The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-02

Individual freedom. self-government in ac-
cordance with their capacity. just and
equal avs an opportunity for education,
for profitable industry, and for develop
ment and civilization
Secretary Root takes up Porto Rico first
as presenting the simplest problem. and
after discussing the present conditions
there. emphasizing the ignorance of the
people Of any modern system OF govern
ment. ne holds that they should be pro-
yided with the Kind of administration to
which we have been accustomed, with just
as much participation on their part as is
possible without enabling their inexper-
fence to maxi IL ineffective. and with op-
portunity for them TO increase their ca
pacity for government. TIL secretary lays
stress on past failures. because of the re-
fusal OF "A defeated minority to participate
further in the government. which he says
is precisely the cause o. the continual rev.
olutions in the West Indies and Central
America. and marks a rudimentary stage
OF political development.
To meet the case he suggests a statutory
declaration as TO what laws shall be ex-
tended to the Porto Ricans. with provision
Tor federal officers TO execute them. and
Tor a federal judiciary, with appeal TO the
United States Supreme Court. There should
De a form of local insular government
subject to congressional Limitations; a gov
ernor appointed by the President and con-
nrmed by the Senate; the chief officers ap-
pointed In like manner; and a legislative
council. composed OF the chief officers of
the state and a minority selected by the
PRESIDENT from the citizens of the island.
Inc municipalities are to be governed by
mayors and councils. elected by them. with
of1cers subject to removal by the Cover
nor 1t would be better to wait for a time
before an elective Legislature is permitted.
Suffrage should be limited to those who
read and write or own a small amount of
property Porto Ricans should be chosen
ior oinces they are able TO fill. American
of1cials should be limited in number to the
Darest necessities, and should then be
CHOSEN by cfvil-servfce methods. Educa-
ton should be at the cost of the commune
". betrayed from the insular treasury.
and, IL necessary, assisted by the United
states. The Spanish civil code should be
continued in force. with such radical modi-
ncations as experience suggests.
Ine secretary says that the trouble has
vicious, but that it was never fairly and
honestly administered. Any attempt to
fg6stdtute in these southern islands a sys,
characteristics OF a New England commu-
nifty would be both oppressive and futile.
II Is pointed out that a similar course to
tnat ABOVE outlined was successfully fol-
lowed by ourselves in Louisiana and by the
English in lower Canada. Much stress is
from the inability OF the Porto Ricans to
market their goods owing to the with
drawal of the Spanish market, which was
The secretary says it is essential that
Porto Rico should receive substantially the
same treatment at our hands as she re-
ceived from Spain while a colony. and that
the markets of the United States should
be opened TO her as were the markets of
legiance.
CONCERNING CUBA.
Concerning Cuba, the report says the
control which We are exercising in trust
for the people Of Cuba should not, and, of
course, will not, be continued any longer
than is necessary to enable the people to
establish a suitable government to which
the control h be transferred, which
shall really represent the people OF Cuba
and to be able to maintain order and dis
charge international obligations. That gov
eminent. when established. must solve for
Cuba the problems we are to solve as TO
Porto Rico. The conduct of the Cuban peoo
pie is said to be admirable. There have
been agitators, but the Substantial body of
educated CuDanS have SHOWN themselves to
be patriotic, appreciative and helpful, while
the great body of uneducated Cubans have
peen patient and law-abidlng. II is pointed
out that the inability of two-thirds of the
people to read and write. thei- lack of ex-
perience in government and the fractional
feeling left by the bloody conflicts make IL
she formation of a government. 1t is said
thas by the termination OF the year al
lation to elect whether to become Cubans
or remain Spaniards it will be for the first
time possible to determine who are Cuban
citizens entitled to take part in that gov
ernment. By that date-April IL next-the
census will have been completed and We
elections, placing local government In the
hands OF the citizens and these local gov
srnments Will form a representative con-
vide for a general government of the
island. to which the United States will sur
The secretary devotes some attention to
the unfortunate plight of the Cuban sugar
producers owing to the competition OF Eu-
from Porto Rico Inc discriminating duties
IN favor OF other Vest Indian sugar. He
shows that after paving our duty the Gu
pound for the producer. against 2.n cents
Tor the German. and he suggests as a cura-
tive measure some tariff arrangement by
which the Cuban products may be imported
into the United States on the same terms
as those proposed for Jamaica in the pend
Ing reciprocity treaty.
Extended statement as TO government in
the Philippines Is waived because of the
full report which will be presented by the
to the negotiation by General Bates of the
treaty with the Sultan of Sulu, and it is
pointed out that it Is not only subject to
congressional approval. but the Sultan has
been informed that such approval did not
carry with Ii the consent of the United
islands.
A strong recommendation is made for the
laying of a Pacific cable as q matter of
cost of such a cable is placed at not
exceeding $S.500,000, running by way Of
Hawaii, Wake island and Guam, from San
Francisco to Manila.
POST EXCHANGES.
The secretary deals in a ~forceful manner
with the subject OF post exchanges. He ex-
presses his agreement with the construc-
ton of the statute on this point laid down
by the attorney general and produces sta
tistscs from the United States forces at
posts and elsewhere to show that the over
whelming testimony OF the army is to the
effect that the present regulation has pro-
NOTED the temperance. discipline, morals
and health OF the enlisted men, and that I'm
the interest of morality and effective serv-
ice IL should be retained.
By the act of June 13, 1880, Congress pro-
vided: That no alcoholic liquors, beer or