The Washington herald., 1907-03-07
THURSDAY. MARCH :, 1867
What We Did in Porto Rico.

The pathetic appeal OF the Delegate
from Porto Rico in behalf of his people,
upon which The Herald commented yes
terday, deserves still further consideration
by reason of its lucid and apparently
truthful account of the economic cOndi-
tions brought about by American rule. In
the forefront OF the islands troubles
stands the Dingley tariff the application
of which to Porto Rico destroyed the
lucrative coffee trade with Spain and
other nations having commercial relations
with that colony. y year before the Ding
ley tariff was extended to Porto Rico a
hurricane inflicted severe damage on the
coffee planters. but the tariff completed
The work of ruin. Moreover. when it was
proposed by the Porto Rican House of
Delegates to raise a loan upon the credit
of the island 10 supply the planters with
the capital needed to rejuvenate their in
dustry. the executive council the majority
OF which is always American. vetoed the
project. The result was. according 10 Mr..
I.8TTinaga that most of the small coffee
farms have fallen into the hands of
wealthy merchants and bankers, having
been sold 10 supply pressing needs of the
small farmers or TO pay taxes. Mr. Lar
rinaga says that in consequence "one of
the most beautiful features OF the social
and economical conditions of the island
has almost disappeared. and the way is
paved for a coffee trust 10 step iu and
mOnOpOlize the coffee"
Nor was this an. I'm exchanging the
coins of the island for the coinage of the
United States, as required by the or
Eauic act the circulating medium was
greatly contracted, producing the fresh
disaster known in financial circles i'm the
island as the second cyclone" The mis-
cry and restitution Of the people were
such that for the first time IN the island s.
history they were compelled to migrate
TO Hawaii. Mexico and Peru. Men.
women. and children starved in their little
homes in the mountains. OF. exhausted by
the eXertion, dropped on their way 10 the
cities on the coast, where they went to
beg for piece of bread" Worse yet if
Mr.. LarriHaga may be credited-he says
the facts can be proved by official d0cu-
ments i'm the archives Of the State De
parment-while these things We're taking
place in Porto Rico the official reports
from the island proclaimed the prosperity
and happiness of the country"
There is something. We are glad To say,
On the other side of tho ledger While the
coffee industry is stjII PROSTATE the sugar
and tobacco plantations have been largely
developed. and give employment to the
working classes. Nevertheless. the profits
accruing from these industries 90 out OF
the island and into the Golfers OF the
sugar and tobacco trusts OF this country
which are protected by our tariff from for
oign competition while they enjoy free
trade with our Porto Rican dependency
So far as exports and imports go. Porte
Rico is doing more business than it ever
did before, and the trusts are reaping the
gains of il. And yet Mr.. LarrinaSa thinks
nothing has been done by Congress to hell
the island.
Half an hour after Mr.. Larrindga hat
delivered his strong Indictment of oul
maladministration of Porto Rican affairs
the distinguished group of statesmen Il
whom he had addressed his remarks was
singing THE Star-Spangled Banner" anC
God Bless our Native Land" We hop,
the delegate from Porto Rico dUtifuIly
and chccrfully waved the flag