The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-05-10
PORTO RICO CIVIL GOVERNMENT.

civil government az authorized by tnt
United States for the tyrannous and ollg
archical administration of Spain in Porte
Rico. will work salutaly change Oh
MAY when Gov. Allen was inaugural
ed into Office, amid imposing surround
ingsat San Juan, the event was impres
sive for other and more enduring reas
ons than spectacular. To people wht
had patiently borne the heavy hand OF
oppression through many years who had
seen their increment absorbed by Span
ish official drones, who had toiled that
Others might fatten, who had drawn
from the land wealth only to see it ruth
lessly taken from them for the mere pit
lance OF existence, il meant the lnitia-
ton of liberty, the guarantee TO avail
themselves Of the God given right OF OPP
portunity The authority OF the United
States is not set up for the exploiting OF
territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, or to protect
favored few in the pursuit of wealth,
but it subsists that the humblest as well
as the greatest among the people shall
enjoy every privilege to which as free
men, living under just laws they are
entitled.
It also signifies the birth and perpetu-
alton Of political freedom and that meas
ure Of local self government consist
ent with the exigencies Of the situa-
ton. IL also assured the island inhabit
ants that in time they will be entrusted
more and more with the management o.
their own internal affairs. That the Por-
to Ricans will ultimately be invested
with all the political rights Of American
citizens cannot be questioned. 1t Is only
a matter Of how long before they will
elect their own governor through the
medium of the ballOt-box, also all the
officers who shall administer rs well as
make laws. Porto Rico being an inte-
gral part of the United States will be
subject to the national legislative act,
az in each state or territory now and
forever and that with the institution of
civil government the island il started on
an auspicious and progressive career.
II was the inevitable incident of the
war with Spain, and the transfer of gov
eminent from one power to another that
the Porto Ricans should suffer hardships
until a stable rule was established The
period Of depression while not entirely
eliminated, has been checkmated and
prosperity will follow fast on the heels
Of privation and overtake it. Where
every man stands equal in the eyes Of
the law and no man has special privil-
eyes development is certain and Porto
Rico can feel confident that so far as the
island is concerned and the inhabitant,
thereof Tat that part of the American
constitution which ennunciates the doc
trine Of equality will be in force
TO many in the United States the prin
ciplc Of free commercial intercourse be
tween the island and this country is de
sired, and rightfully 50, Congress had
no more grounds FOR imposing II per
cent. Dingley tariff duty on Porto Rico
than it has Of enforcing "A special revenue
tax on New Mexico. In II recent Opin-
ION Of Judge Lochren, one of the United
States circuit judges he, with emphasis,
holds that after the ratification Of the
Treaty Of Paris the constitution in its
entirety extended 10 the island and
that the people are entitled TO every
blessing which it gives and guards. II
Judge Lochrcn Is right and The Pilot
in union with the unmistakable trend of
public opinion believes he is, then any
imposition, even to IA fraction of tariff
duty is violation Of the most sacred
pledge, made in Paris. That the people
Of the United States are blamcless is
evidenced by loud protests which were
made in every section of this country
before the final adoption of the Foraker
bill II needs no keen political vision 10
discern the reason of the Is per cent
duty. 1t il II sop offered 10y the Protec-
tiOnists 10 catch votes but it is not ut all
unlikely that If an analysis of the forth
coming presidential ballots could be
made IL would be found that hundreds.
nay thousands of them We're cast for the
Democratic candidates which logically
would have gone to the Republicans, be,
cause the Democrats, true to historic
precedent and faithful TO the precepts of
the constitution. and just TO the weak
~ well ms the strong, stood firm for free
trade
While il is fact that the continuation
of the tax will be "A regretable feature,
yet It's abrogaton Is within reasonable
distance, and IL the present administra
ton, which seems doomed to extinction,
is substituted by Democratic govern.
ment the people of Porto Rico will be
certain to have full justice done them in
this particular.
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The visit Of the Emperor of Austria