The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-14

while it is true that many coffee planta-
tons were utterly ruined, yet. strange as
It may appear. many, if not most. Of the
sugar estates were benefited rather than
permanently injured How2 Well sim
ply by the washing Of the fertile soil down
from the hills upon the canefelds- In
some cases the estates were covered more
than a foot in depth with richest soil
and thus fertilized for many years to
come
And. again, tariff or no tariff. the sugar
raisers can make great profit on their
crops. which they have been holding back
in order TO benefit by the addition to their
price Of whatever is taken of the duties
It is q simple matter. and the same is true
of the tobacco growers They have held
on until the tariff should be settled, when
their cigars viii be worth just the present
price plus the tariff removed Personally
I believe that there should be no tariff,
but the falIacy Of the cry about "oppress-
ed Porto RICO IS apparent when we re-
feet that coffee. which constitutes seven
tWslfths OF the islands exports. is abso-
Iutely free, and only sugar and tobacco
planters viii be benefited by removal OF
the tariff.
The sum total of Porto Rico's present
troubles may be expressed in one word
uncertainty The soil is so fertile and
fruitful in some districts, as in the tobac-
CO region of Cayey, being cultivated to the
very mountain tops. that the island cannot
fail of its future destiny. which is to be
one of the garden spots of the world
It never attained to the limit of its pro-
I duction under Spanish rule because all ef-
and choked but under the fostering care
/ of wise American methods the future OF
/ this beautiful island viii be full of prom
| ise-
The problems and vexations that now
arise are of temporary character merely
| and VIII disappear IN the process Of time.
/ as people and country are Ieavened with
/ the civilizing ideas Of the great country to
which they are annexed. It should be
[ borne in mind that the island is undergo
7 ing formative process; that experiment
! tarion is necessarily the order Of the day.
/ and that It may even take a generation
| Of time to accomplish the eradication of
evils that have been growing for centu-
| Fies.
The wonder is that we have succeeded
/ 50 well when II is known that the Latin
race 10 which these people belong. and
+ the Anglo-Saxon. to which we IN the main
/ belong. viii no more mix than oil with
water But despite the radical racial diff
( ferences and the friction oecasioned. II IS
alleged BY political expedsncfes the Porto
/ Ricans are impressed with our honesty,
our integrity of purpose and good fnten-
[ tons and in the main will cling 10 th5
/ United States rather than revert to Spain
again or be set adrift- They have the
good sense TO appreciate the fact that q
nation that gives them waterworxs. cleo
| trio lights. transportation, telephones and
/ highways. not to mention good govern
/ ment. freedom from oppression, protec-
ton from internal and external enemies
and the blessings OF education VIII even
tualiy work out their material salvation
and set them on the road to unexamplsd
prosperity
SAN JUAN. Porto Rico.
Copyright 1900. by 3. A. ober.1