Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-16
Monday, March 16, 1908.
Porto Ricans as Citizens.

There seems at last good prospect
that the boon OF American citizenship
will be conferred without more unnec-
essary delay upon the people of Porto
Rico. In several of his messages TO
Congress President Roosevelt has earn
cstly recommended the granting OF citi-
zenshp to the Porto Ricans and at last
the congressional committee or insular
affairs has endorsed this recommends
ton. The long delay of the committee
in this matter is in part compensated
for by the earnest tone Of the report.
"A people so worthy are clearly en-
titled asa matter of right to have ac-
corded to them the privileges of Amerl-
can citizenship" says the committee.
In view of the repeated recommends
tons OF the President and this decls-
i've action by the committee, It seems
well assured that both branches of
Congress will speedily pass the bill
comforting citizenship.
For a full decade Porto Rico has
been q possession of this country and
the inha bitants have long since con-
WINGED everybody of their fitness for
citizenship. No real arguments have
ever been advanced against the con-
fcrring Of this citizenship, but some
how there has been long delay III
taking the step In the meantime the
Porto Ricans have patiently served an
exemplary probation, and have each
year added to their good reputation ard
mtrcnched themselves more firmly in
the affection of the American people
If Porto Rico has been neglected b.
our government. there has apparently
been no resentment on the island.
Long ago Congress passed Il law
making the 100000 people Of Hawaii
citizens Of the United States There
are about Il million Porto Ricans and
they certainly have as much right to
this proud distinction. In one sense
they have a greater right, for the peo-
pic Of Hawaii before the islands came
INTO possession Of this country knew
little of the duties of citizenship, while
for generations the Porto Ricans UNI
der Spanish rule elected representatives
to both branches OF the Spanish cortes.
rIInc thf.y Nv M, .1
for American citizenship.
Under present conditions the Porto
I.icans arc merely citizens of Porto
Rico and though it is true that they
ar. AS such entitled to The protection
of the United States" this does not
guarantee them those constitutional
privileges and defcnseS which belong to
the new law, If it is passed they will b.
eligible to United States office, they
~ residing within them, and the line
which now distinguishes the Porto
Rican from the American element i'll
the administration of the island will
tend to break down. 1t is not desir-
able however, that this line should
break down all at once, as the thought
full Porto Rican would himself per-
hars admit.
Up to the present time the funda-
mental condition under which legis-
lativc action is taken in the island
has been that of the double consent
Of Americans and Porto Ricans.
Though the President might appoint
more than five Porto Ricans to the
executive courcil-which has II men,
berS-he has never appointed more
that this statutory minimum. Under
his dual control Of natives i'll the lower
house and preponderance of Ameri-
cans in the upper house the island has
been most successfully governed 1t is
t. the composition Of the executive
council. says MI Willoughby. the
treasurer of the island, that the fact
that is has been possible to have in
Porto Rico the fairest electors that
not only that island but probably any
Latin American country has even en-
ioyed' must be attributed And this
is but one of various illustrations that
might be offered. Becoming citizens OF
'hc United States the inhabitants Of
Porto Rico should be earnest co-opera-
tors with US in the development of the
great American influence in the West
Indies.