New-York tribune., 1912-08-28
A PORTO RICAN LAMENT
Native Regrets Our Indifference to
His Country's Welfare.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: while the Presidential campaign
is going on Porto Rico is watching with
no little concern the drift OF things and
men as they will affect her both in po-
litlcal and economic matters. The Porto
Elcans have regretfully seen how the old
parties, In national conventions assem-
bled. have neglected 10 say a good word
for them--savc the unimportant plank IN
the Republican platform as 20 American
citizenship for the Islanders-and they
are at a loss 10 understand why the Fill
pinos have deserved special recognition
and their Caribbean realm has been left
In the cold
And what makes most reprehCnsible the
Indifference shown 10 our plight is the
fact that both dependencies came into the
possession OF the United states az the
same time and through the same means
and that Porto Rico. with her homo
geneOus population In race. language and
civilization Is az much entitled TO consid-
Grafton In the matter Of local home rule
as IS the archipelago, with its diversity OF
races and languages.
However. II It were Indifference alone
on the part Of the national parties which
is proddlng Porto Rico AT tho present
time il would be tolerable. even II II comes
from candidates aud their platforms. but
when the Congress OF the United states
embarks on legislation which takes no
account Of the future Of the dependencies
-curtailing AT the same time their power
to dlseutansle themseyes-it is not less
than cruel. whatever the innocence OF tue
parties to IL. Take, for instance. the free
sugar bill, approved last spring in the
House OF Representatives. Even II Il did
not merit the sanction Of the Senate II
did incalculabie harm TO Porto Rico's In
terests II there is a country where the
argument, often advanced here against
free trade--namely. that the nation was
built upon the protective system and could
not be shifted In one day--could be used
70 advantage that country IS Porto Rico
whore sugar is her mainstay. Its cui,lva-
ton has been fostered under the present
plan 10 n point which. If suddenly with
drawn. would mean economic death TO
our Island.
The bare possibility that such a bill
could pass IN congress, cNeli u 'l'O ''''
dent should veto II. did some damage 70
Porto Rlcan interests This can be
proved. As soon as the news reached the
island that such a bill was discussed IL
was the signal for the banks to gradually
close their credit 20 all planters and mer-
chants just as " Porto Ricos wealth did
not exist and was only myth. Fortu-
nateIv Tor our island We have patriotic
rcsourccful mon there who can meet any
crisis with the means al their command.
and they assembled To see If way could
be found TO remedy the conditions
Among them were Sehor Eduardo Gior-
gotti. a sugar planter OF high standing.
and SeNor Luis Sanchez Morales. a mem
ber Of the Executive Council Of Porto
Rico. They placed themselves at the head
Of a local movement, and, along with An
drew Carroll. the Acting Governor or
Porto Rico. who is rendering excellent
work in stamping out the bubonic plague;
Nr. Richardson the treasurer OF the ISL
and. and Federal Judge Charlton. restored
public confidence which IS now at high
tide MANUEL COLORADO Jh'
New York, Aug. 9, 1912.