New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-12
THE PORTO RICAN PROBLEM
AN UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE WHOM THE
UNITED STATES SHOULD HELP.

UNITED STATES SHOULD HELP.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial Of April 81 on the Status
Of Porto Ricans' throws such extremely cold
water upon the aspirations Of our friends IN that
possess,on that something needs TO be said IN
their behalf
II is quite true that they require other things
much more than self government and that TO
plunge them at once into all the distractions Of
poIItics would be the greatest drawback 70 their
material advancement. Even In this country,
with all our experience and our cool blood. we
suffer great business losses every Presidential
year and the dangers of unwise law-making
have prompted many States to dispense with
annual elections and sessions Of Legislatures,
and to cut short even the biennial sessions. The
Porto Ricans who an excitable people, the
large majority uneducated. all unused 70 SELF
government and at the mercy OF demagogues.
might easily waste the better part OF their ener-
,,es for wears In political excitement and party
strife.
Rut a great portion Of the intelligent people
already realize this danger and are disposed 10
60 slowly and safely In the direction OF govern
ing themselves while know OF none who would
care at present to take part in governing the
United States"
II is true again, that they ala not cast on
the Spanish yoke" but when their island sud-
denly became the seat OF war they gave us every
aid in their power Personally. found them.
wherever went. ready TO hsht the spaniards.
even with machetes alone. and the Few hundreds
for whom could find captured rines were as
good partisan soldiers as one couid ask Tor.
The only complaint OF the American Regulars
was that when they met the enemy the native
ft,f vOf
fire.
I believe II Will be as artling 70 our people
os 20 the Porto Ricans to find the latter con-
sidered subjects OF the United states ana IL
expansion" is to take that form it will have
few friends.
At present the Porto Rcans are peculiarly I'M
fortunate They have lost their practically free
trade with Spain and Cuba, and have no free
trade with the United States. while their short
crop OF coffee meets the excessive production OF
prazu and does not pay them for its raising;
many of the iaboring class are consequently In
extreme destitution. AS yet they are patent
peaceable and loyal, but 1t is high time we were
considering what can be done for them. II We
cannot improve conditions in Porto Rico, whe >
everything was in our favor, 1t is a poor outlook
for expansion generally; II, on the other hand,
we make these people proud and glad OF being
Americans. we shall be we'll repaid. Their ISL
and home will be the most charming resort for
cur people, their prosperity will be our pros
perty. and their soldiers will help TO fight cur
battles in the tropics.
Just what can be done Is another question.
1t is not surprising that the Porto Ricans ex-
pected as good treatment at our hands as We
gave the Hawa!lans. and 1t Is the feeling OF
every disnterested American whom hear speak
of It thap they should have free trade with the
United States. Certainly we do not need to pro-
tect Cuba against them, and cut of the market
which Spain gave them there and should our
sugar, tobacco and fruit growers insist on pro-
lection against so small and so friendly rival
II would seem TO be for them to find some al
tentative method OF advancing prosperity in the
island. Roy SIoNh.
Washington, April %. 1890.