Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-06
PORTO RICO.

| But as to Porto Rico, We have less
| difficult problem. This island is ours; We
! intend TO kept it. We have the obligation
resting on us to afford them u good gov
| ernment, If the old Spanish laws and in
| justice be allowed to remain we are re-
| sponsible
| The President sent the "insuar commits
SION there to make full investigation and
| report as to the conditions and needed re-
forms. The President conceived the true
responsibility when he required them TO re-
| port such laws as are needed to insure
good government and prosperity Those
| reports and laws are now in the hands OF
the Secretary of War. So that with wise
ciVihan statesman acquainted with affairs
| as governor and those laws promulgated
| he will be able to give a good account of
his stewardship. That the President is
| fully authorized and justified to do this at
| once for Porto Rico has become the settled
conviction of the country.
But Congress will convene in a few
weeks the President may, in Difference to
| it, defer the matter TIL Congress has
mad a chance to act. But while Congress
| has the unquestioned power to legisate for
! Porto Rico. II it chooses to make that
island part of the United States and its
| people citizens thereof, at once entitled to
| all the privileges and rights of the citizens
| of any other territory or district with a
cessation of all duties between this country
| and that. yet Congress will want to make
| many inquiries before 1t does this And
| Congress doubtless will conclude that the
| time is not yet ripe for full territorial gov
| eminent, since all the interests of the peo-
| pie can be SO fully protected by the Presi-
dent under his power as commander in
chief This course was followed with New
| Mexico and California for about five years
| That country was like this. both conquered
| and purchased. We paid S150n0O 600 for the
| territory got of Mexico under the first
! treaty. Congress will doubtless by reso-
| luton, leave Porto Rico for the present
| where it is. in the hands of the commander
| in-chef. who viii then inaugurate full
| grown civil government under American
| laws and an American statesman as gov
| ernor, and such other chief officers as viii
keep affairs well in hand and guided along
the lines of pure government. leaving the
| time when fuller provisions can be given to
the people to be determined by their ad-
Vancement in our systems of government.
| With good laws in force, equal rights pre-
vailing, schools in operation, just taxes be-
| Ing collected and honestly disbursed, just
system of courts administering justice and
affording protection to life and property.
| Congress can well await results before
finally fixing the status of the island. Con-
| gress need do no more than authorize the
| President TO reduce duties on goods to the
| United States in his discretion in conform
| ity to reciprocal treaties with other islands.
| and Porto Rico will show an astonishing
prosperity. {. b
The Society for Philosophical Inquiry.
| The first meeting of this society for the
wear will be held at the Columbian Uni
versity tomorrow at 1870 pm The Rev
! DR. Frank H Bigeiow will read paner