The evening times., 1900-04-14

Our First Crown Colony.
Under Spanish rule the Island of Porto
Rico was not treated as a subject colony.
but as an integral part of the kingdom.
II was taxed GENEROUSLY. perhaps. but not
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 ta-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 g-atuitous one on the Generals part.
He merely explained 90 the Porto Ricans.
as it was his duty to. 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 immuuities guaranteed to
them by the plain letter of the Constitu-
tion. the Porto Ricans have been reduced
by the trust Administration and it's party
majority in Congress to the condition Of
subject inhabitants Of crown colony.
Their domestic trade with other parts Of
the United States is unconstitutionaIIy
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
tcrial for the enrichment Of the sugar and
tobacco trusts, and. while it remains in
force, will render impossible any profta-
bic trade with the American mainland IN
cigars cigarettes, or refined sugar.
In place Of the three Senators and twelve
Deputies Porto Rico was wont to send to
Spain. 10 VIII have one Commissioner in
Washington. who Will not have seat or
voice in Congress. like Delegates from
other American Territories: but viii be
expected to hang around the corridors
waiting for some committee tc rud Tor
him and ask him questions.
The local government Will De strictly
that Of 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 appoiutiye officer He
has unlimited veto power on all acts
Of the Porto Ricau 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 a lower house OF
assembly. to consist Of thirty-fve mem
bCrs. which will be without power and has
been provided solely for the sake Of aD-
pearances. The whole scheme is based
upon the system Of colonial subjection and
loot in the interests OF home monopoIfes
designed by George III and his ministers
the attempt to operate which resulted in
the War Of independence In the present
example the political crime Is far more
hagrant than was its auterype King
George and his Parliament did not violate
the British Constitution in the course they
pursued toward us. M. Mckinley and his
ministers and parliamentary majority all
violate the American Constitution i'm their
oppression Of Porto Rico. and TO man are
conscious Of the fact.