The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-04-19
Government for Rico.


grow. The stars, things geological,
the earth's flora and fauna, the human
mind, science, theology, and affairs
political are in evolution. The used
and the used up are s1oughed off by
natural force, and each existing stage
is but a provisional arrangement for
the stage forthcoming. Puerto Rico is
on the lower plane of development. By
act of Congress, the Senate and the
House concurring, the newly acquired
| island in the Atlantic has been made
to stand on it's feet. Supported by the
bill which has become law, and by
United States aid and sympathy, it is
expected that it will not only stand on
it's feet. but will walk, and run, and
perhaps eventually mount up as on
wings of eagles.
The plan is not app1auded by per-
haps two-thirds of the American peo-
pie. Certain Democrats believe it will
dep1ete the ranks of the Republican
party. It appears as if Congress has
been inclined to thrust the red hot
poker of Ding1eyism down the Threats
of the Puerto Ricans, then, with an I'M
pulse of wonderful magnanimity COM
PEELED them to bite off only fifteen feet
of it instead of eighty-fve, as was con-
temp1ated; and in addition, foisted on
the West India Island civil govern
ment inccmmensurate and unworthy.
But as we come into closer perspect-
| i've and the outlines and interior lines
show more clearly Oh the view, It ap-
pears that Puerto Rico has been gener-
ous1y, perhaps wisely treated. Fifteen
per cent of the Dingley tariff is not
burdensome if the big concerns and
syndicates that buy up the sugar, the
tobacco, the coffee, from the incon-
spicuous planters and farmers, have to
pay the tax, and if the collected tariff
is expended in the maintenance of
civil government in the island.
It is however against the civil gov
erument scheme, the rider that the
Senate sadd1ed on the tariff bill, and
which rode out of the House like
knight with spurs, that the most Wig
orous kick will be made. It is not
liked because supposed to be crude.
The masses of the American people
expected, at least hoped, that Puerto
Rico would become at once a territory
with territorial privileges. We wait
inpatient1y the developments of de-
cade or a quarter of a century. We
forget that civil government, as well
as flower, is a thing of growth; that
Puerto Rico, considering present in
ternal conditions, must be put on pro-
baton; that today the. people of the
island have no qualifications for state
hood or territoryhood.
English common law has grown.
The colonies that declared their indie
pendence of Great Britain were at first
governed Professionally. The Articles
of Confederation were a provisional
arrangement. The Constitution was
but a development from the primary
stage. The Federal Constitution has
been lifted from a lower plane to
higher; it was a growth; no less than
fifteen amendments have been added.
In 1916 the American army took pos
session of New Mexico, a provisional
government was established; not until
1850 was New Mexico organized as a
territory. Alaska was coded to the
United States in 1867; the military
forces of the United States had it in
keeping. Will some one please inform
us when Alaska was formed into
territory? Puerto Rico is not made
exactly into territory, but the pro-
visionsof the new government approach
those of a territory. SIT is to have a
Governor appointed by the President;
a Council of eleven also appointed by
the President; six of these are to be
Secretary, Attorney General, Auditor,
Treasurer, Commissioner of the Iute-
rior, Commissioner" Education; and
Ricans; besides it is to have a House
of Delegates of thirty-five members
who are to be elected by the islands.
All grants of franchises, rights and
privileges of a public or quasi-pub1ic
nature, are to be made by the Council,
with the approval Of the Governor;
and the Council through the Commits
sioner of the Interior is to have charge
of all public work..
It strikes us that this provisional
arrangement is liberal; liberal as could
be made for an uneducated and even
ignorant Dependency of the Republic.
1t is not statehood, it is not territory
hood, but it is putting Puerto Rico on
her feet and helping her to walk. It is