Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-26
Encouraging Prospects.

There is every prospect said Gen. Hen
~. ''that Porto Rico will achieve and main
tain high standard. The country is now
in such condition that all that is needed is
the introduction of capital to make the
country all that could be desired and to set
In full motion the machinery of it's pros
perity. We should convince those people that
we are honest and just, and have their in
terest at heart. They are now responding
to our suggestions in every way, and they
are more than anxious to become Ameri-
caniZed in every possible way. The trouble
in the past mas been that the Spaniards
took very little interest in them. They
went there to make all the money they
could, and the governor generals usually
left with a million or two of dollars on their
personal account.
The money which the government appro-
priated for public roads and other improve
| officials and contractors, ard very little of
ii found its way to the pockets of the la
bOrers. Now We have 1900 Iaborers work
ing on the roads of Porto Rico, and soon
there will be easy egress from the noun
tains TO the seacoast. This is putting more
money in the hands of the Iahorers of the
country than they have had for years under
the Spanish administration.
should he Garden of Eden.
The conditions OF Porto Rico are such
as TO make it a veritabe Garden of Eden.
Everything be raised there, and the
fi'4N ti4kdStS II OutlS ltT the CulJlNdtlOn
oranges by being below the frost line are
such as attract many Florida orange grow
ers there. Their coffee is the best in the
wCrld. although il is now not known in the
| market 1t cannot fail to become popular
when introduced IL the United States. The
low price of sugar ana the duties on it
make il almost impossible for the Porto
Ncans to make much by its production.
Schools Wanted.
| The introduction of schools, and the ed
| ucation Of the people resulting from it, is
a thing to be attended to. The children
are clam1rOus for education, and there are
no brighter people anywhere than are the
Porto Ricans. The adults who are edu-
Gated are a superior people and compare
favoraby with the same class in the
United States. We cannot change their
cuSto in day and convert them into
Americans. but 1t can be done gradually,
| and by education and the introduction of
our law among them We will be accomplish
| ing the best kind of colonization, and it will
| reflect credit and on people and
| bring to the gratitude of the Porto
| fdcens. Ii We should put Americans in all
| the offices in place OF the Porto Rcans it
| would probably AmericaniZe the island
=, quicker than by trusting to a considerable
| extent TO the Porto Ricans themselves, but
| il would naturally leave on our hands a
! very sullen and dissatisfied people. | or
| gari2ed an insular police force of 400 ma
| tiVes. and they made very superior body
| and accomplished great deal in capturing
| barGits and in restoring order They did
| work which would have been very diff
| cult for our troops, because of their ac-
| quaintance with the language and the
| country.
| General Eaton of this city is In charge
| of the schools of Porto Rico, and he is in
| PRODUCING a public school system all over
| the island and has divided the island into
| districts with Americans in charge of them
| English Is taught in these schools por-
| ton of the day. The evening before l left
| San Juan $500 children assembled and sang
| patriotic American songs, and one little boy
| of twelve years had learned in English an
| address which he delivered to me, and 1t
| was characterized by thoughtfulness and
/ an appreciation of what has been done for
/ that people. The ovation rendered me, as
| the representative of the United States,
| by the people of San Juan showed their
| appreciation of what had been done for
| them in aiding them to higher plane in
| life. The last communication l received on
| the island from the alcalde of San
| Juan. who thanked me for the honesty and
| justice which characterized our occupa-
ton of the island. The pursuance of these
| methods in the future think will make the
| island a great credit to us. and 1t is the
only one OF our possessions which has given
| US no trouble
Responsibility brought by War.
THE Spanish war was Gods war 1t
| was fought by the men behind the guns
and God was behind the men. Its results
| will be far reaching, and upon depends
the success of the war in introducing civili-
| cation in the island We now have.
| I'VE will make great mistake If we fail
in our duty toward these people and in the
| solution of the problem of their betterment
| which is before us. This. / believe is the
feeling of all true Americans. Any official