The sun., 1919-07-07
Unionists Want independence
and Status Now Enjoyed
by the Cubans.
STIRRED BY GREAT WAR
Republicans Eager to Join
Union and Add q State
Star to the Flag.
ny Il. X. BERGEN.

oue tho Woriu 10 also nhnuestinB ltSeli.
Its signs are evident on every hand.
The Porto Ricsn press is not backward
In giving expression to popular public
opinions. and the two great political
parties Of Porto Rico do not hesitate to
voice their sentiments through the coli
umns OF their respective organs. The
war has enlarged the vision of Porto
Ricans as II has that of other peoples
alDover the globe.
The Unionist party, echoing the feel
ing of the majority. has always been
critical Of the island administration ever
since Its cession to the United States.
The Republican party, voicing the
ideas Of the conservative minority. gen.
orally supports the Washington Gov
eminent, though frequently consuming its
political policy In Porto Rico.
The island in proportion to its one
million Inhabitants and limited wealth
has subscribed generously toward the
successive Liberty Loans and to Red
Cross and other altruistic causes and
shown its patriotism by yielding its sons
to do their bit In defence Of civilized
principles universally accepted. though
not entirely In favor of CONSUMPTION and
not unfriendly toward the German peo-
pie. Rich and poor alike invested In
the bonds and contributed to humane
objects according to their ability.
Since the establishment of the train
| ing camps. however, a new spirit has
| animated the population of Porto Rico.
The Unionists have taken for their
slogan Independence" which means
self government for and by Porto Ricans
| under such protection by the United
| States as 1t affords Cuba. On the other
hand the Republicans seek to demon
hxy hat "a
| for a constitutional amendment confer
ring on Porto Rico Statehood to be rep
I resented by a star in our national en-
| blem.
| Welcome to the Senators.
| In order to further their aspirations
the LEGISLATURE OF Porto Rico during its
last session voted an invitation with
appropriation to cover all outlay to
twenty five United States Senators, ac-
| companied by their wives. to visit the
island so that they might hear and see
and learn for themselves through actual
contact with the natives their real senti-
ments and ideas and political aims.
their express object being to familiar
ize the Senators with the situation from
their viewpoint. so as to enable them
to Judge their plea fairly when 1t is
presented to Congress in washington,
and to hasten its presentation.
| The United States press, like the Porto
Rican. published full accounts of that
action and its acceptance and reported
the visit of the Senatorial unit in all its
phases. pro and con. from the time OF Its
arrival to its departure in April OF this
current year.
| Whatever the outcome OF the repre-
sentation the intention Of the Legisla-
ture of Porto Rico is certainly praise
worthy. since its purpose avowedly Is 10
/ promote a clearer understanding and
closer and lasting union between the
United States and the island.
Too often the attitude of the North
American toward the Latin American
is that of superiority, which is dis
cerned by the educated classes and very
Irritating to them. They resent the fact
that the United States citizen is styled
| American and see In 1t slight. inten-
tional OF otherwise, toward the great
Latin American continent and the ISL
ands that lie to the south of the United
States, with their millions of inhabitants
splendid resources and unlimited. and re-
gard this attitude as a highly super
cilious assumption and unbecoming the
people Of the greatest democracy In the
world. Moreover they are apt to think
the North American self seeking. brusqut
and lacking in the conventionalities sc
vital to the cultivated Latin.
The overbearing conduct of some and
patronizing manner of other Americans
possibly warrants that opinion. The
Spanish speaking Latins are proud Of
their ancient Castilian lineage. classic
literature and the historic conquests Of
the Spanish armada. They consider
English merely the language of com
merce and profess an ardent admiration
for France, the French and a prefer
ence for the French tongue. Let it moi
he thought that these facts have no bear
ing on the commercial interests and re-
lations between Latin America and thu
United States. They are stated to de-
fine, or explain. the existing prejudice II
the minds of many Porto Ricans toward
Americans. Tho European tourist, in
weston, resident and commercial mar
takes the greatest pains to ingratiat'
himself with them BY learning their Ian
! Suase, by courtesy In his dealings anC
bv difference 10 their views and tastes
and preferences. He bides his time un
! III he has gained their confidence. wor
their esteem and become generally &C
cptable. -
TIN to the Stranger.
While testing his salesmanship. h
finds II advisable. and so manages Il
minEle with those whose patronage IN
desires, by trying to obtain practica
knowledge of Spanish, while acquaintint
himself with the needs Of the market h
is expected to open and supply with hi
kind of merchandise. II he is cautiou
he will avoid intimacy and content him
self to be merely friendly.
The American prefers to spend hi
evenings in the society OF his own coun
trymen and thus loses valuable oppor
tunities for expanding his market am
introducing his wares This does no
mean he is stupid, neither that he is idle
He simply does not know the Latin, hi
aversion TO dealing with strangers AM
his dislike toward anything that SAVIOR
OF hurry, being by nature the most de
liberate of mortals The American
should guard against f-complacency
which Is decried by all classes in Port
!. Rico. and Is detrimental to Commercial
intercourse Even at the present tim
the Porto Rican prefers European good
. to American.
suspicion Is rife and must be over
come II business between the island an,
the United States is to be developed
Regardless of the many Improvement
, introduced by the United States sine
: it's occupancy OF the island. the Port
: Rican is prone to recall the conideno
! with which he welcomed the first yam
, KEGS to his beloved "Pstris," and othe
lavish hospitality which he showere
5 upon the invaders of his island. and the
10 reflect how In return he was re
taE al M ~ h,y th