The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-05-04
FACTS ABOUT PORTO RICO.
It's Size. Population and Privileges Under
spanish Rule-Freed Its Slaves and
Was Out OF Debt.

speech OF Hon Charles Ldttleheld, Of
Maine, in opposition to the Porto
Rican tariff bill, delivered in the house
Of representatives. February o, 1900, is
here given:
The island Of Porto Rico, with
which the bill deals, is one of the rich
est islands Of the West Indies, a small
island, about so miles in length and 40
miles in width, in the form of a par
sllelogram, running east and vest,
with a mountain range running along
the center, some 5000 fest high at tho
summit, and cultivated from the sum-
nit clear down to the seashore, with
level lands along the line Of the sea at
the foot Of the hills averaging in width
from nothing to five miles, on which
sugar is raised, the higher lands ad-
joining fitted for the cultivation of
tobacco and pasturage, and the higher
lands Of the mountains on which coffee
is cultivated 1t is said to be the most
densely populated of any land IN the
whole world.
It is inhabited by about 100000
people. Seventy thousand Of them are
dark-skinned people; 10000 Of them
are Of mixed blood; $4,000 of those liv-
ing upon that island are white, eau
casian people, made up Of Spanish,
French, Italian, POrtugees, English,
American, Scotch and Irish. It's area
is about 1850 square miles, giving,
say, 273 persons to the square mile.
The result Of the last census, taken
under the authority of the United
States by Colonel DiDgmaD, who re-
turned to this country within three
weeks, shows that about . per cent
can read and write. The island has a
property valuation Of one hundred and
sixty to one hundred and eighty mil
lion dollars. Before our flags we're
raised upon its soil it was under Span
ish domination. 1t had an autonomous
local government, with universal suf-
feraRe.
The people Of Porto Rico had the
same pro rata representation in the
Spanish Cortes as the citizens Of the
empire, in Spain itself. They had
sixteen members IN the lower house,
and four members in the upper house.
Every citizen Of Puerto Rico had the
same legal rights as a citizen of Spain.
With reference to tariff conditions, for
several years preceding the advent Of
Miles upon their soil, they had a 10
per cent preferential tariff between
themselves and Spain. By virtue Of a
budget which had been adopted and
accepted, and by a statute which had
been enacted by the Spanish COrtes
this tariff Of 10 per cent was to expire
on the 1st of July, 1898, so that on, and
after that date, there would have been
perfect free trade between Puerto
Rico, and the present state, Spain.
The people who inhabit this island
are a self-respectinR, vaIorous, and
heroic people. Four times, during the
eighteenth century, unaided and alone,
the citizens of Porto Rico repealed
the attacks Of the English navy, once
under the command Of Drake, and
once under the command Of Aber-
crombie, and preserved Porto Ricsn
soil, for Porto Rico, against the most
powerful of foreign invaders, although
it was then a dependency Of Spain.
Porto Rico, in 1873, msnumitted its
slaves without tumult, without dis
turbance, without CONFUSION, without
blOodshed, without murder, without
outrage, and without revolution. With
the consent of the Spanish Cortes, up
on motion Of a representative of
Porto Rico, in one moment $1,000
who before that time had been held
In human bondage, became freemen.
One day found them slaves; the next
day they continued in their employ
ment for the same masters, but work
ing for hire-their own master. On
one day they bent down, bondmen.
The next day they stood erect, free
men. This great change was wrought
as quietly and silently as the dawn
precedes the rising of the sun.
The little island Of Porto Rico paid
for those slaves, by its own revenue,
from its own prosperity, seven mil
lion eight hundred thousand dollars
IN 1873, with loan that it required
only fourteen years to pay, and, ad-
ding the interest and principal, az
gregatinR the magnificent sum Of s12,-
OOO,OOO-paid By whom? By the peO-
pie that live today in Porto Rico.
For what? To emaneipate 5000 /
human bondmen. This nation Of
ailliterates," this people to whom We
now propose to act the part Of 8 HgOOd
SamaritanTs That was deed worthy
Of the highest triumph OF Christian /
civilization snywh ere. Applause. The
mechanics OF Porto RicOs consisting
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