The Washington times., 1902-12-29
ALLEGED WRONGS OF
PORTO RICO AIRED
Nephew of Chief Justice
Scores Administration.
GOVERNOR HUNT ATTACKED
Says Unscrupulous Politicians Rule the
Land and Courts Are
Corrupt.

ITHACA. y. Y. Dec. 2S.-Nartin Ira
viesco. of San Juan. a nephew OF the
Chief Justice Of Porto Rico and now %
senior in the Cornell Law school who
Is one Of the brightest students in the
senior law class. was recently re4..srcd
TO write an original speech in the ora
torical department Of Cornell. ,pon some
topic in which he was interested.
Traviesco chose for his subiec. "Th,
American Administration Of Affairs I'm
Porto Rico" and in this essay scored
Governor Hunt and his party iu uumis
taxable terms He said the reports
which came 10 this country telling OF a
wise. Just and economical administration
OF affairs in Porto Rico were utterly
false. and that the island was pros
trated because OF the baneful effects of a
policy which IS more tyrannicaI than any
Spain ever dared TO impose.
Governor Hunt Attacked.
Governor Hunt. he declared. lives in
luxury in a palace with no regard for
the suffering OF the people. while uuscru-
pulous politicians rule the land. Tha
courts are corrupted ana crimes com
mitted by members Of the governmental
party 20 unpunished. Said Mr. Travi-
esco:
1T is now over four years since the
blowing up Of the Maine in Havana Har-
Dor which forced Spain TO abandon her
new world possessions in the United
States. and soon the red and yellow flag
was lowered and In its place was hoisted
the flag Of liberty, The star spanglcd
Banner
1t was a great day for Porto Rico
The American soldiers were cheered
from end TO end of the island. for we
thought that the days OF tyranny were
over and that liberty for the first time
was 20 be enjoyed In our island
I'VE had read and heard Of Washing
ton, Jefferson. Lincoln. and other i'm
mortal Americans. and had also learned
10 love and admire them. We knew
that in this nation all men were free and
equal. and we had read the American
Constitution, that sublime document
and. therefore we hoped that the bless
ings OF liberty would be extended 20 US
Their Hopes Blasted.
Have our hopes been realized? Nay.
they have been hopelessly blasted. The
Supreme Court has held that Porto Rico
is not a part Of tie United States. that
her citizens are not citizens Of the
United States, snd that. therefore. the
American Constitution. which we had
learned to love and revcrG, does not pro-
tect our island.
Instead Of the autonomy which had
been conceded TO us by Spain we nov
have a government which gives the gov
ernor more despotic power than any
Spanish military governor ever had. and
he exercises II 10 the detriment OF
the people. In order that his will may
be done and that his power may be alb
solute. Governor Hunt supports the par
ty Of the minority. composed Of Ameri-
can adveDturers and native rsnegades
who have no regard for the welfare Of
the country and are reedy TO applaud as
long as they enjoy official protection.
Coercion at the Election.
The election OF November last was
The greatest political crime Of the cen
tury. Evil means we're used. from fraud
10 murder. 20 give fhe victory 10 the
government party, which won. although
far In the minority The lnsular police
instead OF preserving order. was used by
the Government 10 intInidate tine op-
posing party and &c prevent honest citi-
zens from fulhHing their sacred duty or
voting
Life for honest people is becoming
impossible in Porto Rico. because they
see that the government protects the
criminal and Furnishes the law-abidine
citizen The government there has
tainted the flag with dishonor. am
sure that II the true facts were known
The honest-hearted Americans would be
filled with Indignation But only the
Official reports reach American ears. and
in them Porto Rico Is ~spresented as e.
happy aud prosperous country.
These reports are bosely false Porto
Rico is going through a great crisis, the
Island IS pr0strated.
Appeal 70 Americans.
Il make this appeal to you as true
American citizens. because I believe that
my country Is entitled 10 have a govern
ment founded upon those principles that
have made this nation the greatest. the
freest and the noblest among the ma
tions OF the world. And because 7 be-
lievc we are al least entitled as civil
izcd and Christian people. 10 have our
national rights guaranteed by the GOV
eminent 10 which we owe our allegiance.
In Heavens name we want. instead
Of prohEacy. honesty; Instead OF ex-
travagance. economy. instead or riotlng.
peace. So that every one from our beau
tifuI shores 20 our evergreen mountains
may learn 10 love the flag instead OF
curse IL because Of the distress which 81
has wrought"
JAPANESE SWAIN MARRIES