Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-29
PORTO R|CAN AFFAIRS
Report Of the Federal Grand
Jury.
SOME GENERAL VIEWS
RECENT HOSTILE COMMENT AND
CRITICISM RESENTED.
Loyalty of the People is Affirmed and
Congressional Inquiry
is Urged.
SOME GENERAL VIEWS

SAN JUAN, p. r., November u, 1908.
The federal grand jury which has just
completed its labor here strikes straight
from the shoulder at some of the individ-
uals who have recently deliberately misrep-
resented the situation here, to the detri-
ment of Porto Rico This jury, composed
of prominent natives and Americans and
with a native foreman, invites President
Roosevelt to visit the island, and urges
congressional inquiry as to insular affairs.
Before adjournment the jury unanimously
adopted the following address to the court,
the paper being signed by Francisco P.
Quinones, foreman, and Waldemar e. Lee.
clerk, presenting the same on November
16, when the court. adjourned
THE members Of the grand jury, duly
selected and impaneled for the October
term of the district court of the United
States for Porto Rico, in presenting to the
court the final report of their labors such
grand jurors beg leave to congratulate the
court and to extend such congratulation to
the people. not only of Porto Rico but of
the United States as well. upon the excel
lent condition as to morality and good citi-
zenship which exists in Porto Rico and
which is fully indicated by the fact that so
few matters Of criminal character have
been presented to this body for it's eonsid-
Grafton. and that even those few have been
Some General Views.
"And your grand jurors feel that in
view of the present situation and condi-
tions, and especially in view of the recent
hostile comment and criticism both in the
United States and In Porto Rico, through
the public press and otherwise, that it
would not be inopportune at this time for
this body. as the representative of the
federal judiciary of Porto Rico being
composed largely of natives of the island
and representing the taX-paying people
of Porto Rico, to submit some general
views respecting the present situation of
public affairs and the attitude of the
Porto Rican people with reference there
to-
THE people of Porto Rico are not dis
loyal to the United States, nor is there
any such feeling of hostility toward the
government of the United States or to-
ward American institutions, as might
readily be understood from many express
sions used by prejudiced or partial news
paper and magazine correspondents and
writer's. On the contrary, our experience,
investigation and knowledge of the exist
ing situation in Porto Rico warrants us
in the assertion that there is no more
loyal, liberty-loving or law-abiding peo-
pie living beneath the folds of the Amer
lean flag than the citizens of Porto Rico,
and there is no doubt but that the great
est hope and ambition of the Porto Rtcan
people today is to be more closely allied
with and to be given a greater measure
of participation in the administration of
the governmental affairs in their island,
through those forms. methods and poll
cies which are the foundation and con-
trolling feature of the government of the
great American commonwealth.
"Our observation and experience also
teach us that what the people of Porto Rico
most desire is a closer association and affil-
iation with the American people and the
American government, and not a separation
or an Abandonment of that bond which guar
antees to them a safe, stable and enduring
government and an eventual full participa-
ton, not only in the benefits to be derived
from such government but in the admins
tration thereof.
The recent utterances to which our at
tention has been invited, which assume that
there is considerable feeling or agitation
in Porto Rico of an anti-Amercan char
acter, are largely unjustifed and are re-
Election upon the good sense and Judgment
of the Porto Rican people. Every govern
ment, and particularly every government
administered as that of Porto Rico is and
must he administered, will naturally en-
gender and create its critics. and its method
of administration will always be subject to
both just and unjust opposition. And Porto
Rico like every country where popular suf-
frage prevails, is engaged in the solution OF
those important problems which always in
sure hostility and adverse criticism. But
we are convinced that these features OF the
present life in Porto Rico are confined to
local conditions, and that it is not right
nor is II either just true, to say of our
people that they are anti-Americans And
we. the grand jurors of the federal court
of Porto Rico, representing that branch OF
the government which is most peculiarly
the representative of the national admins
tratiOn, through the federal judiciary feel
that not only justified, but that Ii
comes fully within our duties to present
these observations to the court, suggesting
that they be given such publicity as the
Importance of the subject justffies.
The Island is Prospecting.
"The island is prosperous commercially.
and the great natural resources which
have long lain dormant, are being rapidly
developed, and the future material welfare
of Porto Rico under American administra-
ton seems to be guaranteed and definitely
assured.
THE President of the United States.
whose great wisdom and whose absolute
loyalty to, and affection for the interests
of Porto Rico have been so often and so
publicly expressed and shown, If he could
find time and opportunity, In connection
with the multitude OF arduous duties which
constantly surround him. to vi sit this island
which rises like a new star out of the Carib-
bean. shining In the constellation of Amer
lea, would be welcomed as no ruler or pub
lie authority has ever been welcomed to our
shores. And we are assured that, in view
Of the situation which now exists, and the
great Misrepresentation which has been
and Is being made in the United States
with respect to the moral, material and
political situation in Porto Rico, If suit
able commission selected by Congress or
the President would make an investiga-
ton of all these matters and present fair,
impartial and complete report to the Amer
lean people, such report would not only
fully justify all that we have attempted
to set forth in this communication, but that
1t will be of great and lasting benefit not
only to the people Of Porto Rico, but to the
people of the United States as well, in &C
quainting them in an authentic manner
with the truth Of these matters