The New York herald., 1921-09-06
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6. 1921.
Porto Rico and Governor Rely.


At mass meeting of the Porto
Rican colony in this town day before
yesterday resolutions were adopted
notifying President HARDING and
both houses of Congress that Gov
ernor RELY is, in the opinion Of
these protestants, an unfit person to
continue In Office. The Governor is
charged with the utterance of Exec
utive public expressions unbecoming
an American Official" with personal
prejudices impairing the smooth
course of public business" and with
IAN avowed attempt to suppress the
Spanish language in the Porto Rican
public schools" The resolutions, II
we rightly understand them, suggest
the removal Of the Governor from
Office for these reasons.
How far the gentlemen who make
this highly original suggestion to
President HARDING are numerically
representative of Porto Rican senti-
ment In New York we are not in
formed. But THE New YORK Herald
is very sure that these esteemed Amer
leans of insular birth could be in bet
ter business for the true welfare Of
the beautiful island they love. Their
motive must be either politics or
patriotism. If it Is politics, it is the
politics of a sinister cause, namely,
the political movement Of the Inde-
pendistas through propaganda aim
If it is patriotism, 1t is not Ameri
can patriotism but something else.
Governor RELY was President
HARpISG's personal choice for a post
OF exceptional difficulty and deiicacy,
owing to the headway the Lone Star
sentiment had made in the island in
recent years, under propulsion by the
able and adroit politicians who have
used it for all 1t was worth to the
very practical purposes Of local con.
troll, local Offices and local expendi-
q
in Kansas City. Little was known
to the general public of his capacity
for responsible statesmanship in an
unusual situation before the Presi-
dent picked him out and sent him
down to the Palace in San Juan to
tell disaffected elements that Porto
Rico's future Is Statehood and not
separation from the United States.
The new Governor had not been
many hours in the island before his
quality and texture were manifest to
all concerned. His inaugural clari-
fled situation which was becoming
decidedly turbid. 1t declared plainly
the main fact and the purpose from
which the Governor has not departed
and will not depart.
IL want you to be fully aware"
he said. that there is no room in
Porto Rico for any foreigner who is
Lot willing to support and uphold
our established Government. Neither
is there any sympathy or hope In the
United States for independence for
Porto Rico. from any individual or any
). political party. Neither. my friends
IS there any place in these islands
for any flag save the flag of our be-
loved and common country. SO long
&C Old Glory continues to wave over
The United States it will continue
to wave over Porto Rico"
In effect 1t was like Columns
and the egg: so simple and direct
and natural a demonstration of the
one way to treat the Porto Rican situ-
alton. AS events have proceeded in the
island, there can no longer be any
doubt in any mind that what Gov
ernor RELY said he really meant, or
that what he said and meant repre-
sents the fixed and unalterable pur-
poses OF the Government and people
of the United States.
The whole policy and the whole
programme regarding Porto Rico's
future Is in the foregoing. The new
Governor stated the case adequately.
fcarlessly, temperately, but in Ian.
guage the meaning of which cannot
be mistaken. That there should be
resistance in some quarters was 70
have been expected. The Lone Star
idea could not disappear between
noon and sunset. The political inter
est OF Independista leaders in It's
maintenance was too great to be
abandoned at first call. But the lead.
ors have learned the nature of the
stuff that is in the Executive, the
only one island executive as Et
Tiempo puts It, "the Governor"
The Governor has kept to his pr
nounccd course with personal suavity
and good humor. but inflexibly. The