Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-06
GOVERNMENT FOR PORTO RICO.
Time Is Ripe the President Says for
Temporary Form.

With reference TO Porto Rico the pres
ident says: The time is ripe for the
adoption Of a temporary form of gov
eminent for this island. The
system of civil jurisprudence now
adopted by the people of this island is
described by competent lawyers who
are familiar with it. as thoroughly mod
ern and scientific so far as it
relates to matters of internal
business, trade, production, and
social and private right in gen
eral. The cities of the island are
governed under charters which proba-
bly, require very little or no change
So that with relation to matters of To-
cal concern and private right it is not
probable that much, if any. legislation
is desirable
But with reference to public admin
istration and the relations of the islands
to the federal government there are
many matters which are of pressing
urgency. 1t must be borne in
mind that since the cession Porto Rico
has been denied the principal markets
she had long enjoyed and our tariffs
have been continued against her prod
uctS as when she was under spanish
sovereignty. The markets of Spain are
closed to her products except upon
terms to which the commerce of all
nations is subjected. The island of
Cuba, which used to buy her cattle and
tobacco without customs duties, now
imposes the same duties upon these
products as from any other country en-
tering her ports. She has therefore lost
her free intercourse with Spain and
Cuba without any compenSating bene-
fits in this market.
1t is desirable that the government of
the island under the law of belligerent
right, now maintained through the eX-
eCutlVe department, should be super
seeded by an administration entirely civ
il in its nature. For present purposes
/ recommend that congress pass law
for the organization Of temporary gov
eminent, which shall provide for the
appointment by the president-subject
to confirmation by the senate-of gov
ernor and such other officers as the gen.
eral administration of the island may
require, and that for legislative pur-
poses on subjects of a local nature not
partaking of a federal character leg
islative council. composed partly of
Porto Ricans and partly of citizers Of
the United States, shall be nominated
and appointed by the president. subject
to confirmation by the senate. their acts
to be subject to the approval of the con-
gress or the president prior to going in
to effect.
I'm the municipalities and other local
subdivisions l recommend that the prin-
ciple of local elf-government be APP
lied at once, so as to enable the intelli-
gent citizens of the island to partici-
pate in their own government and to
learn by practical experience the duties
and requirements of n Self-contained
and a self-governing people. l have not
thought it wise to commit the entire
government of the island to officers Sc
lected by the people, because 1 doubt
whether in habits. training and eX-
perience they are such as to fit them
to exercise at once so large a degree of
self-government; but it is my judgment
and expectation that they will soon ar
rive a t an attainment of experience and
wisdom and self-control that will JUS
tify comforting upon them a much
larger participation in the choice of
their insular officers.
The fundamental requirement for
these people. as for all people. is educa-
ton. The free school house is the best
preceptor for citizenship. In the intro
duction Of modern educational methods
care. however, must be exercised that
changes be not made too abruptly and
that the history and racial pecularities
of the inhabitants shall be given due