Evening journal., 1916-04-12
DESCRIBESPORTO rico
AND ITS PEOPLE
Frederick Dean, HonOred by
Islanders, LaudS Am
erica's NeighbOrS
Mr.. ROSSELL AN
INTERESTED HEARER

RicO-Old ana New, IN manner
that greatly interested a large audi
ence. John $. Rossell. vice-presi-
dent of the Security Trust and Safo
Deposit Company. who has visited
Porto Rico and is greatly interested
in the country introduced the
speaker.
Mr. Rossell, referred TO the fact
that Porto Rico has been very prOmi-
nent in the minds OF WilmingtOnians
for the past eight years and that
much of the favorable legislation
proposed for the Rorto Ricans, has
been introduced in Congress by SEN
ator Salisbury.
Mr.. Rossell said the status of
Porto Rico is difficult to define. II
can scarcely be recOnciled with any
OF the institutions of the United
States. Porto Rico Is not a State. 1t
is not a territory, and it is not
nation Therefore, its status does
not come within our well-detned
system OF constitutional government
lie contrastcd Porto Rico with Cuba,
which through maintaining IT. own
sovereignty, is under the limited CON
troll of the United States. and with
llayti and san Domingo. which preserve
their identity and their republican form
of government, but are by treaty provi-
sions regulated in respect TO their
finances bv the United States. Porto
Rico. which was promised the fullest
measure of political liberty. is governed
under an Act OF Congress passed sixteen
wears ago and intended 90 he only
temporary. This act contemplates the
establishment of government m Porto
Rico. republican in form, but has never
been supplemented by a more liberal
act. In other words our promises TO
Porto Rico have not hcen fulfilled.
"Porto Rico Mr.. Rosscll said, "was
demanded bv our country as indemnity
for the expenses of the war with Spain
To liberate Cuba. and. therefore. IN fact.
naid the debt incurred iu making Cuba
free. hut up to this time Porto Rico
ha- heen denied the full measure of
political Justice 10 which 1t is so well
entitled"
The lecturer. Mr.. Dean. gave a new
point Of view OF the island and the
islanders and emphasized the fact
that the Castilians Of Porto Rico were
among the best educated people OF
The world.
"The courtesy OF these good peo-
pie" said Mr. Dean. "is beyond belief.
and whether your host be a poor peon
I'm the mountains or one OF POnce's
400. half Of all he has is yours from
his breakfast coffee to his box at ne
opera.
"The Puerto Rican Castilian is a
man OF wide experience. educated in
foreign universities. has Travelled ex-
tensively and Is descended from the
best families Of old Spain. He is as
we'll cOnversed I'm matters OF import
ance IN Washington. i'm Rome or Buda-
pest as the best drilled diplomat or
the most expert newspaper corre-
spOndents. and his daughter NAV be
a mistress of arts from Bryn Mawr
or a bachelor OF science from Colum-
bia
"Then there is another side .to the
picture. Uncle Sam has not been idle
during his eighteen years of occupan-
cy and Uncle Sam is pre-eminently a
practical person and in this individ-
ua instance he insisted upon engraft
ing upon the luxuries Of living and
the essentials of life On every side
you will see this contrast between
the bizarre and the common place
The courtliness Of the old world rub
bling elbows with the industry Of the
new
And now, ladies and gentlemen
men and women of Wilmington, how
does this recital affect you? What
interest have you in the little island
First of all You are interested be
cause it belongs to United States
the only islard of the entire West In
dian group that does. Just back oI
these hills the fruit growers are col
lege boys T. m Columbia and Yale
Princeton and Harvard; the money in
vested i'm these fields came from New
York and New Jersey. Delaware anC
Maryland The flag that floats from
the government house is the Stars
and Stripes.
"And secondly, it is inhabited by
good citizens.
when Columbus brought his second
old world feet to the new he was nc
longer scorned as an adyenturer. but
crowned king of the western world
Instead of the little company of cut
throats from Cadiz. the scum of Spain
which he pressed into service for his
first venture. he had the pick of tn,
bluo-bloods of Europe. The 500 GOOD
men and true who sailed into the Bay
of Aquidilla, we're the sons of kings
and princes Of the blood royal. Th'
present race of Puerto Rican Castil.
ians trace their lineage back to tho
bearers OF the prOudcst names in his
tory. Our Puerto Rico brethren com'
of good stock.
I'VE have done much for Puert
Rico-much in the Welding tOgethe
OF Castilian courtesy with America
aggressiveness. And. in every IN
stance. the islanders have done a
much for us in return. Just as the
have turned their backs on the ruin
of what is known as the "Old City
and constructed better houses an
better paved streets, so they are turn
ing their backs on their old selves an
grasping the new. These ruins OF TIA
old capital of Capparra lie just acros
the bay from the busy mart OF marin
enterprise-wharves that are soon {
be torn down to make room for large
piers to accommodate the millions {
shipping that come to the harbor {
San Juan. The commerce Of the il
land has been quadrupled in the la.
decade. In the place OF the rude cart
that used to carry both parcels an
persons, the Island boasts of one q
the most complete equipments 70
parcel post in the world.
For the 500 miles OF new macadal
roads recently completed. 1000 auto
mobiles have been imported-two fC
every mile