The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-02
OUR FoRGoTrEN ISLAND.

WASHINGTON, Feb. i.-(iovernor VIM
throp OF Porto Rico came to the United
States a few weeks ago, bringing with him
| a collection Of hopes and desires. and pos
sibly few expectations, thar he might
arouse an interest here that would be fruit
full in material aid TO that political and
economic dereict Of which he Ia the admin
istretor On his return hs submitted
message to tile insular Legislature.
Commenting editorially on this message,
II Boietia Aercaati de Puerto Rico says;
The Governors message Is noteworthy In that
Il manlfrsis his sincere desire 70 rcsore prosperity
and happiness 10 the Island.
~ glance It can be seen that Mr. Winthrop has
studied the situation. and his recommendations are
nlse and prudent
The message shows It's writer 10 be an obSevant
and Intelligent public servant
He clearly feels the gravity OF tic economic sit
uAion. he observes the decrease In income. and
notes those features which TO make the future
pregnant with danger,
The Governors message was not what was
looked for by the people Of Porto Rico.
They expected something entirely different:
some hopeful word abou, self-govcnment: some
solution for our agricultural crisis. some recon-
menGatlon respecting the loan for our Agricultural
Interests: some plan fol the reduction Of Govern
ment expenditures.
They hoped TO receive some Impression regard
ing the Governors recent visit to the United States
some word OF encouragement.
They have hoped In VAlnl
There nothing Of real. Vital importance to
the island In the message. though II Rejects the
Governors personal good viii.
Upon finishing Its reading. one ran but be nlled
with tho profound4. dependency. The people
have faith In the Governors GOOD Intentions. but
his message products the Impression that his mis-
sion TO Washington WAS fr1litess. and that he has
returned as Respondent ofour future as we arc.
Three years ago, during the agitation for
tariff concessions on Cuban sugar, Senator
o. H. Plat said NO man Is bound 10
adopt child, as we have adopted Cuba;
but. having adopted child, he Is in all ways
bound to provide for it Tho United States
has adopted Porto Rico even more definitely
than II has adopted Cuba, The guardian
ship ia legal and binding, and the obligation
TO provide for the welfare OF the island
people should be IA clear az ii is undeniable.
unhappily for the island. and much 10 our
national disoredlt, this is not at all the case.
The establishment OF schools and mod
erateIy active campaign against hook
worms, beth processes being paid for out
Of the limited revenues of the island. fail to
satisfy either the ambitions OF the Porto
Ricans or the demands OF empty stomachs
the Right Rev. James II. Van Buren,. y. D.,
Missionary Bishop OF Porto Rico, devotes
large part OF his article TO the islands
great need for more and better school &C.
commodation. Yet more than one-quarter
OF the total revenues Of the island. both
insilar and municipal, are expended for
school purposes. If the people OF the United
States or Of any part thereof we're clamor-
ing for work by which they could earn a
living. or were In sore need OF proper
quantity Of wholesome food. it Is quite
doubtful If it would be possible TO appease
them by statistical tables which showed
one-quarter Of their revenues spent for
educational purposes, or by assertions that
their great need was for more and better
school accommodation.
II may be the duty Of the insuar admin
istration to provide school facilities for the
Porto Rican children, but there remains
question whether II is not equally the duty
OF the United States to give it's voluntarily
adopted children an opportunity TO get
something more out Of life than breech
clout and a banana. Evidently loath 70
criticiso too severely. Bishop Van Buren,
TINT there is a good deal of pow
erty In Porto Rico There IL certain
amount of poverty everywhere. but the |
United States has peculiar interest in the
existence of an extreme indigence in its
insular possession. Governor Winthrop is !
quite alive TO this fact. and during his |
visit 10 the United States he sought to arouse !
an interest in the economic welfare OF the !
Porto Rcan people. He found Porto Rico |
coffee sold in the American market at lower |
prices than in the island In other words. |
he found cheap substitutes seeking mar !
het on the merits OF tho superior berry OF /
Porto Rico. II is bad enough that We do /
not buy the excellent coffee OF the island, /
but it is worse to trade on the name and the !
merits Of that article to it's manifest dis
advantage.
Bishop Van Buren, comments on Porto
Rican tobacco. saying that IL has had
hard time because some Americans have
gone there, nnd. trading on the reputation
If Porto Rican tobacco. have flooded the
United States with an inferior grade of
,igars, II is fortunate for the island that
u sugar crop ia free from the influences
which affect its coffee and tobacco
1t is evident that our adopted child ia
neglected, and the worst Of it il that its
guardians seem quite indiferen; about it.
4 little more attention would probably be
beneficial to both