New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-18
DECEASED PUERTO RICAN Poems.

| DEBASED ftERIO TEOA>c.
! To the Editor of The Tribune.
| Sir: The eyes OF the entire world are watching
to see what the United States will do with its
| recently acquired possessions and 1t may be IN
| terestng briefly to set forth the exact condi-
ton Of the mass Of the people Of Puerto Rico
and the relation of the several classes to each
| other in that island
The area of Puerto Rico is about three-eighths
| that of the small State of New-Jersey, and In
| this space there about a million OF inhapl-
| tants. The people amiable and polite. active
| and intelligent. The beauty OF the island and
it's delightful breezes leave only a memory OF
Junelike weather and perpetual verdure
The soil is fertile and the climate favorable to
the raising of several crops each year Of some
Of the agricultural products that are to bring
wealth to the island. There are 6O,953 farms or
estates. stated in the classification officially
rendered for assessment of rural lands; these
farms are owned by 50,753 persons, aggregate
an area Of 2,0S9 331 cuerdas Ia cuerda is ninety
nine hundredths of an acrel, and are estimated
worth S49,094.590.
A considerable percentage of the property
owners absentees. who live in Spain, and
who are represented in the island by agents, and
who are not advocates of American methods;
the usual percentage Of owners are women, and
considerable rentable property Is owned by
priests There are native planters, who are fire.
quently of a superior type. A leader of this
class. now in the United States desired to be
Senator in the nsular government. and was
declared elected, but declined to qualify because
he deemed the election not strictly honest
one
The class of professional men and business
men who are not property ners salared per-
sons, wage earners and the burden bearers that
make up the great mass of the population, are
loyal to the principles of our -republi-
can government.
HARD LOT OF THE PEASANT CLASS.
If the saying Is true Those who own the soil
own the country" then there are 100000 persons
in Puerto Rico who, in the vocabulary Of an
| aristocracy. be said to have stake in
the country These the peasant class, who
are called poems. and who very poor.
The homes of this class built upon the
abandoned lands. such lands not de-
sired by the planters and the poems not usu-
ally permitted to live upon the estates where
they work. The great mass Of the poor people in
the country live in rude abodes made of poles
that are matched with large leaves and long
grass tied down with vines and thongs; they are
frequently without furniture. the occupants
sleeping on piles OF leaves for beds and the fam
lily. seated on TIE ground eat their scanty meal
out of the pot in which it is cooked. The
principal articles OF diet rice. beans dried
Goldfish. vans and sweet potatoes. most families
never tasting meat. There is no means for max
ing bread in these homes; in It's place the coun-
try people eat plantain, species Of banana that
requires to be cooked.
a leading physician. speaking on this stated:
From my experience a doctor I would say
that l consider that II the people of Puerto Rico
are to obtain speedy relief from their distress
the wants Of the peasant class should receive
prompt attention The peasants live in miser-
able novels, at distance of several leagues
from each other and from any town AS is
natural. their manner of living brings in its
train the impossibility of healthy alimentation.
for they live fruit and roots. never tasting
meat, bringing as an inevitable consequence
anamia, from which all suffer.
SCATTERED OVER THE COUNTRY
Until 1873 the natives labored in competition
with slavery. a condition of poverty that is hard
to realize. During centuries the natives had
been deprived OF their property by admins
tration of law which favored Spaniards and the
dispOssessed natives found their places the
dispersed people that make up the large body of
the population. A native historian. speaking of
this, writes: only 10 per cent OF the total popu-
| laton of Puerto Rico live in towns; the remain
ing 81 per cent live dispersed in the country
not in villages even. but s!ngly."
Here is brought to view the scattered condi-
ton of the people, the great obstacle that is
countered in every effort which is to be made to
elevate them to a consistent level of manhood
and womanhood
With the planters, the spectators and trades
people OF the island the question of lettering
the condition of the market for a sale Of the
products of the island is paramount. This
paratively small class of the people seems tc
feel that with It's ability to sell more and at a
higher profit all will go we'll throughout the
island. but the experience OF the past does not
justify such view of tia case. The representa-
tive of farm laborers. Senor b. Lopez Castro. in
testifying before the United States Special Com
mis- sion, stated
AS general rule from the early age OF ten
or twelve years children OF both sexes are nut
In the morning, so as to be in readiness to take
up the hoe at d. sometimes without having had
anything to eat This work both children and
the older workmen continue till q In the even
Ing. and gradually lose their health in exchange
for the miserable wage OF y. Is 20 centavos
a day for the children, and from 90 to GO
centavos for the adults OF both sexes, which
amounts are frequently reduced when the price of
coffee sugar falls off. but never increased
beyond these sums. CThe wages named are in
native money worth but GO cents on a dollar in
United States money!
1t can be shown that the farm laborers fire.
quently have to walk several miles to and from
work. and 10 toll long hours under tropical sun
for small remuneration Their social condition
in the past has not been such as to lead one to
suppose that there will be any voluntary relaxa-
ton by the planters.
EDUCATION. NOT LOWER TARIFF. NEEDED
The real leaders, representative men OF bo,u
political parties do not consider that the re-
duction OF tariff is the most important step to be
taken in the relief of distress In Puerto Rico
they. no doubt. desire removal of every OBJ
structon TO traffic also, but II is secondary az
compared with the necessities of the laborer.
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