Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-09-12
LITTLE PORTO RICO.
Her People Feel Happy to Be
Under American Rule.
DEMOCRATIC SYMPATHY" WASTED

Manifesto of the Dominant Political
Party In the Isiand Enumerates Ex-
actions From Which They Are Freed
and benefits of American Control.
Our Democratic friends are vast
ing great deal of useless sympathy
upon the people of Porto Rico. They
lament the alleged burdens and losses
which they assert the Porto Ricans
are suffering because of the benighted
and despotic rule of the United States
Democratic papers, especially i'll the
country districts, are endeavoring to
make it appear that the islanders are
bitterly dissatisfied with their change
of rulers. 1t will probably surprise
people who have listened to this Dem
ocratic wall to learn that the Porto
Ricans are congratulating themselves
on the benefits which have accrued
from American rule. On July 20 the
dominant political party in Porto Rico
issued a manifesto to the people, con
graduating them upon their emanci-
patton from Spanish burdens and on
the advantages which have accrued
under American rule.
The burdens of Spanish tyranny
which have thus been lifted it enum-
crates as follows:
We have no longer the stamped
paper;
Nor the dues OH transfer of prop
erty;
Nor the personal certificates;
Nor the passport;
Nor the tax on professions;
Nor the import duty, which is now
insignificant, and which is left to us
to abolish;
Nor the tribute to the crown of
Spain;
Nor the tribute to the Veragua
race;
Nor the tribute to the ministry of
colonies;
Nor war tribute in time of peace,
and navy tribute without navy;
Nor pensioned people (who were
not Porto Ricans)
Nor mounted police (guardia civil;
Nor military courts to try ordinary
and political offenses;
Nor alcaldes appointed by the gov
ernment;
Nor military governor.
Then the manifesto recounts the fol-
lowing list of advantages which the
people now enjoy under American
rule:
But we have the inviolability of our
homes and the habeas corpus;
The courts of justice composed OF
Porto Rican magistrates:
The divorce law, which guarantees
domestic peace;
Uniform currency;
Regularity in the exchange;
Postal money orders;
Uniformity in the postal stamp;
The municipality will be auton-
omous;
| We have suffrage, the extension of
which is left to us;
| We have Porto Rican troops;
An insular police composed of Porto
Ricans;
| Free justice, for which the judges
are responsible, without the inconven-
fence or the prejudgments;
And quick procedure, the modifica-
ton of which is left to us;
And we have representation in the
executive council, even If not exactly
to the extent we deserve;
And we have house of representa-
tives to legislate for the island
1t will be noted that nothing is said
of the tariff on trade between the is
/ land and the United States. The rea-
sons are, that this tariff is merely
temporary, its limit being set by the
law itself; and that every cent of duty
paid on Porto Rican trade, whether at
custom houses or those in the island
itself, goes into the Porto Rican treas
ury. The reasons for the imposition
of this duty are we'll known. The
great tornado which devastated the
Island last year left desolation in its
wake. 1t was necessary to provide
a revenue for the island to pay gov
| ernmental expenses, to meet the ex-
penses of the new free school system,
and to construct good roads With
their crops ruined, the people were in
no condition to pay this by direct tax
alton. 1t was much easier to raise II
by a small duty and this is what
congress did. 1t was a common sense
and busness-like solution of a tenn
porary difficulty.
Though Chairman Jones is getting
big contributions to the Bryan cam