Evening journal., 1906-09-05

count for about two-nfths OF the total
population, aud show decided tendency
TO increase, while the full-bloodcd ne.
gro H. through a process OF absorption
and by reason OF physical shortcomings,
disappearing. Il Is not improbable that
the mulatioes viii eventually form tho
dominant element IN the native popuin
ton They are not subject 20 any
handicap on account OF their descent In
country where no prejudice Is enter.
tanned against the blacks aud where no
'color line" exists With the exception
OF handful OF educated whites the
mulattoes are the only people IN Porto
Rico who display any inclination 10 bot
ter themselves, and they possess more
than others the qualities necessary To
success. The glbaro-the white peas
aut-is not TO be rcckoned with
Under the Snnnlords the facilities FOR
education were very limited. aud Porto
Rico labors under the unenvlabie dis.
tnction Of having greater degrce OF
illtcrncy than any other West Indian
Island. aud this despite the larger pro
portion OF the white population More
than SO per cent OF TIE Inhabitants are
unable 10 read or write. n may be OK
pocted that the mulattoes will be the
chief benehclarles Of the educational
system under American rule, for the gl-
baro can conceive OF no future for his
children more desirable than the happy.
go-lucky existence OF their father. In
which educational attuinments hnd no
place whatever. Whatever process Of
social evolution takes place In Porto
Rico IN the future must be worked out
without the influence OF lmmigrntiO for
the Island Is already fully populated.
Although Il would be In many respects
an ideal neld for the small American
farmer or planter. there Is no room for
him. There Is already n population OF
284 TO the square mile. aud the greater
part Of Il Is rural. The center OF popu.
laton and the center OF area are both
within Eve or six miles OF the town OF
harros, In the southeastern district Of
the Department OF Arecibo There Is.
however, an ample neld IN Porto Rico
for capitalists, large and small. or.
rather. there will be when the absurd
restrictions against corporate enterprise
are removed. The Porto Ricans as
community are poor According to the
last census the entire wealth Of the
Island was estimated at Sl5O.O0O. 600
with an ouset Of about S70.O0OOOO Of
morisnte ana other Indebtedness. leaving
q pen ragiia wealth OF about $50 The
dfrellrmtnt and prosperity OF the coun-
tiy masi he dependent upon American
capital. and would doubtless have de-
rived great impetus from that source
els this but for the mistaken policy
that prohibited its introduction The leg.
islaiors whose paicrnal protection on the
fancied Interests OF the Porto Rlcans
led them 20 amend al effectiveness out
Of the Foraker Act have proved them.
selves the worst enemies OF our ncedy
colony.
The early Spanish colonists were sol
diers and adyenturers- men whose knowl
edge was limited TO the art OF arms. with.
perhaps a smattering OF navigation. Gold
was the magnet that drew them across
seas from their distant fatherland IN
quest OF the precious metal. they were
willing TO face all manner OF danger and
10 undergo the most severe hardships.
but they had no stomach for the tame
pursuits OF husbandry. u was not until
iaicr time that they learnt to appreci-
ate the slower but more sure road 70
wealth by way or the plantation and The
farn With the dlmnutlon OF the abo.
rhymes urgent need arose for tillcrs OF
the soil The lack Of agricultural labor
ers often brought the colonists into the
most critical straits. Living 10 a land
whi,h. with little aid from man, pro
dnced foodstuns Ia abundance. they de.
pended largely upon supply ships. and
when these. prevented by contrary winds
or captured by enemies, failed them. The
spaniards were reduced 20 the verge OF
starvation To relieve this condition cmi
grafton from the provinces OF the mother