The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-09
PORTO RICAN DEMAND FOR
INDEPENDENCE.

WASHINGTON Feb. SHOWS from Porto
Rico indicates that the people Of thu island
are getting restless and dissatisfied. Inc
feeling is said TO be general, and bill has
recently been introduced in the House OF
Delegates calling for the establishment OF
Porto Rioo IA an independent territory
under United States proteotorate, TO be
known as the State of Porto Rico. The
scheme is too elaborate for presentation
in full IL is a peculiar mixture of sovereign
and Of dependent powers. The local press
styles It's proposer the Patrick Henry OF
the island, and considerable support and
approval has been given TO the measure.
The situation in the island is not yet
acute but American residents express fear
lest it reach ere long point where summary
action may become necessary. There is only
one form which such action might rightly
and properly take. That would be full
and fair minded investigation Of the causes
OF Porto Rican discomfort, and, in the
event Of valid causes being revealed re-
moval OF them The Porto Rioans did not
AJAX to come under the control of the United
States, although, hoping for an improve
ment of their condition, they did extend
a very cordial welcome to American au-
thority when 1t assumed control OF their
affairs. Only by the establishment OF better
conditions than those which prevailed In
Spanish days can the United States justify
its act of 1898.
The heart of the matter Is in the question
OF comparative conditions to-day and, say,
ten years ago. Some say that there Is no
comparison, that the stun ton of 1905 Ia to
that Of 1895 as light TO darkness. Thousands
of Porto Ricans and some American OBJ
servers dispute this fatty. The one thing
certain ia that the people OF the island are
discontinued and are becoming more so.
Simply to declare the Porto Rioans UNI
reasonable, 10 assert that they have gained
liberty and now demand license, is in itself
unreasonable. To denounce the House OF
Delegates as 4conglomeration Of repub-
lcans, federals, unionists, socialists and
spiritualists, and dismiss the whole matter
as senseless raving. Is unjust and foolish.
Armed revolution Is as little probable in
Porto Rico as 1t is in Rhode Island Political
unrest and discomfort ia most undesirable
Yet it exists, and complaint is persistent.
Whether its cause IL trivial or serious, the
cause should be known. II 1t is serious and
well grounded 1t should be remedied. The
probability. IL not the certainty. Is that
economic distress is the underlying trouble
Widespread poverty as a result OF enforced
dleness is fertile soil for political disor-
ders, and the general poverty OF the Porto
Ricans is beyond denial. A recently pub
ished letter from the island says that
thousands are idle and that capital looking
for investment is frightened away by the
existing situation Along certain lines
American government has unquestionably
done much for the island. But it is far from
certain that what has been done was that
which was most needed.
1t Is evident that if the United States
wishes to avoid repeating in Porto Rico tho
experience of England m Ireland an effort
must be made to discover the root Of the
frequently reported discomfort and to
| devise means for its removal. We owe the
island at least something better than in
| difference and neglect,