Evening star., 1900-03-22
APPEAL FROM PORTO RICO
Earnestly Ask the Establishment of Stable
Government.
DELEGATES Say That Even the Tariff
Is a Minor Question for
Confederation

An eloquent appeal to the people OF the
United States has been issued by the ioi-
lowing delegates from Porto Rico to the
United States: ]. Julio Hepus, Azel Ames'
T Larrinaga ]. R. Latimer. L. Sachez
Morales and Arturo Bravo. They say:
In the summer of '9s General Nelson A.
Miles and a small army accomplished
practically bloodless victory over an isiaho
which had been 400 years under the yoke
Of Spanish misrule. Instead of enemies, ne
found only friends; instead of shot and
she'll only cheers of welcome; and. plant
ing there the flag which was hailed as the
symbol of a peoples dehverance he prom
tssd protection not only to the Islanders,
but to their property. and to promote pros
perfty and bestow upon them the lmmuth-
ties and blessings of the liberal INSTITUTIONS
Of the American government
Not content however, with allowing tne
paot,Ie of Porto Rico to remain in Ignorance
OF their exact status as either citlLehs oi
subjects of their adopted country deat 70
their cries OF distress and blind 10 theif
imperative needs, the national Congress
now proposes to add ignominy TO sorrow
and injustice to affiiction by imposing upon
the island systems of taxation ana Nassdi-
aye as immoral in principle as they are
questionable in purpose; as odlous 10 lree
don-IoYing Americans as they are obnoA-
ious TO the people they oppress, and 'den-
teal with those which drove the American
patriots of '76 to resist and destroy by force
OF arms the tyrant that imposed them.
The Tariff Bill.
Against the express will and wish OF the
chief executive in his last message 10
Congress; against the solemn vows OF the
soldier who first hoisted the flag OF free
dom over Porto Ricau soil; against the ad-
vice of the honorable Secretary OF War the
governors general of the island, the recon-
nandations of the Presidents special COM
missioner and the United States consul gem
eraI to Porto Rico: against the Just de-
mands of the Porto Rican delegates anu,
above all, against the combined sentiment EN-
of the representative press and 'oop,oV
Of people whose exponent 1t Is, an UNJUST
and odious tax measure has passed the
House of Representatives. and 1t Is now
even proposed to set aside all measures
establishing civil government for the island
More Military Rule.
The American people and the press, who.
thrusting aside all constitutional questions
and all subterfuges or sophistries. have re-
gently, almost with one voice, emphaticaly
demanded for Porto Rico, as her right, free
commerce with the United States, Will be
startled and indignant beyond measure to
learn that it is now proposed to Ting the
reduced tariff and a gift of s2ooooo as
sop TO the starving and PROSTATE isiahu'
and to suppress all legislation in Congress
establishing stable goyernment-its gravest
need-and to relegate the island for another
wear at least 10 the TullOuS COIlultlOUS VI
military rule.
Compared with this enormity, which
means inevitably the putting out of the last
ray of hope in the stricken island and turn
ing it over to the blackness of despair. the
tariff outrage shrinks to nothing. While as
d matter of principle We could never assent
70 the imposition of any tariff on commerce
between the United States and Porto Rico,
the reduced schedules proposed especially
If improved, promised, by the addition
Of a liberal free list of food supplies, etc)
will perhaps permit tolerable and somewhat
bettere+i conditions. but to deny US staoIe
civil government and the essentials to our
very existence. which can come only
through it. is to strike down at a blow
every hope. promise and possibility Of re-
denption. What have we done. what do we
lack that this last. cold-blooded refinement
"t oppression should be decreed against US
by the voices that pledged US. only SO little
ago. every good thing under the folds of
The American nag?
Pleading for InaIienabIe Rights.
1t arouses the utmost indignation that
million intelligent Christian people, nearly
NJ per cent of Caucasian birth. long in the
enjoyment of the highest rights of repre-
sentation in the national cortes of Spain;
who have had universal suffrage, munich
pal autonomy and Substantially free COM
Inerce with their sovereign country for
wears; community whose thrift. freedom
from debt, virtue and achievements be-
speak its character. which freed its slaves
on its own motion and paid for them with
out rnurmur: whose steadfastness gave IT
the name. even in Spain, of The Ever
Faithful Isle must now plead for those
fundamental civil rights which the fathers
0f the great republic declared to be the IN
alienable rights of every man.
'-Friends-brothers if Porto Ricans have
the right to call You so-we appeal to your
sense of right and homer. praying that you
may lift your voices against this perpetra-
tiou OF a crime against your own estab-
lished principles. this repudiation of a ma
tion's solemn promises to a loyal people
starving at your doorstep. and who ask no
charity. only justice. at your hands We do
not ask paternalism. but fraternalism: no
other bounty than the right to labor and TO
prosper. not the crumbs from your feast,
hat the privilege of toiling an equal
footing and proving ourselves worthy to
st a. the same board. under the flag.
Is il too much to ask of honorable indi-
vidual nation to fulfill obligation
g.ritten in patriots blood? Once taken into
tire household. Is IL too much 10 ask TO be
treated not an outcast. not even a
guest. but as one of the family. in all
hVnOr2'
Laurel News