Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-15
PORTO RICO.

Plenty, peace and prosperity pre-
vail in Porto Rico, according to the
special message of President Roose-
welt to congress in which he discusses
the conditions on the island. This
treatise is a revelation to the people
of the United States. At the time the
island came into the possession of
this country as one of the marks Of
the close of the war with Spain there
was much more interest in 1t than
there had been for years previous, be-
cause it's future was to be worked out
by Uncle Sam. When military gave
way to civil government and the
word came that the islanders had ex-
perienced new beginning, there was
less attention given to the place by
the general public, 1t being of more
particular interest to persons having
money to invest.
President Roosevelt in his message
shows what the eight years have done
for Porto Rico. He tells congress
that the Porto Ricans are deserving
of having citizenship conferred upon
them. He says that they should be
thus rewarded for what they have
done and that we should thus show
our appreciation of their efforts to
conduct themselves in the manner that
becomes good citizenship.
AS to their ideas of self government
he says that it has not been easy to
install in their minds, because they
have been unaccustomed to this form
of government, the idea that the ma
jority shall rule and that the minor
ity also has rights that are not to be
trampled under foot. These princi-
pies of our own government are what
the new republics have failed to suffi-
GENTLY recognize. The failure to rec
ognize these principles has been the
basis of many of the attempts at rev.
olution. Cuba has had sad exper-
fence in that line; one that ought to
be an example to herself as we'll as
to Porto Rico and other localities
where self government is an expert
ment.
The President says there has been
progress in the line Of teaching this
people the principles of this form of
government, so much so that their
case is now a hopeful one. 1t is OBJ
served by him that in giving power to
the islanders the movement has gone
as fast as it should; it would have
been very serious to have gone faster.
They conduct their own elections, but
one of the few powers retained by the
1nsular government is that of removal
In the case of corrupt officers or those
lacking in efficiency. 1t is his belief
that this power should be continued
1t has not been abused and it has
served as benefit to the people.
Doubtless, this message of the Pres
ident will be received with great sat
isfaction by the people of this coun-
try. There has been considerable
disappointment in the turn Of affairs
in Cuba, and the last of the warning
bands in the Philippines are only now
being overpowered and dispersed.
During all of this time Porto Rico has
been taking advantage of her oppor-
tunities and making great progress.
She has been blessed with good crops
and good markets and her exports
and imports during the last year were
twice what they were when at the
highest point under the reign of the
Spanish.
Not alone has prosperity been there
from commercial standpoint, but the
President takes particular note of the
fact that the children are being edu-
Gated, which is one of the hopeful
signs of what the future for them shall
be. The schools are being well CO
Quoted and excellent opportunities are
afforded the young, for which they
are thanking their new guardian,
Uncle Sam.