The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-19

I that the question is settled a feeling of
satisfaction and contentment has taken
the place of the former disquietude and
uncertainty.
The SO called Foraker act, by which
Porto Rico was to pay modified export
and import duties, was passed April 12,
1900, and was intended to provide re-
sources for carrying on the government
of the island. That it was considered a
temporary measure is shown by the
provision that it should continue in
force only till March 1, 1902, even if not
previously discontinued. Whenever, .
says the act, the legislative assembly
of Porto Rico shah have enacted and
put in operation a system of local taxa
ton to meet the necessities of the gov
eminent of Porto Rico, by this act es-
tablished, and shall by resolution duly
passed SO notify the president. He
shall make proclamation thereof, and
thereafter all tariff duties on merchan-
disc and articles into Porto Rico
from the United States or coming into
the United States from Porto Rico shall
cease, and from and after such date all
such merchandise and articles shall be
entered at the several ports of entry
free of duty" So it will be seen that
President Mckinley performed only his
plain duty under the law when, IS
months after that law had been pass
ed (the insular legislature having in
formed him that the conditions had
been fulfilled, he sent out the procla-
nation which has caused so much re-
joicing in this island.
I do not say that everybody is salts
| fed, because there are still taxes to be
borne and q. revenue to be raised. and
there are thousands of Porto Ricans
who never paid any taxes and never in
tend to pay any if they can avoid it;
1 but. on the whole, a universal senti-
ment prevails that justice has been
done to our people here. They felt very
much aggrieved because after having
received the Americans with every
demonstration of joy and hospitality,
having given themselves unreservedly
into their hands and turned over all their
governmental machinery and posses
sions, they should have been in a sense
| treated as aliens. 1t may be many
years before they imbibe our institu-
tions in their entirety or learn our Ian
guage to speak it readily. but at heart
they feel they are really ''Americanos'
and should be taken into the fold as
brothers and sisters in reality. and not
in a Pickwickian sense.
The Porto Ricans have had some
grievances, we must admit; but, on the
other hand, they have been benefited a
thousandfold more than if they had
continued under the tyrannical rule OF
| Spain. AS an American, resident for
the past two years in Porto Rico and
thoroughly acquainted with island and
people, naturally wish to give the ma
tives their just dues, but / say in all
candor that while there have been
faults of government as to our deal
ings with Porto Rico, they have been
mainly misunderstanding
1t must be remembered that there is
a great difference between US and the
Porto Ricans, who are foreign by Dir tn
and foreign racially- They have differ
emit language, different habits and rad
ically different points of view from us
They could not understand, for in
stance, why our military governors
should wish to clean their streets and
insist upon sanitary observances which