The Irish standard., 1909-02-20

Little Porto Rico, that belonged to
Spain, never fired a shot or drew
sword when the American soldiers
under General Nelson A. Miles arrived
in the island. When told that they
would be part and parcel of the United
States and enjoy the same freedom az
Americans, they cheered the invaders.
But the American constitution has not
followed the flag into Porto Rico to this
day. It is a colony governed after
the fashion of the thirteen original
colonies by the British, and the Ameri-
can officials in the island are as I'M
popular as the British officials were
III Massachusetts,. The sentiment
among the Porto Ricans is bitter
against the United States, and, though
few and weak, the brave people threat
en- revolt against American
rule. They demand equality and
independence and complain Of the
way they are treated by their
new masters. They have formulated
their grievances, and say among 9TH
er things:
"The hostility existing between
Americans and Porto Ricans is due:
First to. constant publication in
the American press of information fur
nished by Americans who have lived
here or who, to our misfortune, have
visited us, and these belong to the
classes Of teachers, military men and
tourists &c. 1t is not just to exact
from the Porto Ricans a tolerance for
such insults. Were the insular press
to reproduce the provoking attacks
directed against us it's columns would
lack space for the offenses heaped upon
the country as they daily appear
in the American press.
Second, to the almost exclusive
monopoly Of high positions by Ameri-
cans. thereby demonstrating that, in
the opinion Of the Administration,
there are not Porto Ricans who are
capable of filling even the Offices Of
Chief, Assistant or Inspectors of Po-
lice, assessors Of property, or assist
ant heads Of departments, etc.
Third, to the assessment of prop
erty, which is done at the caprice Of
agents who know nothing about our
island and who value our properties
at whatever they please and just as
they please. We have not even the re-
sort of appealing to the Board Of AS
Americans who have read their own
colonial history will remember how
was in New England. Well, Governor
Post of Porto Rico is just as odious
to the natives Of that colony. They
charge him with incompetency. and
charge U. S. District Judge Rodey
with ignorance of Porto Rican law.
The whole horde of American office
holders is an abomination in their
eyes. They are like the carpet-baggers
of the South.
How long will the United States
OF America continue to govern foreign
people against their consent? Accord
ing to Jefferson's immortal declara-
ton, governments are instituted
men, deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed"
Does might make right in the republic
Of Washington? Roosevelt and Taft
are imperialists and have no true con-
ception Of the government of the PEG
pie, by the people, and for the people,"
to by Lincoln in his Gettys
burg address. They believe in "benev-
client assimilation" for F.ilipinos and
Porto Ricans, and believe in a carpet
bag government as the South had after
the War Of the Rebellion. The Ameri-
can people are so engrossed with their
own affairs and so occupied in making
money that they have no time to con-
slider the conditions existing under our
colonial governments abroad. Colonial,
did we say? Yes, that is the word, but
is better.
VIM. Howard Taft is the first presi-
dent to receive 100000 for his services.
Lincoln received $4,000, and from the
days of Grant the presidents have re-
ceived $4,000 a year. The viceroy of
Ireland, with 100000 population, re-
ceives as much as Taft in a self-gov-
... ~.+;a, oe on nm nm TIC m. a.