Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05

closed 10 her products except upon terms
TO which the commerce OF all nations Is
subjected The island Of Cuba. which used
To- boy her cattle and tobacco without Gus
toms duties. now imposes the same duties
uro" these, products as from any 4tneI
country entering her ports. She has there
fore lost her flee intercourse with Spain
and Cuba without any compromising ntn-
rfitS IN this market. Her coffee was niue
known ami not in use ny ON people, and
therefore there was no demand here for
this. on of her chief products The mar
kgtS Of the United States should be opener
mp To- her products. our plain duty IS 10
abolish all customs tariffs between the
United States and Porto Rico and give hef
products free access to our markets
As a result Of the hurricane which swept
over Porto Rico on the 18th of August, 1S@'t
over loo uuu people were reduced 10 abso-
Lutte. restitution. without homes. and de
IriVei the neCessarieS OF me 10 the
appeal of the War Department the people
Of the United States made prompt ana gen
,Tpus response. In addition to the private
charity Of our people. the War Department
has expended for the relief of the dis
tTsSse,. Ei,r2. S42-tSi. which does not include
the cost Of transportation.
l. i deSirIb!e that the government OF the
island under the law of beiligerent right,
now maintained through the Executive De-
partment. should De superseded by an ad-
miuisyraJiOn entirely civil in its nature. For
present purposes / recommend that Con-
gross pass law for the Organization of a
temporary government. which shall provide
for the appointment by the President, sub
ject L. confirmation by the Senate. of a
governor and such other officers as the
general administration Of the island may
require and that for legislative purposes
upon subjects Of a local nature not partak-
ing of d Federal character a legislative
council composed partly of Porto Ricans
and partly Of citizens 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 APP
prevail Of the Congress or the President
prior TO going into effect. In the munich
pallties and other local subdivisions 1 rec
Cmmend that the principle of local self
government be applied at once. so as to en-
able the Intelligent citizens Of the island to
participate in their own government and to
learn by practical experience the duties and
requirements of a self-contained and self
governing people. I have not thought it
wise TO commit the entire government OF
the island 10 officers selected by the people,
because doubt whether in habits training,
and experience they are such as TO fit them
TO exercise at once 50 large a degree OF
seH-goVernment; but ii is my judgment and
expectation that they will soon arrive at
attainment Of experience and wisdom and
sef-cOntrol that will Justify comforting
upon them much larger participation in
the choice of their insular officers.
The fundamental requirement for these
people. as for all people. is education The
free schOoihOuse is the best perceptor for
educational methods care. however. must
be exercised that changes be not made too
abruptly and that the history and racial
peCUliarities of the inhabitants shall be
given due weigh. Systems of education in
these new possessions founded upon COM
nonsense methods. adapted to existing
conditions and looking to the future moral
and Industrial advancement of the people,
will commend TO them in a peculiarly efec-
tive manner the blessings of free govern
ment.
The love Of law and the sense of obedi-
ence and submission to the lawfully con-
stituted judicial tribunals are embedded IN
the hearts of our people, and any violation
of these sentiments and disregard of their
obligations justly arOuses public condem
nation. The guarantees of life. liberty. and
the right of trial by jury respected and de-
Tended. The rule of the courts Should as
sure the public of the prompt trial of those
charged with criminal OffenSeS. and upon
conviction the punishment should be COM
menSuTate with the enOrn1ity Of the crime
Those who, in disregard of law and the
public peace, unwilling TO await the tudg
selves judges and eXecutiOneTs should not
escape the severest penalties for their
crimes
What | said In my Inaugural Address of
March t. 1897 l now repeat:
The constituted authorities must be
cheerfuI,y and vigorously upheld Lynch
inEs must not be tolerated in a great and
civilized country like the United States.
Courts not mobs. must execute the pen
altieS Of the laws. The preservation of
public order, the right of discussion. the
integrity of courts. and the orderly admin
istratiOn of justice must continue forever
the rock of safety upon which our Govern