The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-15

~
timent of the isiandrrs in 60 short q
time. however, " u some of the
causes which have produced it are
considered and they are very clearly
presented for consideration in q long
indictment of the United States Gov
eminent in its dealings with the
island which was published in the
Disrio de Puerto Rico ten days ago
aud has just come to hand
The protest is dignifed, specific
and fOrcible 1t asserts that the
United States Government has des
troyed the autonomy which the island
possessed. and which was more am.
pie than that enjoyed by Canada; that
instead Of three senators and sixteen
Representatives in the Spanish
Cortes, who helped to rule their own
island as well as the mother country,
Porto Pico is now given one dele
gate, without q vote in the American
Congress; that instead of council Of
secretaries, whose resolutions were
always sanctioned by the Governor,
there is now an executive council
composed mainly of "aliens," and
that iUstead of al insular chamber.
elected by the vote Of the people,
and having power to legislate con
cesning budgets, public works,
public education, charters. public
health, post Offices and telcgraphe,
there is now a chamber of Delegates,
"whose authority is nothing" as the
executive council-composed mainly
of aliens-can approve or reject the
laws which 1t enacts
These changes have not been in
The line of extended and enlarged
powers of local self government. and
they certainly constitute sufficient
of dissatisfaction and complaint
But there are others
Uodsr Spanish rule, we are remind
ed, the islanders chad q system of
education tolerabIy we'll organized.
with sufficient room for the introduc.
tion of reforms leading to it's
perfection " Today. they boast of
an educational system through whose
errors the pupils have just lost one
full year and will probably lose the
successive ones il God does not come
to their rescue /"
They had daily mail communics
tiOn with all the towns of the island 1"
"Now the communication with quite
number Of the towns has been re
duced to thrice a week. while the
postal and telegraph rates have been
considerably increased, and the
stations closed at night and during
holidays. when formerly they were
kept open day and night
They "had budget that always
showed a surplus. despite the fac,
that the war and navy expenses. as
well as the pension for the descend.
ants of Christopher Columbus, we're
paid from it" Now they have a
budget with deficit amounting to
a million dollars
Under Spanish rule, they had
native employees exclusively in all
Government affairs, and the money
coming from our purses thus found its
way into the purses Of our country.
men &" To-day all the Offices Gre
nearly exclusively held by Ameri-
cans. who have been assigned at fat
salaries And why not, If they them.
selves fix those salaries and they
themselves collect them?'
Uoder Spanish rule they had . suf.
frsge avsilable by ell male persons
over 25 years Of age. without regard
to their being or not beiog taxpayers,
or their ability to read aud write +"
"Todsy We have . restricted and 10.
complete Suffrage. which deprives the
MISSES Of .hs. very right which self.
government granted them
Besides oil this. We are told that
oever uoder Spanish rule was the
douioile of q Porto Rieau violated {;
that 20 newspaper was ever suppressed,
ss has been done uuder Americao
sduioistra.iou {; that 20 civil fupo.iou.
ary ever invaded the jurisdiction Of tbe
Judge. as the American Governor has
now done BY ordering tho freedom of a
policeman who fred bis revolver 90
dsfeoceless women; ;bat gambling
dens did Oot flourish as thsy COW do
that soldiers did not kill laborcrs and
remaio uopuniohed I; that there was 40.
one law for the rulers aod another for
the natives; that the island was not de.
nled the benefits Of the Constitution OF
the home country; that the people did
not have to cmigrase. famine stricken
aud Dude. so az not TO perish. There
ere many other counts 10 the indiot.
ment. not tho least beng that tho death
rate 90 tho island has trebled siuoe