Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-01-04
AS TO PUERTO RICO.
Obstacles Which Will Arise in
Uncle Sans Path.
SsrinE the Transition Stage Th-r,
Will Undoubtedly lie Much
Discomfort Among the
Natives

Il
NJ II is also necessary TO bear in mins
that the Puerto Rican has always beer
= treated by the Spaniard as belongip,
+ 10 an inferior caste, and the knowIedg,
l OF this fac. has been most CALLING Il
4 the inhabitants there. Moreover suel
r treatment has not been justified n,
circumstance, a considerable number
a OF the more wealthy families of the
island being fully equal in refinement
culture and general intelligence to the
most ar1stocratic representatives. and
oihcials sent TO this country from Mad
| rid
, In so far 9s the spauiards engaged in
/ commerce are concerned. ! think they
regard the change of government with
, equanimity. Spanish merchants IN these
countries are generally keen business
men, who do not allow their patriot.
Ism TO interfere with their pockets
and they quite realize that in the nres.
ent instance their interests and rights
will be fully protected. An increase
In the volume Of business 10 be trans
acted will g far toward palliatiup an,
harsh feelings that may exist TO-DAY
as the result Of recent occurrences. and
the United States government need
have small reason 70 fear that the Suan
ihrds who remain In the island will
prove other than iaw-abiding and in.
dustrious citizens.
As regards foreign residents general.
~. there eal be no question that they
| will be better of under United States
than under Spanish rule. They will
/ enjoy sounder security for life and
property than has hitherto been the
case; they will have a legal remedy In
disputes connected with commercial
transactions or other matters where
they are uniustly treated-a remedy
which the intricacies OF the SPANISH !
courts have debarrcd the great ma ior
ity OF injured persons from appealing |
TO in the paet
But with the mass Of the native In /
habitants other considerations crop up !
and trouble may occur in consequence
Among the 100000 people comprising /
the lower class Of the population Of
Puerto Rico the code Of morality is Of
very low eIder. Respect for law and
order has never been rigidly enforced
by the Spanish authorities, and this
leniency has resulted in a license as
to all moral obligations becoming al
most an ing1ained part Of the native
character.
From the observations ] have made
IN the island am inclined 10 think that
the country people are averse 10 steady
work and have small respect for 10
disidual life or property. All this will
have to suffer alteration under the new
regime The rural population will have
10 work 10 live. and the amount OF the
they will be called upon
10 pay in the shane Of taxation will
lssuredly h heavier than hitherto
crime Of al kinds win meet with
speedy and severe punishment and the ,
people viii have 20 learn and fully ap, I
,reciate the fact that the justice melted {
mt TO them is no easy mistress 10 I
erye under.
The transition stage while this lesson
5 being inculcated win in all human
b. productive Of many ele-
nents of discomfort and the United
tates authorities must expect 10 en-. =.
ounter som" unpleasant difficulties =
then dealiag with these sources Of mis-. ,
hief In time the effect OF Just ad. .
viii solve the problem. X
al during the process OF solution the &
mericaus must not forget that they q
re dealing with a foreign race alien Il
] language religion and sentiment 10 u
he dominant features of their own e
reat republic. and they viii do wei 81
,metimes TO call to mind the old ltAl o.
n proverb Of "He who goes slowly o
pes far"
The number of foreigners in the IS -
nd is very limited. OF British sun =,
cts the total is stated not 10 exceed I,
0, including many negro immigrants "a
ON Jamaica and other West Indian or
'lonies. France is more strongly rep st
scented some 2.OQ0 persons claiming iti
-euch citizenship, Ponce being their
incipal center In most Of the chief 70
WINS Frenchmen are established in 10
III NHblNNuit hutA iNAdtA bANlufHN- I
pre- especially in the latter branch gu
trade. The German colony although
{ very numerous, has important in. -
rests both in financial matters and -
the import and export trade Of the a.,
and. aa
rhe numocv of Americans resident
Puerto Rico before the war was very
all but here. as in Cuba, many OF
, natives have taken out naturaliza- Re
n papers ir the United States for the
rpose OF claiming protection when
T they get into trouble. This abuse S
the naturalization law, Of the United yor
ties was not, however. carried on TO in
same extent by the Puerto Ricans TIT
by the Cubans.-Puerto Rico Cor par
ndon Times. tap
" b
sincerity. al ,