The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-10

There are obvious reasons why we should
desire to bring about as promptly as posi-
bic a flourishing condition OF agriculture
and trade in Porto Rico, In the first place
the inhabitants of that island, unlike the
Filipinos, have acquiesced cheerfully in the
change of sovereignty, and exhibit absolute
confidence in the good faith of tho United
States. In the second place, it is OF great
moment to the Cubans that, when they
come to determine at the ballot box the DO
litical future Of their country, they shall
have before them n conclusive proof OF the
benefits accruing from close association
with the American republic in the shape OF
Porto Rican prosperity. Let us, then, con-
slider the actual state of things in the
smaller island, as set forth in the statement
lately published by Gen. r. p. KENNEDY OF
the lnsular Commission and then examine
the requests submitted in the memorial Just
presented by the Porto Rican Commission
ers, Sefores j. j. HENNA and NJ. q. GAMBIA,
to the President of the United States.
1t appears from Gen. KENNEDY's account,
which Is based on first-hand observations,
that there is no ground for the report that
q considerable fraction Of tho inhabitants of
N'So ~ at Va W Nutloh. vi
poverty. in the sense in which Americans
use the word, there Is, undoubtedly, a good
deal, that Ia to say, many agricultural
laborers and some Of the unskilled laborers
In towns live in ilimsily constructed huts,
have few clothes and still less ready money.
These disabilities, however, do not cause
suffering. as they would in most OF the
United States. Owing to the b~enignity OF
the climate and the bounty OF the soil, men
can live with but little work and scarcely
any worldly possessions, yet have neither
cold nor hunger to endure. There is no Sec
ton OF the earth in which human existence
can be sustained more easily, and, so far as
Gen. KENNEDY could learn from personal
experience and from the records obtain
able, there Ia no country the Chronological
conditions OF which are moro favorable
to health. The assertion that the island Is
overpeopled and that it's population already
presses on its capabilities Of production Is
also pronounced without foundation. Gen.
NNE estimates that not one-fourth of
the soil is as yet in cultivation. The tracts
available for coffee and sugar plantations
are far from being exhausted. We should
here note that the Porto Rican coffee, which
49, 10 NNA' "Nto " ll'll lllDIt
to Spain, but under existing political con-
ditlons this customer for tho crop has been
lost. A better market will ultimately be
found in the United States. 1t Is true that
both coffee and sugar require a large out
lay in the way Of lands, improvements and
equipments. This is not true, however, OF
tobacco and tropical fruits, which can be
grown by small cultivators. The Porto
Rican tobacco. while, of course, not
comparable with the product of tho
Vuelta Abajo district in Cuba, has al
ways been in good demand, and, with
judicious selection and careful culture,
might be improved signally. For the
growth OF oranges no part OF the world is
better adapted than is Porto Rico, both be-
cause II is outside OF the frost belt and be-
cause it possesses a suitable soil. For stock
raising, also, Gen. KENNEDY thinks that
the island offers more favorable opportuni-
ties than almost any section of the United
States. Nothing. in his judgment, retards
the inflow Of capital and skilled labor into
Porto Rico but the uncertainty regard
ing the nature of the Government to be
established permanently, and concerning
the tariN conditions under which the prod
uctS of tho island will be admitted TO Amer
lean ports.
II IL the rcmoval OF these temporary oh
s'EDr''ons TO. the development Of the