The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-26
Puerto RiCans MOI
YET Prepared for
Full CITIZENSHIP
Washington Letter, Pittsburg Times.
THE DEMOCRATIC position conce

Washington Letter. Pittsburg Times.
THE DEMOCRATIC position concern
i constitution of the United States
was extended to them at the mo-
ment of their acquisition, aud that, there
fore, the inhabitants thereof became at
once full-fedaed citizens of the United
States. possessing all the rights and PRIV
ileges incident to such citizenship. IT Is
upon this ground that the Democratic
party has raised such a howl against the
proposition to impose a IL per cent. duty
upon Puerto Rican products imported
into the United States, their contention
being that, the Puerto Ricans being citi-
zens much as are the people of this
country, the placing of any duty upon
their products Is as unconstitutional and
unjust as would be the imposition of a
duty upon the products coming from ono
state or territory to another.
o.
From a sentimental point of view this
may seem all right. But the affairs of It
people are not run exclusively on senti-
ment. Government Is a serious business.
and charity begins at home. Our new
possessions were not acquired as the re-
suit of a national desire for territorial
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The American people
did not enter into the war with Spain
Win tHe nope expectation OIL
Puerto Rico, the Philippines or Guam
Their acquisition was an incident to that
war, and not its purpose. Now that We
have them. what shall be done concern
ing them Is a question to be settled IN
such way as, securing TO the people Of
those islands coed government. Justice
and that measure of prosperity which is
possible to bring about by proper legis-
lation. shall also not infiict injustice upon
ntrr nVr-n rho ,h4 R,,Io
deserted babe upon his doorstep Is bound
to shelter and protect it, at least for the
time being, but no considerations of JUS
tice or humanity can demand that he
shall disinherit his own children for its
benefit.
Followed to its legitimate conclusion,
the Democratic contention as to the
status of our new possessions is that
their people are as much American citi-
zens as are those of Pennsylvania. II
that is granted it may be we'll to inquire
what sort of people they really are. In
October, 1898, President Mckinley ap-
pointed Henry *. Carroll special COM
missioner for the United States to Puerto
Rico to investigate and report the civil.
industrial, financial. and social conditions
of that island. Mr.. Carroll made two
visits to Puerto Rico, going to the chief
cities and districts Of the island and
taking the testimony of all insular and
municipal officials, judges. lawyers, doc
tors, bankers. merchants, planters, man.
ufacturcrs, artisans, field laborers, in
habitants of the poor quarters In cities
persons of all classes and colors. Span
iards, Germans and other foreign resi-
dents. everyone, I'm fact who could and
would give facts showing actual and ex-
listing conditions. and the reasons why
they existed. All this testimony. to-
gether with Mr.. Carrolrs conclusions and
recommendations, are to be found in the
voluminOus report which he made to the
president, and from that report tine state
ments herein made are taken.
In 1897 the population OF Puerto Rico
was made up of 573,1S7 whites. 2il 800
mixed. or mulattoes, and 1854 blacks. or
negroes. Only ASA were classed as for
eiGners, or whites of other nationalities
than Spaniards by birth or descent. The
statistics of births in 1897 show that
about 80 per cent. We're legitimate and As
per cent were illepitimate children. Mr..
Carroll. in connection with this rather
startling state of affairs, says: "The
births are by no means, owing to defect
i've laws. fully reported but complete re-
turns would not probably make the show
ing better Half or more of the children
born are illegitiniate, and it follows tina t
a large proportion of the parents are
living In coniugal relations without mar
rage. various reasons are given for
these conditions, some having relation to
religious restrictions. other to the finan-
cial condition of the people. But, with
out entering into them in detail. it hard
ly seems unjust TO say that a people
who, for any reasons whateve are con-
tent to live under conditions which make
this state Of affairs possible. are not cal
culated to make ideal American citizens.
The public school system Is character
lied as decidedly inferior and insufIl-
Client" Little attention was paid to edu-
eating the children In the country dis
tricts. In fact, tho first rural school for
girls was established no longer ago than
1850. The school population n of the island
on November ], 1875. was 1855, the
school age being between FIVE and ~
years. OF this number 27,5sS had attend
ed school and 937j7 had not. Returns in
March. 1899. showed registered attend
ance of 26,5Ss. including private schools.
and an average attendance of 1898. Nat
urally under such conditions as these,
tlliteracy Is the rule, rather than the ex-
ceptiOn. The last census does not give
the returns on this subject, and those of
1880 are the only ones available. In that
year. when the population was 5s3,lsl.
only 512J0 were literate. while 531, ,S3l were
flliterate. Over 10 per cent. were unable
to read. The estimates of present con-
ditions vary; some say that 15. others Is
or 20. per cent. of the population are able
to read and write. OF the population of
Ponce, numbering In 1887. between $4,000
and +9O0O, only 1884 can read. or read
and write. The greatest amount of init
eracy is. of course, In the rural districts,
where the population is hard to reach
with school facilities