New-York tribune., 1899-06-21
PROTEST FROM PORTO RICO.
COMMISSIONERS SENT HERE COMPLAIN
OF TREATMENT AND CONDITIONS.


The Commissioners from Porto Rico to the United
s,ates feel according 10 DR.. ]. Julio Henna, OF
No S West Forteth-st., one OF their number that
,bsv- and theirs in Porto Rico have been treated
,mproperly by the United States Government. They
have prepared a protest. which Dr. Henna. after
consultation with Dr. NJ. zena Gambia. another
commissioner gave out last evening. 1t Is in part
as follows:
Porto Rico finds itself at this moment IN an
extraordinary situation. The island is de facto by
virtue OF actual occupation and de jure by virtue
Of the Treaty OF Peace between the United States
and Spain. concluded at Paris December TO-
1895 an integral part Of the territory the United
States OF America, And. nevertheless neither it's
soil nor It's ports its commerce. its inhabitants are
FOR any practical purpose considered Americans
The nag Of the United States Of America floats
American even the children who are born under its
nena poon Of the Tntsa OF Of ANY S4n
and entering a port OF Porto Rico do
American oTt fore,gn port and are subject TO
nerce Of Porto Rico with the rest Of the United
commerce between Massachusetts and Florida or
NeW-Nork ana Louisiana is burdened by a tariff
in force when Porto Rico was Spanish and its com
nerCe was subject TO the reciprocity arrangements
which under The The Inspiration Of Mr.. Blaine were
Spain. And although Porto Rico is American and
is government IS vested in American officials. and
au there is American. from the Governor-General
10 the health officer OF the humbest port Of the
eIceP; upon condton That it be- ' carefaIy % y'GS eH
pressed that he IS protected native Porto
Rican, but not American.
II the war which the United States OF America
sed PoPto Rico ISr sr e sad 15 pPTo T
kican people do not know as yet Of what that
dependent people, needing 10 be educated and
Chrstianzed and civilized; and in the procession
at Washington. which the President reviewed sur
rounded by MS Cabinet and the diplomatic body and
was made TO appear TO present Porto Rico and
Porto Rican civilization than dilapidated little
dated little pony, with the announcement. which
excited the joyous shouts OF the multitude, Of
which Porto Rico has secured for having opened
IS arms and offered no resistance to the American
Tne spectacle Of a purely military government
strange. And nevertheless 1t has been given for
about nine months. and no prospect Of relief seems
History has repeated itself and Il II was always
said with reason that The Spanish Viceroys and
fhs evil and poweriess for the good. the very
thing can be said Of Porto Rico under the military
control Of the freest country In the world.
TIL. attitude Of the American Government with
to the Philippine Islands and their people. shows
go, S ed snS iSnnsrdonabie The FiIInnos are IN
arms against the United States; they are ignoring
aSoP aS Of the uhsd they e Tesns uh m
guibus ct dentbus. to the best OF their ability and
theless they offered by the United States
civil government and many other things which.
or are met with the frivolous. groundless answer
that the President has no power 10 grant them:
and the spectacle is thus given that there two
standards Of weights and measures-One TO be used
with the Fpinos and another with the Porto
Ricans.
II civil governor-general and an advisory coun-
Gil and many other things be given 10 the
Ffhpinos. rfghtfuy. why is Il that the same thing
canont be rightfully given 10 the Porto Rcans?
Since when mas IL been the rule IN this country.
the best Republic in the world. that in order 10 OBJ
tain justice. violence and bOodshed first 10 be
resorted 70?
Porto Kico not by any means a proper sub
ject for American intervention. The voice Of
Porto Rico heard. The idea that the
Porto Rican people might have something 10 say
the subject. that bargain Of this kind no
matter how generous on the part OF one belliger
ent, might need at least pro forma the consent
OF the Porto Rican people was not even thought OF
This pamphlet is intended not to make opposition
b the Government but 10 aid II in doing Justice
TO Porto, Rico; It has been prepared 10 show 70
the people Of the United States Of America and OF
the whole world that the Porto Rcan people do
not submit silence to treatment slaves
as dependent beings little less than savages need
ing protection from the outside and entitled 10
nothing else than guardianship by the sword
The Porto Rican people. in asking from the peo-
pie ID whom they have been added that the prin-
ciples OF the first enactment 20 be found In their
statute books. be applied TO them. not asking
for favors. They are demanding justice.