The evening times., 1900-04-14
Our First Crown Colony.


Under Spanish rule the Island of Pert,
| Rico was not treated as a subject colony
but as an integral part of the kingdom
| 1t was taxed GENEROUSLY, perhaps. but net
! without representation for it was entitled
TO and had three Senators and twelve Dep-
uties in the National Cortes at Madrid.
/ Porto Rico contributed three million dol
! lars year to the Spanish revenues. but
nevertheless was prosperous and at the
! time OF its occupation by the United States
was without public debt
In all essential respects the Porto Ri
cans were free Spanish citizens. with all
the rights and privileges of free citizen
ship. On taking possession of their coun-
try the American Republic. through the
General in Chief of its military forces
promised them that they should enjoy all
the blessings of our institutions and laws:
that they should be recognized and treated
as a community of American citizens. Ii
is said by some people that General Miles
was not competent to bind his Government
by any such promise. The contention is
not worthy OF notice. The pledge was not
a gratuitous one on the Generals part
He merely explained 10 the Porto Ricans,
as IL was his duty 10, that as soon as the
sovereignty of the United States should
extend over the island, the Constitution
would 20 with it. II was not his word
that bound the Government. but the Con-
stitution itself. the operation of which he
simply declared.
Instead of being accorded the rights.
privileges. and immunities guaranteed to
them by the plain letter of the Constitu-
tion. the Porto Ricans have been reduced
by the trust Administration and its party
majority in Congress to the condition OF
subject inhabitants of a crown colony.
Their domestic trade with other parts of
the United States is unconstitutionally
taxed, in order that they may be pre-
vented from refining oil or sugar. or man
ufacturing tobacco. The infamous law en-
acted for their exploitation and govern
ment makes them producers of raw ma
terial for the enrichment of the sugar and
tobacco trusts. and. while ii remains in
force, will render impossible any profita-
cigars. cigarettes, or refined sugar.
In place of the three Senators and twelve
Deputies Porto Rico was wont to send to
Spain. il viii have one Commissioner in
Washington, who Will not have a seat or
voice in Congress. like Delegates from
other American Territories but viii be
expected TO hang around the corridors
waiting for some committee TO send for
him and ask him questions.
The local government will be strictly
that of a crown colony. Mr. Mckinley
has the appointment OF the Governor and
Of the Executive Council OF Eleven. which
is also the upper house of Legislature.
Through his delegates. he controls the ap-
pointment OF every appointive officer He
has an unlimited veto power on all acts
OF the Porto RicSn Government. 10 be ex-
ercised through a Governor always under
his direct orders. Through his Executive
Council he has sole power over the grant
ing of concessions and franchises. Against
all this. the miserable islanders are gra-
ciously permitted TO elect lower house OF
assembly. TO consist OF thirty-fiye mem
bers. which viii be without power and has
been provided solely for the sake of ap-
pearances. The whole scheme is based
upon the system of colonial subjecticn and
loot in the interests OF home monopoIies.
designed by George III and his ministers,
the attempt to operate which resulted in
the War of Independence II the present
example the political crime is far more
hagrant than was its antetype King
George and his Parliament did not violate
the British Constitution in the course they /
pursued toward us. Mr.. Mckinley and his /
ministers and parliamentary majority all !
violate the American Constitution in their |
of Porto Rico and 10 a man are !
of the fact