The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-01-07
IN PORTO RICO.

Those who still insist that the ma
tional policy of dealing with the in
sular possessions reverting to the
United States as a result of the tenn
porary severing Of friendly relations
with Spain is wrong in it's entirety
and oppressive in it's conditions should
take the trouble of reading the mes
sage of Governor Hunt to the legisla-
ture OF Porto Rico. AS summed up
by the governor the situation OF the
island could not well be better, taking
into consideration that it's industrial
and economic affairs are still in a
stage of transition and that the pco-
pie have not yet had time to adapt
themselves to the changes which have
been made since control of the island
passed to America.
"Tranquility and contentment pre-
vail in Porto Rico" says the message.
Schools have multiplied; railroads
of the island has been developed; agri-
culture has become more profitable;
roads are being built and debts are
being paid. Tolerance of opinion has
become more common, former antag-
onism being forgotten" A happier
condition of affairs could not be asked
and it is safe to assert that the people
are content and as they better under
stand and more fully appreciate the eff
forts of the United States to- improve
their condition in every respect as it
goes to make life better and existence
more tolerable their happiness and
content will grow. While doing all
in human power to improve their ma
terial well being, the government is
not Indifferent to their spiritual and
mental wants. Under it's directions
schools have been established and to
those already in existence new ones
are being added as fast as circum-
stances permit and the dissemination
of knowledge keeps pace with the
material progress making in the is
land. Fifteen thousand pupils are en-
rolled and almost a thousand teachers
are employed in the schools.
The opportunity to acquire knowl-
eedge, almost the first request made
by the natives of the Americans, is
being given them and they are avail
ing themselves of it to the extent of
their ability. The to learn
ing are now open to them and the
time is speeding rapidly when intel
ligence and enlightenment shall take
the place of ignorance and intoler-
A wise recommendation is made by
Governor Hunt in advising the legis-
lature to revise the municipal laws
and the substitution of modern general
laws for the government CT the island
to take the place of the old Spanish
laws which in many instances obtain
and are in force. 1t was because of
the existence of these laws that it
was made possible to convict of con-
spiracy a man who merely sought to
improve the condition of the wage
earners to the extent of organizing
them for the purpose of enabling them
to enforce their demand for better
ance They realize that to be fitted for
participation in affairs of government
requires knowledge and understand
ing, and it is to qualify themselves
for the discharge of the duties of cit
'izenship that they are striving to learn
and to educate their children for the
responsibilities that are awaiting
them. AS knowledge and, learning
spread SO will fuller appreciation of
the benefits to be had by living under