The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-25

lars before word has been said authori-
tatively about government.
There must be some reason for this,
government of Kruger very few felt safe
to put their money into fixed property.
and still fewer were encouraged to do
so. Now the government of Kruger is
q thing Of the past, and every one knows
what kind of government will take its
place. Plans can be made now with just
as much certainty as would be possible
after the new order is completely estab-
lished, and there are obvious advantages
in making an early start. 1t is a good
thing for the country, the investors and
the British government that there will be
no period of stagnation and delay. The
extent of the good fortune may perhaps
be computed by using Porto Rico as a
contrast.
There has been no war In Porto Rico,
but 1t had about as bad government as
Spain could provide. The problem OF
government was the most difficult of the
loShS COHlIOIIIiIlS ttlS OH1tC0 HotolCS III
the island, for the people were happy
to receive our forces, and offered no OBJ
stacle to bloodless conquest. All the
world knew this truth, and 1t was all
along conceded that once the United
States provided a rational form of gov
eminent to supersede the rule of Spain,
industries of the island would bring rich
returns on investments of many millions.
Yet there was no rush of investors, no
advertising for bids on big contracts,
when it was known for certainty that
the United States would govern the is
land, nor, it might be added, has t-ere
appeared any such tendency. Very few
states in the Union have better latent
opportunities for investors than exist IN
Porto Rico, but capital that would not
| hesitate to enter one of the states can
hardly be induced to consider island in
vestment. Once In while an individual
American goes down there with money,
! intending to engage in business, but soon
returns with the information that ne
finds no encouragement in the prevailing
conditions. To great extent the old
Spanish laws obtain, and the chief thing
noticeable in what has been introduced
by our congress is a tendency, if not
well defined purpose, to deny the island
some of the privileges and blessings that
are none less valuable because common
! in the United States. The American who
goes there finds himself deprived of some
of his rights as a citizen, and is in a
delightful uncertainty half the time
where he will bring up under some Span
ish statute. and he is likely to come to
! the conclusion alreaoy reached by many
| natives that, as an expression of actual
! purpose, the lofty sentiments and fra
ternal sympathy voiced by the leading
Washington politicians from time to
time, amounts to no more than the pass
ing of the wind through cocoanut palm.
The development of the country has been
arrested, and poor people are suffering,
| for no other reason in the world than
| that the adrninlstra ton has been unequal
| to the governmental problem. So far
! failure has been scored, yet who can say
] that it is excusable? Does anyone out
side of the interests bent upon exploita-
/ ton pretend to doubt that Porto Rico
would have marvellous prosperity today,
and would have fiourished from the be-
ginning of American occupa ton, had 1t
/ been understood that the usual state or
/ territorial government would prevail?
Great Britain is through experimenting,
and all the world knows it. Capital
knows what to expect in South Africa,
and is only waiting for the last act of
war to enter. The United States is ex-
perfmenting in Porto Rico, In direction
which does not commend itself to the
! conscience or Judgment of the majority,
1 and capital may be expected to sit on
the fence till something rational and
/ permanent Is provided. The sooner this
i is promised and granted the better for
! the island and for the United States.