New-York tribune., 1901-02-25
ON ST. THOMAS ISLAND.
LIVELY DISCUSSION OVER PROsPEC-
TIVE AMERICAN RULE.

They are evidently having some fun on the ISL
and of ST. Thomas. Danish West Indies over the
prospective requirement of the island by the United
States H. ]. Manecke who has a commercial
agency there, sends to The Tribune the following
letter with some newspaper clippings:
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Deg 70 lnclose several cuttings from The
& tnena Reproduced in The Tribune. in order to show
3OIJL IeduerS now the Editor of The Bulletin
under the influence of a few local monopoIists
~ sombre reports from Porto Rico TO
PIe}poice pubic opinion against American rule and
another scurrilous article of the kind appearing
Sn % '2nu@Ty TFcy lS wrote the article signed H j.
following following day. slipped into THE Bulletin" by some
The personal insults contained in the following
corninunlcatIons do not disturb my mind
this island YOU'D gadg daSgg %eegms Ss
b ne sac m t3at has been so long under discussion.
OF American rule in the neighbor island and con-
ands will mean their economic ruin, finally among
d6e more ignGrant people an artificial feeling
bd6 nat % you Will M help to prevent this calamity Is the
St Thomas. Feb. 6, 1901
Here is one of the letters in THE Bulletin to
which Mr.. Manecke took exception:
To the Editor of The Bulletin
,, Dear Mr. Editor: A private letter received from
,.o'5 Governor Allen. with the Mayhower. was here
SGSterGay yes put no entertainments Were given. nor
asm for the Yankees has leaked out long ago
at the bay, and meanwhile the local government
90 nothing but fight among themselves. and have
This certainly shows unhealthy state of affairs
IN nd our m neigh & house and should be well digest
our oTm Tbonsa domestic aPpIs cart Yours truly
Then Mr.. Manecke got in this broadside:
ST. Thomas January u 1901
Mr.. Editor: In your issue OF Friday 18th inst.
We notice some correspondence about the acfuai
on the unfavorabe situation aGd eserbe a@qoha
Persons acquainted with the character of Porto
to hear that there were people standing idle around
in that Island long before the A@eriea0 aSsr
meht obtained control. and it will continue to be
for generations to come; certainly it ought not to
be made a charge against the new administration.
II mere never was a more corrupt, immoral SER
than that Of Porto Rico under the Spanish rule.
d product OF rotten despotism in both church and
humane rule TO even amelorate these conditions;
blame that they not better?
American officials in that island are not popular
10 seek; the high born Castllan ladies could well
tVes in 10 e the hav taS PgRdeT a Of their Ts
cop ep income; she oTten does her own housework.
What not; and in her household there is no place
lor TOT te ihleVSn lazy dirty native: these fnglesas'
are are called Madam" the Peninsular are called
Dona' and perhaps few Of your readers will
WGiFSta1d t me I'd difference; but how can madam
As for their husbands. a general rule there
compliance with duties There IS no Wav 'e to s
them shut their eyes TO pilferngs big or small to
lar dehclencies OF course, they cannot be popular
but should We blame them?
That is. however. what your correspondent at
tempts to do and the case of Porto Rico is set
our beautiful islands in case OF sale ~
unfortunately. the domestic apple cart is empty
many have to be content with cores and skins S.
Why,sho1ld We not hail with delight the dawning
pears and plums thrown in? We see as In a
station our harbor full OF steamers and % ns az
war buildings and fortifcations arising on all
with the Tned STATES fs and All pfSeer fSe d5
runs m IN town replaced by modern houses work for
with English names in the language we under
tongue and a local Legislature elected by all who
S San reaa ana write and with no one debarred
waving for all time 10 come the emblem OF liberty
OF true equality. OF all the nobIest aspirations Of
iI@iAIiiu' H j. NJ
That communication rather stirred up things ss
these letters and an editorial article show:
To the Editor OF The Bulletin
What dirty fellow your correspondent III J.
No one with any pretensions TO be a gentleman
could so wantonly attack whole community, we'll
Ricans and Spaniards here who must deeply resent
the imputations thus falsely cast on their nearest
4 A coward @ Is one who attacks a community! And
ty hs Is don0ly coward when he hides his Individual
Let him boldly aver who he is and will do the
same! Or better still. let him retract his falso
assertions. A PORTO RICAN
ST. Thomas. Jan. % 1901.
To the Editor of The Bulletin.
Sir: In your issue Of Monday. the 2fst inst. have
noticed in correspondence that 'H. ]. NJ =" speak,
ing about Porto Rico states that the natives are
lazy. dirty, thieves, etc. How he take upon
himself 10 speak OF them in such a manner? I will
be happy If he takes away his mask and come
fair play. He is the dirty fellow and not the
natives. Whether in St. Thomas or in Porto Rico
still Porto Ricans and such will defend
our honor and
Hoping by this he Will show himself that every
body will know him. remain respectfully,
st. Thomas, jan %, 1901 L. A. ONEAI4LE.
Berger Gade No 1s
or at the Spanish Hotel.
Editorial article in st Thomas Bulletin:
Certain inquiries having been made Of us con-
cernng the rather tmmoderate and altogether dis
tasteful letter which appeared in paper yester-
day the initials H. ]. NJ" we have 10 re-
mind all readers that in publishing communica-
ttons we do not necessarily share the views OF
With regard TO the letter in question. we are not
at all surprised at the Indignation with which II
has been received and Justly, too. being a scath-
ing attack upon Spain and Spanish people and
things not very complimentary TO our own Danish
regime. but full OF adulation for America and
Americans
AS to responsibility in such matters we would
only say that the same IS clearly defined by the
Press Law.