New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-12
SALVO TO PORTO RICANS
Nr. Cannon Speaks at San Juan on
Stable Government.

san Juan. p. r.. March l1-Speaker Cannon
md the party OF Representatives bound for the
,stbraus 10 inspect the work done on the
panama Canal arrived here last night on the
pitcher from the island Of St Thomas. Mr.
cannon and others landed soon after their ar
rival and attended the concert on the plaza
The Speaker was quickly recognized by the
,rowd and WAS honored by a fireworks display.
The party, IN charge Of Governor Winthrop
and the Commissioner Of the Interior. Lawrence
H. Grahane, left here this morning for a sixty
i've mile run in automobiles over the military
road into the interior Of the island AT o'clock
his afternoon the Congressman returned TO San
Juan, where they attended a reception Of the
Executive Council and visited the House OF Del
sgates. Mr.. Cannon was warmly welcomed in
The House by the Speaker. who made patriotic
speech IN which he limited strongly that Porto
Rico was ready for self-government.
Mr.. Cannon spoke in reply. and expressed
qualification at the wonderful agricultural de-
velopment made here since his trip four years
ago. Continuing. Mr.. Cannon said:
Al government is for the protection OF all
the citizens Of the government. whether they
be strong and powerful or weak. In the United
States we call ourselves Anglo-AInerican
population, while in Porto Rico you are of Span
ish descent. You pursue your best interests I'M
der your changed conditions, and we pursue our
best interests under our changed conditions. We
are being knitted together as by hooks OF Steel
ana your interests are our interests. Your mis-
fortunes, II you have them, viii be our mis-
fortunes. II you prosper and We prosper, we
prosper together, but if you fail 10 prosper and
we fail TO prosper, we fail together.
The people Of the United States view with
great interest the fate. perhaps VIII not use
that word, saying, rather, the immediate future
OF the West Indies. Cuba, with greater material
wealth than Porto EGco after four years or pros
peTity and safe government. has been convulsed
with revolution, and the United States, keep
ing her promise made when the Cuban govern
ment was organized, which promise was writ
PEELED TO intervene IN Cuba Santo Domingo IN
a hundred years has gone from prosperity al
most 10 anarchy, and the United States, by
treaty, has promised to collect the revenues OF
santo Domingo as 20 prevent the tnterven-
Giou OF the nations OF the Old Worao. Al Is 20
be hoped from this on that there VIII DO a stable
government IN Santo Domingo.
Under these conditions the people or the
United States look with great interest 70 the
progress OF the Reople OF Porto Rico, ana they
gOvernuaent7 Those who are best informed In
the United States point with pride to the mate
rial the educational and the moral progress
that YOU have made since you became a part
Of the great Republic. It is the universal desire
Of the people OF the United States that you may
so progress IN prosperity as 10 demonstrate your
capacity Tor eelf-goVeTnn1ent- There is not one
citizen in the United States OF the e4ghty-hve
millions that does not hope and pray that you
win demonstrate your capacity for stable gov
your own account but on our account as well,
and especially 8 example 70 the neighbor1ng
islands that peace, industry and prosperity are
possible IN one Of the islands OF the West In
OF hope IN the breasts Of the people OF the
United States and OF the people In the other
West Indian islands, that those islands may fol-
low the example you are 50 nobly setting.