Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-12-15
SPECIAL MESSAGE
ON PORTO RICO
President Urges citizenship be Con-
ferred Oh Islanders.
MUCH PROSPERITY THERE

Washington. Dec - - The presl.
Ient's message to congress giving the
result OF his recent observation in
Porto Rico and making recommends
tion concerning the government OF that
island was delivered to the senate It
was read at length ana received care
ful attention. The message was as
follows
ON November q ! visited the island Of
Porte Rico landing AZ Ponce crossing
by the Old Spanish road by Cayey to
san Juan. and returning next morning
over the new American road from Are
cbu 20 Ponce. thu scenery was wonder
fully beautiful. especially among the
mountains ut the interior. which consti.
tute "a vcritthlo tropic Switzerland.
could not embark al san Juan because
thu hurbur has not been drcdgcd out and
cannot receive an American battleshlp.
do not think this fact credituble TO US
as 4 nation and I earnestly hope that
immediate provision will be made for
dredging san Juan harhor
/ | stopped at dozen towns all told,
md one OF thu notabl" features in every
town was the gathering OF school chill
drcn The work that has been done in
Porto Rico for education has been note
worthy Tho main emphasis. as is emf
nentiy wise and proper has been put
upon primary education. but in addition
10 this there b. normal school. an agri-
cultural school, three Industrial and
three high schools Every effort is be-
ing made to secure not only the benefits
Of elementary education To all the Porto
. .,f 40 .fff INN mi ul4
rs far ls means will permit to train them
/ 50 that the industrial agricultural and
/ commercial opportunities OF IA" island
can be- utilized to the best possible adj
! vantage. Il was evident al glance
that Tho teachers. both Americans and
native Porto Ricans. wcr. devoted TO
their work. took the greatest pride In II,
and were rudeavoring to train their pu-
pills. not only IN mind but ~ what counts
Tor far more than mind Ia citizenship.
that is in character.
was very much struck by the excel
lent character both Of the insular police
ana OF the Porto Rico regiment They
are both OF them bodies that reflect credit
upon the American administration of the
/ island. The usular police are under the
/ local Porto Riedn government. The Porto
! KiCan regiment OF troops must be uppro-
priatcd for 10y congress. earnestly
| hope that this body will bc kept perma-
z ueHt mere sH0uld certainly ne troops
/ In the island. and il IS wise that these
troops should be themselves native Porto
RIcans II would be from every stand
point a mistake not to perpctuate this
regiment
In travcrsiug the island even the most
I cursoiy survey leaves the beholder struck
| with thc evident rapid growth IN the cul-
| turc both of the sugar cane ana tobacco.
The fruit industry Is also growing. Last
year WAS The most prosperous year that
the island has ever known before or since
1 thu American occupation The total Of
! exports and imports OF the island was
/ SE.uu.pvl AS against $lSWpOD in 1901.
( This Is IN. largest in tine island : his
tory. Prior 20 the ianerican occupation
the greatest trade i,s any one year was
that Of lNe, when il reached nearly
I s.. p0n.gp0. Last year therefore there
WAS double tho trade that there WAS in
the most prosperous year under the
Spanish regime. There were 2l0.253 tons
OF sugar exported last year. of the value
/ OF $lilN6.3lg Si.a5j. lG3 Of tobacco. and
4 Is 2.N.a22 pound, OF coffee of the value OF
I S3istio2. Unfortunately. what used to be
4 Porto Rcos prime crop Culice-has not
] shared TINS prosperity. 1t has never
recovered from tho disaster ot the hurr-
4 cane .upd moreover The beu"ht ~ throw
I ing open our market To II mas not COM
/ peusaicd for the loss inflicted hy the
! Closing OF ltl' NNtl ~ U.s. 10 IT ftIitstA4
/ call your attention 10 IN. accompanying
memorial ON this subject OF the Board
4 OF Trade uf san Juan and ! earnestly
/ hope that some measure wil bu taken for
| the benefit of the excellent and high
grade Porto kcan coffee.
There is a matter To which ! wish 20
/ can your special attention. aud that Is
| the dcsirahlity Of comforting fun Ameri-
I can citizenship upon the people OF Porto
/ Rico. | most earnestly hope that this
I Will bs done. | cannot sec how any
/ harm can possibly result from 1t, and II
/ seems 10 me matter OF right and JUS
/ tioe 10 the people OF Porto Rico. They
are loyal. they are glad 10 be- under our
flag they are making rapid progress
along the path OF orderly liberty. Surely
| We should show our appreciation OF
! them our pride In what they have done
and our pleasure IN extending recognition
for what has thus been done 10y grant
ing them full American citizenship.
Under the wise administration OF the
present governor and council marked
progress has been made in the difficult
matter OF granting 10 the people of the
island the largest measure of sclf-goV-
eminent that can with safety be given
at the present time. II would have been
a very serious mistake to have gone any
faster than NC have already gone in this
direction. The Porto Ricaus have COM
plctc ana absolute autonomy Ia all their
municipal governments. the only power
over them possessed by the insular gov
ment being that OF removing corrupt or
incompetent municipal officials. This
power has never been exercised save on
the clcarcst proof OF corruption or OF In
cumpcteuCc- such as TO icupurdize the
Interests OF the people of the island. and
under such circumstances 1t has been
fearIcssly used 10 the immense benefit
OF Inc people, II is not a power with
which IL would be safe. for the sake OF
the island itself to dispense at present.
! The lower house is absolutely elective.
while the upper house Is appolntivc.
This schrme is working we'll. no injustice
OF any kind results from il. and great
benefit to the island, ana it should GER
tainly not be changed at this time. Tho
machinery OF the elections is adminis-
tered entirely by the Porto Rican people
themselves, tho governor and council
keeping only such supervision as Is me-
cessary IN order 70 insure an orderly
election. Any protest as to electoral
frauds Is settled In the courts. Here
again II would not be safe To make any
change In the present system. In short
the governor and council are co-operat-
ing with all of the most enlightened and
most patriotic OF the people OF Porto
Rico IN educating the citizens of the Is