The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-03

mas could resume anything approaching
calm attention to business, and although
the calamity has never been repeated
st. Thomas has not regained the lead
which IL possessed I'm the commercial
competition Of the West Indies.
Nevertheless the natural advantages OF
a deep and finely protected harbor ana
the facilities for repairing ships and a
few other minor considerations have re-
tanned something Of the former COM
mercial importance OF the island. The
fact that the language spoken in En-
gllsh instead Of Spanish or French IS
perhaps as reasonable an explanation OK
the pro-American sentiment as any that
can be given. Some assert that the pro-
American sentiment arises from the
possibility OF the islands being American
some day. but that Is hardly a good
explanation, for tire action OF the United
States has been Of such n nature that
II might inspire the people here with
feelings Of resentment rather than sym
patty and appreciation. But whether IL
be explained In one way or another the
fact is indisputable: the people Of St.
Thomas are Overwhelmingly on the side
OF the United States I'm the present con-
hict The arrival Of an American war;
ship I'm the harbOr Is always occasion
for enthusiasm and every bit OF war
news that reaches here IS spread all
k>- town in an hour.
The governing authority here IS acting
under the Copenhagen declaration in
maintaining proper neutrality, and
while there appears to be a kindly dis
position i'm an the actions Of Gov Hede-
mann and his staff. it would be a mis-
take TO imagine that any loose or slow
action giving any advantage 10 the
United States is possible. Some say that
the authorities are determined 10 OBJ
serve the neutrality obligations in the
very strictest manner for the purpose
Of forcing upon the American mind the
necessity Of possessing the Islands I'm
war time. and the recent arrival Of the
Danish man-of-war 81. Thomas Is cited
as proof. That the islands would be OF
immense value TO the United States to-
day IS true, but 20 impute any such mo-
tive 70 the Danes is manifest nonsense.
The history OF the negotiations between
the United States and Denmark IS not
such as to encourage King Christian or
his Government and il would further be
assuming entirely too much TO say that
the present war will make the purchase
Of the three Danish islands more likely.
on the other hand. the entrance OF Porto
Rico into the Situation rather leaves st.
Thomas and her sister islands at n dis
advantage. Before the beginning OF the
present war the island Of Porto Rico
meant no more 10 the ordinary American
citizen than did the Isle of Pines or the
Isle OF Luzon. IL well-informed men are
TO be believed. however. Porto Rico win
be an important part OF the United
States before a great while. One Of these
IS Phil c. Hanna, until the war began
Consul for the United States at San
Juan. the capital OF Porto Rico. Mr..
Hanna Is so sure that the United States
will take Porto Rico and keep It that
when he was notified from Washington
to leave he would not go back 10 enjoy
n little vacation at his home I'm Iowa
but came to st. Thomas, to be ready TO
return to San Juan as soon as the stars
and Stripes were carried there.
"Our people at home haven't the slight
est idea what Porto Rico is worth"
saws the Consul. 81 dare say II Is the
best and most profitable of al the pos
sessions Spain has had in the nineteenth
century, and especially I'm the last TWEEN
ty years. II is a beautiful island-not
full Of unhcalthfu and malarions
swamps, like Cuba, but a magnificent
island that offers every advantage and
inducement for the best people on earth
to go and make their homes there.
And the present population OF Porto
Rico show 1t, too. They are all good
looking happy. and prosperous set OF
people, and they have had the time end
have taken the trouble TO acquire some
education as a class / believe the peo-
pie OF Porto Rico are far superior To
the Cubans. The negroes in Porto RICO
do not form a very considerable part
of the population. They are away IN
the minority. The Spanards are OF
course. numerous. hut they should really
be understood 10 belong 10 Porto hico
and not TO Spain. and Tho creole popula-
ton is large and intelligent ana PROS
porous. BY far the greater part OF me
population known as Spanish were born
in Porto Rico They are the sons and
daughters Of Spanish people. or are more
remotely descended from Spanish ahces
tors, but they are Tor Porto hlco anu
not for Spain. and they Would De u
happy and contented under the stars
end Stripes as many man Win SPan-
ish blood who was born ana Dred III nc
United States. l should IKE 70 see lhe
Stars and Stripes in Porto iHco' anu
when they are once raised there you
will never see them taken down. or that
YOU may rest assured. Considering the
natural advantages OF the lsi9nd anu sns
quality Of Its people l should say tn"t
Porto Rico would be- a state wilhih
very few years"
Consul Hanna SAYS that the city OF
San Juan Will be by no means an sasy
prey TO the American forces anu
expects lnAl n siege anu -" -.
else a fierce bOmbardment Will De heccs-
sary to induce its surrender The fortl-
fcations at San Juan. he says. have COST
millions OF dollars. and would nave oeen
absolutely Improbable II attacked py
fleet OF waiships OF the last generation.
There are probably not more than 200
Spanish soldiers in Porto RICO put .IS
number Of volunteers wTo coulo oe ,
tered under the Spanish flag cannot be
estimated accurately as there are TWO
very uncertain elements in the ngurihg-
first. the number who would nght LOT
spain against an invading American |
army. and second the number wnom
the Spanish authorities would be Wiling
TO arm or could arm. There nave Den
organizations or volunteers in Porto Rico
for some time. but the Spanish autnSr-
ties were so suspicious OF them that they
repeatedly refused to arm them. ana. 50
far as is known. they have not arlneu
them even yet. In an emergency tney
would be al-loet certainly used asnhs'
an army OF Invasion but II Is hardiy nhe-
L. hat -.