New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-07

f, ,orsonol and prOnerty rights in inc
leland The change will be commenced l" nv
Porto tfcans. and much facilitated by the pro-
vision hat two of the Ave supreme court
,us,,oos and We assume n larger proportion
- not all OF the lower grades OF judlclal olnc'rS
and nuDlic attorneys. are 10 nc naive I"r'"
Ricans Excellent. too. l. the recommendation
that ths other civil offices be filled with for'o
Ricans and that the present civil divisions ol
tho island be maintained. Whatever the isiahd
mov NOT have. II should have no carpet
,a., government The fhird leading feature
.o,.,dos for the establishment of a public school
svstem on the American plan, III Whl'h 'ne
English language shall he universally taught
bnt Spanish shall also he taught whenever n'
sired In this way II is hoped to AVOID inc dls
astrous effects Of trying arbitrarily to suppress
tho mother tongue Of the people. and yet to prlng
thc ne,plc into such touch with American CIVIL
zation and institutions rs can be attained ohiy
,l,rouoh familiarity with the National language
Of America.
fourth and highly important matter Is inc
cvten.on Of public works aud the Introduction
If enlightened American industrial methods.
Conit,l Is needed. but II must have adequate
JocaI protection Railroads are needed. ana
thov must be built. not under special monop-
olistif grants. but under free general cor
marathon law. The masses of the people. there
az cl,ewhcre. will Judge government by their
own material prosperity. which indeed IS not
unreasonable If tho preamble 70 orr own CON
stitudon means anything. And this Govern
mont can commend itself TO the Porto RicanS
IN No more certain and immediate way than IN
nronotnc their general welfare. Finally, 1t *
,,fo -, ug
recommend the granting ~ universal sulraE''
or indeed. Of any elective franchise 10 the l''"-
plr r Porto Rico. Only 10 per cent or inc p'o'
ulo AN read and write. or hold property
qualified suffrage would therefore give 10 per
cent authority over 90 per cent. ana universal
sun1cc would make the Intelligent ana 'hrlIN
n Ter cent subject to the illitcraic ana prop
ertv,ss 30 per cont. Neither of these alterha-
,ivos seemed desirable. so the Commission ne
cided 70 withhold tho franchise altogether. M
least until the people have become more gen
orally educated and more capable or ben'nc'h'
soIfgovernment Whatever objections may ne
made 10 this on sentimental grounds, II VIII not
no cosv on practical grounds 10 dispute its com
mon sense and fairness
.rborc arc numerous minor details Of tho
scheme which require and VIII doubtless TO
ccve careful consideration. The problem IN
hand is complex and difficult one ana It "'u'
he too much to expect the first attempt M us
solution to he nawlcsS in every particular. Inc
great principles Of IFS right solution are. Oh
course. that Porto Rico is to he governed II
property Of the United States. aud not 10 come
in and help govern the United States az par'
thereof; and TINT il is TO be governed Tor me
general welfare Of It's own people ana not 'or
the enrichment Of carpetbag spectators from
the United States If found to conform or "
made 10 conform. with those principles the
scheme Of the Commission VIII mark the way
- tho fnlGlmont Of our National duty toward
Porto Rico-and toward ourselves.