Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-30
HELP THE PORTO RIcANs.

The horrible conditions prevalent in
Porto Rico. as shown by the report of
DR.. y. d. Williams, a surgeon in the
United States Army. after a tour of in
vestigation in the island, should be
sufficient to send, not merely a thrill of
pity, but pang of conscience through
the American people. a single para
graph of Dr. Williams report is sufH-
cient to show just what the conditions
are:
cat Adjuntas the conditions were ap-
palling; men, women, and children
swollen, bloated diseased and emaciated
whose pinched and haggard features
appeared weighted with the sorrows OF
years. When 1 asked the city physi-
clan of Adjuntas the cause OF such n
large death rate-ffty-two deaths and
four births the week Immediately pre-
ceding our visit there-he replied: The
death rate is about the same every
week. The prime cause-chronic star
vation.'
The American people cannot absolve
themselves from all responsibility in
the premises The situation since the
American occupation has been one that
they could not meet individually. to be
sure; it was one that could have been
met, in measure, by the Government.
which represents the American people
as whole. and for which they are re-
sponsible. For this state of affairs the
blame falls upon the Government at
Washington, to degree. and from it
to the people who have condoned if
they have not endorsed, its heartless
treatment of this simple, kindly and
most unfortunate people.
The people described in the para
graph given above, these are they who
welcomed the advent of the American
soldiers in Porto Rico with flags and
where in that island the man who wore
an American uniform was hailed as
deliverer n benefactor and friend. And
though since that time the island
substance has been destroyed by storm
and flood, this Government has delib-
erately eXacted from it's miserable peo-
pie 100000 n year. at the behest OF
our own overgrown corporations. 1t is
folly to assert that the people do not
pay this tribute; Americans know sur
ficiently who pays tariff duties.
w mere IL SuOulu nave SiNeii TIE
Government has levied taxes.
And yet in the face of all this suffer
ing. disappointment and injustice, the
Porto Ricans have remained orderly
obedient and loyal to American author
lily. What other people would have
done so much? Would our own people
have been thus patient of hard condi-
tons and harder usage? On the con-
trary, our cities would have been swept
with fire and blood, and the only alter
native of anarchy would have been abb
solutism. even determination.
Is it not time that the country purge
itself of this sin against this helpless
and dependent people and its own bet
ter instincts? England has done more
for India's millions than we have done
for Porto Rico's thousands. In the
name of common sense and sheer self
interest, are we to permit this state of
affairs to continue until we have n
Sepoy Rebellion among this starved
and desperate people? Shall we with
hold dollar in charity now and spend
ten in the repression few years later?
Shall we stand shamed before the
world and ourselves by permitting such
conditions to continue in any territory
over which our flag floats?
Congress will meet again in a few