Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-16
r RICAN e r

poRro RlcAH lhsE81K.
At the city of Ponce, Porto Rico last
month the following proclamation was
issued calling upon the people toocele-4
brate the landing of the American troops
on July Is, 1898. and incidentally showing
the nature of the blessings which United
States control has brought to h people
of that erstwhile benighted and oppressed
island: ot
In November, 1882, a feet. visited this
on the southern coast. The event initiated
the conquest of an American people by q !
European people. Since that day four cen
turtles have elapsed, and the original, 'leg1t-
innate owners of the island Were destroyed
and a new people systematically subject
to bondage and slavery replaced the nrst: 4
In July, 1898, another fleet visited the
island and anchored, as did the former. In
one of the harbors on the southern coast.
This time it was the North American PEG,
pie, represented by the army. that landed
on the island, initiating from that time the
redemption of an American people by an
| other American people.
November and July; 1492 and 1893; two
| dates that cannot be forgotten; two fleets
visit our shores; two historical events. ap-
p%arently unexpected. but undoubtedly de.
\ signed by fate; two pages in the annals OF
I this Antille. in one of which the last line
is being written, the other initiating an era
of hope.
1892 was followed by a violent, rapid and
absolute absorption of a non-civilized, but
energetic people, who were the legitimate
owners Of their homes ana their island;
of a civilized but decaying and weak peo-
pie. owners, however, of this country, al
though subjected to the most deSpOtlc and
absolute bondage.
In 1872 a free people was annihilated to
enslave another; in 1898 a serf people was
one. That is the antithesis that is pre-
scented to our people on the 25th of July.
Memorable date. when the torch of liberty
on %a the SCRIPTURES ss utuTes become bee mes: a reality ca 0'os
July. 1898, took us by surprise and dis
heartened us. Public matters. political
certain Since that date-and it was only
yesterday-the friendship of the North
American people, directly or indirectly, has
modified our condition and elevated our
people. We had no liberty of thought, and
now, the church and the state being sepa-
rate our faith is free. We were compelled
country, for the integrity of which so
much blood was split. Now our country
is our own land land our country is also
the will of the people. sE'
And we nave no longer the stamped
paper;
Nor the dues on transfer of property;
Nor the personal certificates: ~
Nor the passport;
Nor the export duty;
Il Nor the tax on professions;
Nor the import duty. which Is now in
significant, and which it is left 70 us to
Nor the tribute to- the crown Of SPAIN;
Nor the tribute to- the VeraguasAface;
: Nor the tribute to the ministry ~ colo.
mics;
+ Nor war tribute in time of peace, and
t navy tribute without navy;
, Nor pensioned people (who we're moi
, Nor mounted police tguards civil;
Nor military courts to try ordinary ant
political offenses; ?
Nor alcaldes appointed by the Govern
= ment;
Nor military governor;
But we have the inviolability of gu
The courts of justice composed of Port,
Rican magistrates:
= The divorce law, which guarantees do
- nestle peace;
Uniform currency;
Regularity in the exchanges;
a Postal money orders;
\ Uniformity in the postal stamp;
The municipalities will be autonomous;
J. We have suffrage, the extension of whic
is left to us:
c. We nave Porto Rican troops;
An insular police composed Of Port
- Ricans;
8. Free Justice, for which the judges ar
responsible, without the Inconvenience G
III the prejudgments; '
he And quick procedure, the modification {
which is left to us;
- anu we udNc representation III the al
at ecutive council. even if not exactly to tn
extent we deserve.
IN And we have a house of representative
to legislate for the island. b
And We have, moreover, a great peop
as our friend, who will defend our right
and pay us back with unquestionable al
for the generous reception we gave to the
4 army the 25th of July, which date we no
" celebrate.
u Nelson Miles word will be kept. II 0,
laws at present are not perfect, they ".
become SO some day. We will overpow
.ss the obstacles of the political parties In Il
Union, and once we have secured all O,
nberties the fusion of the American al
- In November, 1892, when the .Spant
x fleet arrived at the island. the natives, su
prised, fled to the woods, became estrange
- poisoned their darts and prepared ther
enemies. ,.nIl \
4ct On the arrival of the Americans at I
island DULY. 1889. the Porto Rican peoE
~, should not withdraw from public life. n
discord and hatred, because that wou
simply retard the development and ,progre
at OF their beloved country, to whose w
He 1t is the duty of every citizen Ito CO
ne tribute. 5 =
INT These are the sentiments Of the membe
-. Of the republican party in Ponce VIII
yet they invite their fellow countrymen to Ct
aat citrate the &th Of July. the anniversary
the date when the American and POI
The Rfcan peoples became united by indissol
hi1 Die ties In Guanica and Ponce.
Great stress Is laid upon the fact til
Bourke Cochran. who four years ago 81
" ported the r-Buckner ticket h
~s come out for Bryan after a great mo-
II a struggle, apparently, and a careful DELHI
erS otiop no tn hi~ po1}ttoo1 d,,tv Tho urohal