The times., 1898-11-07
OUR NEW ISLAND.

1
| There is no room for doubt that the
more educated portion OF the population
who are possessors of real estate or other
| property in Porto Rico appreciate that
| the change in ownership of the island is
| to their material benefit says the Porto
| Rican correspondent of the London
Times. 1t Is also necessary to bear in
mind that the Porto Rican has always
been treated by the Spaniard as belong
ing to an inferior caste and the knowl-
edge Of this fact has been most CALLING to
the inhabitants here. Moreover, such
treatment has not been justified by cir
cumstances. considerable number of the
more wealthy families of the island being
fully equal in refinement. culture and
general intelligence to the most aristo-
cratic representatives and officials sent to
this country from Madrid.
In SO far as the Spaniards engaged in
commerce are concerned, 1 think they re-
gard the change of government with
eauanimity. Spanish merchants In these
countries are generally keen business
men. who do not allow their patriotism to
interfere with their pockets, and they
quite realize that in the present instance
their interests and rights VIII be fully
protected. An increase in the volume of
business to be transacted will 60 far to-
ward palliating any harsh feelings that
may exist today as the result OF recent
occurrences. and the United States Gov
ernment need have small reason to fear
that the Spaniards who remain in the
island will prove other than law abiding
and Industrious citizens.
As regards foreign residents generally.
there can be no question that they will be
better off under United States than Span
ish rule. They will enjoy sounder security
fer life and property than has hitherto
| been the case; they will have a legal rem
| edy in disputes connected with CONNER
| cial transactions or other matters where
\ they are unjustiy treated-a remedy
| which the intricacies of the Spanish
courts have debarred the great majority
| of injured persons from appealing to it
| in the past.
But with the mass of the native inhabi-
/ tants other considerations crop up. and
\ trouble may occur in consequence. Among
the 10000 people comprising the lower
class of the population Of Porto Rico the
| code of morality is of q very low order.
| Respect for law and order has never been
/ rigidIy enforced by the Spanish authorI-
/ ties. and this lenieney has resulted in a
/ license as to all moral obligations becom-
!
/ character.
| From the observations I have made in
the island / am inclined to think that the
| country people are averse to steady work
| and have small respect for individual life
| and 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 contributions
/ they will be called upon to pay in the
/ of D..
| heavier than hitherto. Crime of all kinds
will meet with speedy and severe pun
\ ishment. and the people will have to learn
and fully appreciate the fact that the JUS
: tice meted out to them is no easy mis-
( tress to serve under.
! The transition stage while this lesson is
being inculcated viii in all human proba-
bility be productive of many elements OF
/ discoltent. and the United States authOri-
/ ties must expect to encounter some un-
I pleasant difficulties when dealing with
/ these sources of mischief. In time the
I effect OF just administration viii solve the
I problem. but during the process of solu-
tiOn the Americans must not forget that
; they are dealing with foreign race. alien
+ alike in language, religion and sentiment
I TO the dominant features of their own
/ great republic. and they will do well
/ sometimes TO call to mind the old Italian
! proverb of "He who goes slowly goes
/ far
The population of Porto Rico is of so
mixed a character as to make il difficult
/ to classify OF the SO0.6c0 inhabitants of
+ the island fully one-third are negroes.
4 another third are mulattres and the re-
/ mainder in many cases show marked
traces of mixture Of African blood in
I their veins. Indeed, to draw hard and
! fast line where the pure white families
I end and those with a trace of the negro
begin is almost impossible.
! The number of foreigners in the island
Is very limited. OF British subjects the
total is stated not to exceed 500, including
many negro immigrants from Jamaica
/ and other West Indian colonies France
is more strongly represented, some 1000
4 persons claiming French citizenship.
Ponce being their principal center. In
most of the chief towns Frenchmen are
{ established in both wholesale and retail
business. more especially in the latter
/ branch of trade The German colony,
although not very numerous. has impor-
/ tant interests both in financial matters
/ and IN the import and export trade OF
! the island.
The number of American resident in
1 Porto Rico before the war was very
natives have taken out naturalization pa
! pers in the United States for the purpose
I of claiming protection whenever they. get
I into trouble This abuse of the naturaIiz-
! alton laws of the United States was not
I however, carried on to the same extent
by the Porto Ricans as by the Cubans