Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-30

They were all Of the same tenor, demanding
Of the United States Congress citizenship,
CIVIL government and free trade with this
country. Among the towns heard from were
San JUAN Hatillo. Arroyo. Yabucow, Car
oiira, San Sebastian. Cayey, Cagnos Ga
boroja Guyana, Humoco and Utuado The
mayor of San Juan telegraphed:
The people of Porto Rico ask for all the
rights granted by the Constitution of the
United States. and will gladly and Loyalty
assume all obligations imposed by it. Speak
ing IN the name Of the people Of the capital
OF Porto Rico. appeal to the people of the
great republic not to make the American
nag the symbol of injustice, but to keep It
free from any stain of tyranny. Assign to
US equal rights. We are opposed to impe-
rahsm We protest against the slavery of
a colonial system. We ask for the Consti
tuoon OF the United States and for regular
territorial government to be succeaded IN
time by statehood Long NAV the snir,t ns
Justice and freedom govern the American
people. GERONIMO IGRAIT ~
Mayor of San Juan"
W nile these cable messages were he;ng
read the secretary's voice was momentarijS
drowned in the applause that greeted the
ARRIVAL on the stage of several distinguished
speakers. VINO had just arrived from Wash
Ihston senator Mason of Illinois was given
tremendous ovation. Behind him came
Senator William v. Allen populist of Ne
oraska: Representative John j. Lentz, dem
ocrat of Ohio. and James T. CamnheiI for-
mer governor of Ohio.
StEOhH " Or0A.
William McAdoo, formerly assistant sec-
rotary OF the navy, and for many Years a
representative in Congress from New Jer
said: "e+4uoo
We are met tonight, ladies and gentle
men, IN the empire city of the western
ne IIii ~ as IN great commercial capt
.ei OF the strongest and greatest republic
III the world, to maintain the honor Of tho
United States in doing justice 10 Porto Ri
cans. we are met tonight in the name of
no party. We are the rcpresentatives II
l understand it, of no faction We are no.
mere 10 exploit ourselves and we arc NOT
Eere TO further any violence of self-;nterest
We are mere tonight to raise our voices as
citlZenS or the republic that the renuhl;,
shall De true to itself and shall he tr,,n 70
us own honor. We believe. rs citizens ~
he ohited states, that this great govern
T f.,tn. pteagGd itself in honor and in good
idith mat the people of Porto Rico shouIJ
nave the same rights under our flag az the
people or New York. Ard. so believtng Nc
are mere tonight to protest at the levine
- any iLhpost duty, whether 1t be a frac.
eioil Oh mill or hundred per cent az
an act OF dishonor and an act of treachery
vi the part of this government
I'll; IN !he most charitable frame of mind
win the most kindly consideration and
with not the slightest tinge of want ~ o Gnu
sideratlon. l warn them tonight that n NAV
turn out that the Porto Rican Hill will dio
aiie grave OF the policy of national expan.
f
FORM, men of diverse convictions on tha
questions of the day. Some of us are demo~
c.ats ana some OF us are republicans Some
or US, without regard to the declarations
OF party platforms, have believed and diff
iered with our friends in believing that nm
uer favorable conditions national exnansio,
Moulo ne q blessing. not alone for this gov
eFhhiaGt' bui FOR those who come under our
hIs, but national expansion is TO he
tired In Porto Rico. II will not bo the onnn
opponents OF expansion who will defeat
IT. but II will be killed in the house Of ire
friends VI IT'S
Strong Demand for Liberty,
Frank Moss read series of resolutions
which were adopted unanimously by a ris
ing vote. They said in part:
Resolved. That 1t is the sense of this mass
meeting that. without regard to the status
OF any other Islands which have or NAV
become part Of the United States lepis.
lation should be Immediately enacted which
shall relieve the suffering of our fellow citi
zens in Porto Rico. and, be 1t
Resolved. further. That this leoisla t;o,
shall guarantee to the people of Porto Rico
the same protection. rights and immunities
enjoyed by the people Of the United States
and that no law shall be passed which will
now or at any time make the status Of the
people of Porto Rico differ in any wise from
that Of the citizens Of this republic And be
1t Se
Resolved further by this mass meeting nj
the citizens Of New York city, That the