Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-27

SNN JUAN PORTO RICO. March Ia.
There recently took place In this city
a largo and enthusiastic celebration
with professions and bands playing
patriotic music and bonnics that iii
the sky for miles around The occa-
sion was tho passage by Congress of
tn" Jones ball, which confcrs upon the
hillon aud quarter people OF Porto
kico the rights of American citizens.
During the debate upon this hin
southern Senator stated that not i'm n
thousand years could the peopie of
iorto Rico comprehend the genius of
the American government" and that
II IL came to vote. not per cent
or them would prefer American citI-
zenship 10 independence.
II il safe 10 say that thi. Ecn,,or
had not visited Porto Rico. that he
evolved his idea OF the island people
largely from his inner consciousness
tor IN Just few days here good
deal OF evidence may be gathered
which does not support his conclusions
inc celebration in itself is one bit
or evidence. All classes took part and
1t Was genuinely enthusiasts An
other pertinent event was the passage
by tn" Porto lsican Legislature OF n
resolution asserting that in tho present
emergency tn" people OF Porto Rico
are with the President. and prepared
To support him. There is something
Porto Rican regiment musters $500
men, and there are no moro loyal
American soldiers anywhere. Further
more. many recruits arc on the wait
ing list Another regiment could DO
raised upon short notice. Should tho
United states GO to war. there is no
part OF the United States which would
more promptly supply it's quota OF men
than Porto Rico. That is certainly one
way for people to show loyalty TO
their government. and this loyal spirit
shows that there must be some com
prchcnsion IN III" island of the genius
of American government.
The fact OF the matter Is that the
IDEALS Of liberty and equality OF right.
which are essentials of the genius OF
our government are very real 10 the
Latin American. The government has
kept him waiting long time for the
citizenship which is TO confer these
blessings. but he is not sore over his
long wait. and he appreciates them
now that they have come. The leader
OF the laboring element here says that
% per cent of his followers are salts
fed with the organic act.
Union iIns Been Formed.
These laborcrs, following the AnIcri-
can method. have recently organized
into n union for tho purpose OF exact
ing better wages and hours OF labor
from the moncycd interests here. y
meeting OF the delegates from all the
different branches OF this union Was
held few days ago to make plans
for tho citizenship celebration. and
that meeting was another bit OF evil
dcncc that the Porto Rican has grasp
ed the American idea. The debate was
very heated. but quite orderly. and
the ragged. swarthy speakers were all
real orators. They dcclai lined vigor-
ously against the capitalist interests
of In u i,n n Am
lean government, although tina: gov
crnmcnt has not done all that II might
for them. They decided that the Jones
bill had been good thing for them,
but that its desirable features were
the result of their own efforts against
those OF the capitalist class; therefore
they decided TO. hold a separate ccle
bration of their own to show their
appreciation Of what the United States
government has done for them
II il true that all the proceedings
OF this meeting were In Spanish. and
il is also true that the Porto I,icans
are still Spanish in their customs and
home life. But II should he remember
cd that the government has not pro-
vidcd epough schools for more than
Il fraction Of the Porto Rican children
to learn English, and also that the
Spanish tradition and culture never
die-all Latin America is evidence OF
that. Even In New Mexico. than which
there Is not a more loyal part OF the
United States. the language Is still
cherished. and Spanish traditions stil
hold certain place in the hearts OF
the people. But this sentimental 10y
atty TO a great racial tradition is by
no means Incompatible with political
loyalty TO the American government.
Spanish Sentiment Is Natural.
The Porto Rican is no more to be
blamed for his love of Spain than the
freshman for his wearing OF tile green.
The Spanish tradition has somewhat
the same vitality and hold upon the
imagination as, that of Ireland rbut II
Is harder for us to sympathizc with
because it Is more alien TO our own
traditions. The Porto Rican feeling
in this regard is pretty we'll illus
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