The Irish standard., 1900-10-27
IMPERIALISM IN PORTO RICO.

was ceded by Spain to the United
States without costing cent of money
or Il drop Of American blood, is in q
deplorable condition Under the McIin-
ley administration despite the follow
ing statement of the president in his
speech of acceptance:
I'VE hold Porto Rico by the same
title as the Philippines. The treaty
of peace which ceded us the one con-
veyed to us the other. Congress has
given to this island a government in
which the Inhabitants participate,
elect their own legislature, enact their
own local laws, provide their own sys-
TEN of taxation, and in these respects
have the same power ami privileges
enjoyed by other territories belong
ing to the United States, and Il much
larger measure of self government
than was given to the inhabitants of
Louisiana under Jefferson"
Any citizen who has read the ac-
count of affairs in Porto Rico from
trustworthy American visitors knows
that President Mckinley is guilty of
gross eXaggeration, and that he is de-
liberately misleading the American
people when he publicly makes such
assertions. The fact is that President
Mckinley is governing Porto Rico as
King George III governed the thirteen
American colonies in the last century.
Two years of his misrule has ruined
the island. The Infamous Foraker
bill has brought untold miseries on the
islanders and reduced them to beggary
and starvation. Had he had the back
bone to perform his plain duty by
the Porto Ricans as outlined in his
message to Congress, instead of yield
ing to the trusts, the people of the ISL
ands would be comparatively happy
instead of being the most disconnected
people in the western hemisphere.
Do the inhabitants of Porto Rico ell
joy self-government like other terri
tories belonging to the United States"
and do they ''elect their own legis-
lature," as Mckinley says? Not ut all.
Porto Rico is not II territory but Il
colony. The upper house of the legis-
latnre consists of six Americans and
five natives, the former being appoint
ed by Mckinley himself. The men
appointed by him are Mr.. Hunt, Sec
rotary of state and president of the
executive council; Mr.. Garrison, audi
tor; Mr.. Russell, attorney general; Mr..
Elliott. commissioner of the interior;
DR.. Rrumhaugh, commissioner of edu-
cntion. and DIR. Jacob Hollander, the
treasurer. all staunch Republicans Of
the Hanna-McKinleys school of politics.
The men appointed by the president
will always constitute a majority in
the upper house. The lower house
or legislative assembly cuts but q
small figure. Its acts are subject 10
the double wise Of McINinley's COVER
nor and Congress. The Porto Ricans,
therefore, have not territorial gov
eminent like New Mexico and Okla
homa. They have taxation without
representation. Under Spanish rule
they sent three senators and sixteen
representatives to the Spanish Cortes;
now they are entitled to send one dele
gate to Washington, without n vote.
In the face Of these facts how can
Mark Hanna's factotum truthfully say
that they enjoy a much larger meas
IRE of self-government than was given
to the inhabitants of Louisiana under
Jefferson?
The Porto Ricans are not citizens
but subjects of the United States.
General Miles in his proclamation to
them said: 1--WE have come to bring
you protection, not only to yourselves,
but to your property, to promote pros