The New York herald., 1921-12-16
Porto Rico's Future.
A Majority Of Its People Said to
Oppose Secession.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: At this
time a delegation of the Porto Rican
Upionist party is visiting the continental
Cnited states for the purpose of de-
manding the removal Of K. Mont Reilly.
now Governor OF this insular American
Territory.
l notice that in the statements made
by the members of this delegation, and
particularly by Antonio r. Barcelo, the
chief leader of the party. and by Walter
Mex Jones, in presenting their charges
against the Governor, they assert that
their party does not stand for the seces-
sion of Porto Rico. In this they are mis-
leading the people in the States. They
cannot now undo what they have ac-
ccmplished here in Porto Rico ever since
the organization Of their party In 1904
up to this very day.
This party has always stood for and
advocated the absolute separation and
ir Independence of Porto Rico from the
American Union, even after they ac-
cepted voluntarily the citizenship OF the
United States, which was granted to us
in 1917 by an act Of Congress, a grant
which was made after hearing the people
of this island through their duly ac-
credited delegations that journeyed to
Washington and expressed to the several
Congressional committees the general
sentiment and desire of the natives of
Porto Rico to become part of the
United States through the medium of
citizenship.
1t is claimed by the Unionist leaders
that they stand for independence be-
cause great American statesmen such
as Taft and Root have declared that
Porto Rico would never become a State
of the American Union but these dis
tinguished continental Americans spoke
when the people of Porto Rico were not
citizens of the United States and thus
not connected with and not forming a
part of the people of the United States.
Would they hold the same view now
that we are as much Americans as the
citizens OF New York or any other State,
owing allegiance equally with them to
our national flag and Constitution? 1t
seems to me that this is but vicious
and childish argument with which to
support the doctrine of secession.
Only 200 native Porto Ricans can ad-
vocate and maintain independence. II
anybody can in this Territory. They are
those who. under the provisions of our
present organic law, positively refused
to accept American citizenship and re-
rounced this honor by direct and ex-
press action; but as to the remainder
of one million and quarter, those who
seek separation are practically endeav-
oring to destroy the great American
Union and to revive a question which
was forever settled by the civil war.
1 think that ] may safely say that
am expressing the sentiment of the
122, 600 voters who last year all through
the electoral campaign firmly stood for
our union with America in stern oppo-
sition to the Unionist party, which or
that occasion polled 126,000 votes, and
this sentiment is that Porto Rico is to
remain in the Union, later to become
one OF it's component States. But this
sentiment is not limited to the Republi-
can and Labor parties, which polled the
10000 votes. At least one-fourth OF
those in the Unionist party stand foI
this union and aspiration also, thus
making majority of the people of our
island, and this majority now awaits
tha- the Congress shall proceed to cor
rect the anomalous condition existing
with regard to our status, under which
the people of the Territory are citizens
of the United States, and thus a part
of the people of the United States. yet
the soil upon which they We're born
physical Porto Rico. is but a piece OF
property, not Incorporated into. moi
forming a part of, the domain or terri
tory of our great Commonwealth.
The act Of Incorporation would un.
questionably and forever shut out any
possibility of the secessionst sentiment
gaining any further ground and would
also cause ii gradually TO fade away
and launch us frankly into the road tina,
will finally lead to our admission into
the Union. The pressing necessity fol-
such action is evidenced not only bs
present political conditions but also by
the decisions of highest Federal courts
which declared in the now historica
cases of Tapia vs. United States anc
Muratti VS.. Id, that the Jones act, .ap.
proved on March 2, 1917. by the ma.
tionai Congress, did not effect the incor
poration of Porto Rico and therefor,
the Constitution of the United state.
was not in force in Porto Rico in al
of its provisions. LEoPoLpo FELru,
Secretary Republican Territorial Com
mittee and Former Territorial Sen.
ator.
SAN JUAN, Porto Rico, December 5.