Times-promoter., 1903-01-16
IN WOEFUL CONDITION.
Porto Rico Is Worse Of Now Than
Under Spain, Says "a Native
at Cornell.

Martin Traviesco, Jr., of San Juan
Porto Rico, now senior in the Cornell
law school, declares that conditions in
Porto Rico are far worse than they
were under the rule of Spain, and that
the government party is carrying on
with high hand, favoring a minor
ity which consists of worthless poll
ticians, while the best and honest peo-
pie suffer. These statements, says the
Chicago Chronicle, made in a speech
which was delivered at one of the
meetings of the Cornell class in ora
tory, made profound impression, for
Traviesco is well liked by the students,
who admire his devotion to his coun-
try's cause. In part he said:
When the flag of Spain was pulled down
from avery place in the island of Porto Rico
and that Of the stars and stripes supplant-
ed in its stead the great heart of the Porto
Rican people was glad, for we thought that
liberty had for the first time made Its ap-
pearance on our dear island. We had read
and heard of Washington, Lincoln, JEFF
ferson, and other immortal Americans ana
had also learned to love and admire them
We knew that in the American nation all
men were free and equal, and we had
read the American constitution and there
fore we hoped that the blessings of liberty
guaranteed in that document would be ex-
tended to US.
"Have our hopes been realized? Nay,
they have been dissipated and blasted. The
supreme court has held that the constltu-
ton does not extend to Porto Rico. And
instead of autonomy which had been con-
ceded to us by Spain we now have govern
ment which gives the governor more des-
potic powers than any Spanish governor
ever had.
THE election of November was the great
est political crime of the century All
means were used from fraud to murder to
give the victory to the governmental party.
The insular police instead of preserving
order were used by the government to
intimidate the opposing party and to pre-
vent the honest citizens from casting their
ballots and the criminals will remain un-
punished because the ministers In the
temple Of justice are politicians.
I'VE have gone back to the dark days or
Spanish administration of 1887, when our
mothers and sisters were in constant fear
that their sons and brothers might be ar
rested by the Spanish soldiers to be thrown
into dungeon and suffer torture for the
sore crime OF DelnS a patriot. IO-udS unGeI
the present government they are in con-
stant dread lest their loved ones may be
brought back to them MANNED or murdered
for the sole crime of being opposed to the
party protected by the governor.
But only the official reports reach this
country, and in them Porto Rico Is repre-
sented as being a happy and prosperous
country. But these reports are false and l
SO denounce them. Porto Rico is passing
through the greatest crisis of its history
and the island is prostr&ted.
II believe that my country is entitled TO
have a government founded on the same
principles that have made this nation the
greatest nation in the world, and believe
We are at least entitled, as civilized and
Christian people, to have our natural rights
guaranteed by the government to which
We owe allegiance. In heavens name we
want instead of profiigacy, honesty; in
stead of extravaganza, economy; instead OF
rioting, peace. So that everyone from our
beautiful shores to our evergreen noun
tains may learn to love and respect the flag
which floats overhead and be willing to die
in its defense"