled it can no longer
support the church in this island,
hence the church will necessarily have
a hard struggle till 1t can establish
| itself on tho basis of voluntary paro-
chial support. Meanwhile the Protest.
ant denominations in the Unitsd States
will have the right. to send their mis-
sionaries into this inviting field, where
they will doubtless raoeive hearty
welcome, hut still the advantage will
remain with the Roman Catholic
Church, in which the people have been
born, married and burisd for the last
400 years.
| .Besides, it must nots be forgotten
that the church, like svsry other in
stitution Of the island, will surely
realize it's full share of the benefits
arising from the union OF the island
with the great republic. 1t will.
therefore, become more liberal and in
dependent as we'll as more powerful
than it has ever bean.
Fortunately for you, however. every
other Christian denomination will from
, this time forth be free to make con-
yerts, establish churcheH. open schools
, and circulate religious books and news
, papers, and generally to show that It y
a worthy teacher and guide to higher
|
walls where one church holds undis
puted sway.
1.-THE second great menace to tht
) future Of the Porto Rican people IS the
) danger of an outbreak of violence anG
intolerance on the part OF one sectior
of your people agHinst another; th'
danger Of insular turning against pen
insnlar; of Porto Rican turning agains
. Spanlard. with the torch and dagger
n to avenge himself for the wrongs ant
! oprression, real or imaginary, which
9 have so long characterized the Spanish
t domination in this beautiful island.
o "It needs no argument to show tina
y such an outbreak, 10 it becomes gen
I eral, cannot fail to bring discredit OF
. your countrymen as turbulent an
d jawbreaking people who cannot b.
II intrusted with the precious privilege
i of aelf-government, and must therefor
be ruled ny military commander.
81 Grmly believe that the Port
Ricans are doeilu. orderly and kindl
y people, welt prepared Tor bette
government than they have ever en-
y joyed, but you must lose no opportunit
- - TO Impress upun the United States tha
y you are tolerant and magnanimoua a
we'll.
"Your wronss, whatever they were
. have been avenged by tbs expulsion Q
]. !. the Spanish flag and the Spanis
- dominion, without exertion or cost Q
I your part, and the loast you can do
return la to reprass the spirit {
revenge. and resolve to live in peace an
y quietude with your Spanish neighhorl
" respecting their rights of persons an
:. :, property, as you desire TO have yot
- - own respeuted.
" SIN this way, and in this way onl.
can you show yourselves to be worth
y of the great destiny which has owe
Y taken you. and which. let us hope.
y TO speedily clothe your island wit
i.' ds soveraignty as a member of the gre
70 continental republic.
20 "Thus, and thus only. can We hecon
u fellow. citizens indeed in perpetual q
;. joyment Of our common and inestimi
", BILE heritage as citizeua of the freos
~ richest and most powerful nation
i; the world"