The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-22

sands upon thousands OF the good people IN
America honestly fear that this nation mas
turned oppressor and IL grinding down the
people OF Porto Rico. For this fear the emil
nent journalistic calamity howlers are respon-
sible. One OF the most recent visitors OF TINS
character TO the island went TO the extent OF
hiring 200 Of tho Porto Ricans to march Into San
Juan crying for bread. In order to back up the
story that he wrote about the distress on the
Island. This same Journalist had printed
with his articles q lot Of photographs depict
Ing starvation. disease and distress. alleged 70
have been taken by himself and alleged TO show
things actually existing on tho island at the
present time. Al q matter OF fact the photo
graphs were old ones. taken Immediately after
the terrible hurricane that swept over tho
Island q year ago. when distress actually existed
through no fault OF any one. These photo
graphs are on sale now and have been for . year.
The fact Of the matter Is that under tho new
tarin and the new civil government and with
the assurance Of q speedy introduction Of a
gold standard 10 take the place OF the rotten
Spanish money system. the Island Is improving
In a marvellous fashion. Congress. 90 far as
It has zone. has legislated wisely for the island.
There Is every prospect now that with a wise
administration such as has been inauGurated.
increased industry will bring a measure of
prosperity such as the island has never known
before In its history. This result Is not going TO
come about In q month or perhaps in several
months. Necessarily II 10 a work Of time. but
that things are pointing right there can be
no doubt. Conditions have been constantly
changing since the American occupation. New
Ideas have been introduced. Tho intelligent
p,ople OF the island are taking kindly TO the
now order OF things. The merchant 10 getting
more for his goods than he ever got before. Tho
laborers In the chief cities are getting more
wages than they ever before received. and with
the complete going out OF the island currency
and Its re placement by the American monetary
system. the making OF every dollar. whether Of
gold, silver or p,p-r r. as good "a overy other
dollar. the wages Of the laborer throughout the
whole island will be almost doubled. With
better wages will COM increased spending
power. better food and more comforts. The
Porto Rican laborer will have something to
live for. and he has had nothing to live for for
so long a time that bis ambition had been prac-
tically killed.
Agricultural laborers-and they make UP
the greater part Of the population Of the
island--have always received 80 cents q
day. When the gold standard was In foroe
there they received this sum. When Mexican
currency took the place Of the gold they still
got so cents q day. When that went out and
Porto Rican currency came In there was still
no change. The ffty-cent wage Of the Porto
Rican laborer has since 1885 been paid In O
constantly depreciating silver currency. Fifty
cents In Porto Rican cur rency to-day Is worth
30 cents American. The United States have
agreed TO redeem the Porto Rcan silver cur
rency at the ratio Of 90 Ia cents American
for 81 Porto Rican between now and Aug.
81. II has been decrced that after that date
the money Of Porto Rico shall be American
currency and unredeemed Porto Rican money
shall be worth only what its weight as old
metal Will bring for it.
The laborer who has always received 30
cents a day. whether the money was worth 80
cents or 30 cents, will insist upon getting 30
cents still. Employers generally will demand
that he take 80 cents gold. the equivalent Of
his wages for years past. In some cases EN-
ployers may be able TO make him split the DIFF
ference with them and make him take 40 cents
gold. but generally from end to end Of the island
II Is the opinion Of men Of judgment that he
will get all the increase. This opinion Is based
on the fact that the needs Of the laboring peo-
pie are so small and the country is so rich that
1t Is possible for a good part OF the year for
people 10 live without work. The employer
will need the labor more than the laborer
needs the money. Further. the people
Of the whole island. including the employers.
realize that wages have been too low TO make
any sort Of general prosperity possible. and
In the contest public opinion will be a unit
In favor Of the laborer.
As In the case OF the distribution OF food and
the suspension Of the foreclosure Of mortgages
this generosity was grossly abused in many
cases, But this will be fully told about later,
together with other facts concerning the ad-
ministration Of the affairs Of the island.