The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-04-19
Puerto Rico.

ern National Insurance Company, re-
turned a week or two ago from Puerto
Rico, where he had been perhaps to
persuade the natives to provide them
selves with large insurance policies,
and If so, failed, with all his suavity
and persuasive power to secure a sin
ole application. But Mr.. James was a
sort of self appointed spy to spy out
the land, and he comes back bringing
an evil report.
He SAYS: "Steamers coming from the
island carry little or no freight; San
Juan is the only good harbor in Puerto
Rico; water is TOO shallow to admit a
battle ship in San Juan harbor; the
filthy habits of the people are beyond
description; the people subsist as best
they can on bananas, CocOanuts and
berries; in the cities the real Puerto
Rican is without honor, honesty or de-
cency: the inhabitants hate the Amer
leans; generations will be required to
lift up and improve the Puerto Rican
people,"
If all this is true, then, the Span
iards are masters of Americans in
trade and political sagacity, and there
has been imposed on Uncle Sam a
worthless thing. But, other travellers,
officers in the army, American soldiers
and other peoples than our own, look
on Puerto Rico from another view
point and regard the little island as a
gem.
There is something of value in the
estimated population, $4,000. There
is something in it's dimensions, 108 by
81 miles. There is something also in
$3.50 square miles of territory. Some
thing in the fact of the we'll watered
ness of the land; as many as thirteen
hundred streams, forty-seven of which
are rivers of considerable width, depth
and length, flowing in different direc-
tons. To have exported in 1888
70, 1872 tons of sugar and mo1asses, val
ued at five million, eighty thousand,
nine hundred and seventy-ive dollars.
To have exported 16,801 tons of coffee
valued at four million, seven hundred
aud ninety-nine thousand, seven hun
dred and four dollars, does not look as
though no freight can come from that
island. To have exported 30,378 tons
of honey valued at seven hundred and
forty thousand, seven hundred and
forty dollars; and, to have exported
1870 tons of tobacco valued at five
hundred and seventy-three thousand
and seventy dollars, is an aspect of the
case worthy of recognition.
Puerto Rico's intrinsic value is not
in the present, but in the future. Two
decades will make many TRANSFORMED
tons. Under a just and impartial
government by the American people,
in the construction of highways and
railroads, in the establishment of
courts and schools, in the encourage
ment to work given by a new impetus
to trade, and in the introduction of
machinery for agricu1turing and man
ufacturing interest, Our island posses
sion will IN a little while carry a more
benignant CountenanCe.
People more savage than the Puerto
Ricans, as the Fegians, the Medagas-
cans, the Sandwich Islanders, where
opportunities were not nearly as
favorable, have, under touch of civi1i-
cation and Christianity risen to better,
broader plains of life.
Despite the insinuations of Mr..
James we believe that Puerto Rico is
worthy. A valuable jewel has come
into the hands of this Republic, and it
is for lis to keep it untarnished, ex-
pansive, giving it greater and greater
value as decades and centuries. shall
pass away.
Yesterday the House by vote of
161 to 153 passed the Puerto Rican
tariff bill, as amended by the Senate.
This means that duty amounting to
fifteen per cent. of the Ding1ey duties
shall be levied on all Puerto Rican
pTOuuCCS IndC are CdII1Su Anto ALnSI1 I
can harbors. But this tax will be
used for lawful purposes in Puerto
Rico. If not levied in this manner
such tax would have to be levied in
some other way, unless the expense OF
government were paid out of the funds
in the United States treasury. Some
think this would have been the better
plan. We incline to the. doctrine OF
free trade between United States anC
it's island possessions. But the bill is
passed, it is law, and we shall hope
for the prosperity of the beauti iul isle
of the West Indies.
Il g.: - Il