Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-24

sehsmsnt n Body Favors the Appii'
cation d the sunEvsrsaI Christian
Principle ~ Aitruism In Behalf OF
the Backward Races.
(By Associated Press.)

(i3y Associated Press.)
LAKE M0HONK, N. Y. Oct. q. -
The Mchonk conference Of the
FRIENDS Of the Indians and other de
pendent people today concluded its
twenty.fifth session with the con
sfderation OF contributions in Porto
Rico and the adoption Of q platform
The platform notes the advance
: neut which has been made In recent
years in the methods Of governmental
dealings with the Indians.
"A much larger task" the platform
continues. lis before our country In
the control OF our non-cont!suous pos
aesaious. a. to the method Of whose
government there is less agreement
among our people and Our law givers'
I'm their behalf rs In behalf Of all
our dependent or beiated people. the
duty Of this conference is to insist
apon the application OF the universal
Christian principle Of altruism.
ITO this END We must ask laws to
help them rather than to help u.s.
and by education and every form OF
Christian service bring them into the
{a1I possession OF the highest Chris
tian civilization
The opening address on Porto Rico
was made today by Martin Travieso.
Jr, Porto Rican lawyer. educated
NJ Cornell University who spoke As
follovs:
81 Senior Martin Travioso Of San Jusn.
Who Ii q member Of the Executive
Council OF Porto Rico. made an appeal
for citizenship for the Porto Ricans.
Tea years had elapsed. he said. YET
u Emitted States Congress had not
Ax2d the status Of the people OF the
island. Although the Supreme Court
he'd held that they were not aliens.
when they enter the United States.
they could not claim or enjoy the
privileges of citizenship. IN order
70 be able to enjoy any of these
rights" said he, they have to be-
& come American citizens. renouncing
formally their allegiance to the King
Of Spain. l myself in 1904 had to
follow this anomalous procedure. al
though our political relations with
Spain ceased after 1898"
whenever We make plea for
citizenship" Senior Travioso went on
to cay. the usual answer Is that the
question OF citizenship Is q purely
sentimental question. Nobody has
denied that our petition for citizen
ship is inspired by sentiment. The
people Of Porto Rico have . heart
and soul besides digestive apparat-
MS. They are not, nor can they be
satisfied simply because they have
enough to eat. Liberty and equal
rishts are a. necessary to the heart
and soul Of q human being rs food
and drink to his body"
The war Of the Revolution was in
. spired by sentiment. When the
American forefathefs In Boston pro.
tested against taxation without repre-.
sentation, they did not protest be.
cause they did not have enough to
eat. The revolution would not have
teea fought and Won had these men
besn hehting for food and drink IN.
GOOD of Nberty and eQ1Alty. Lsdiea
Saad eenteDen. Il II your duty. q
the deseeodants II those great men
a the past. to help the Porto Ricans
n tbs campaign for the recognition
&c their unalienabie right to be de
clased citisens q this great Republic
NOV, - to the question OF self
eovernment. When the invading
Amy occupied our Isisni and unwo'd
! "a 'Old Glory over our heads. the
! sIhbol Of liberty VAS raised over 4
peopae In the full snj1yneat u SELF
soyeSument' granted by Spaia n
1851. And the Porto Ricaus. dur'Ee
the sAost psriod Of seif-sovernmen'
! shey had enjoyed, Demonstrated q
~ whole world that they were
eaSabse II looking after the interests
q their country.
Porto RICO was 70 the Americana
Q ssw and unknown country. and there
Ssge Il was perfectly natural and Drop
Ter 10 frame . law whereby the con
nj Il the Executive and Legislative
vas kept In The hands % th<
representatives Of the Federal admin
tUey1fion- Nobody would undertake q
ee1y that the Oreaaie Law Of rurtt
13D. the Foraker Acs. b . very ~'s'
p6eee % Legislation when Ne coaslde'
= - . Temporary or provisional Iav
- q the same tine no coastitutsoa
= 1awyer would undertake 10 arsus
: enn4 sSch . Inv caa Be considered
us6ei q leeislatioa 70 govern Q coua
tn i16s0sitciy. becsase Il has the IN
bsreue aefect q concerning execstIv'
aa9 legislative powers rpon tht
80 49, % mea- And besides. &
- ~ give he people governed
ARSey . vsecs n De selection q