Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-22

While the heart OF all America tAAIoDo
in sympathy with the hurricane SUI
ferers of Porto Rico-as well as with
those of continental United States ana
all the islands-it is surprising TO as
cover that even in the midst OF the
crisis the spirit OF STRIFE prevails
among some Of the Porto Rican poll
tioianS. This spirit does not prevail
among the masses, but it crops OUT
in political agitation. Even while hun
dreds of thousands of victims OF the
wind are hungering until organized re-
lief comes, the city council of San Juan
objects to receiving means OF reile1 IL
it must come through its own mayor
who has been impeached. but not tried
under charges of misapplylng fundS 10
unauthorized uses.
The entire value of all property IN
Porto Rico was estimated by the last
census at $345,000,00O. Estimates OF
the damage by the hurricane vary from
$50 100000 to 100000, 00-an appannLn1SS
percentage of the whole. And l54,OOU
honeIesS victims are dependent abso-
lnteIv upon relief for their food, as well
as shelter. and are facing fearful epi-
denies, not of one, but of several dis
ease perils. Thousands Of others VII!
require partial relief and full protect1on
against disease.
II is 434 years since Christopher Co
nmbus. upon his second voyage, dis
covered Porto Rico-then called by ma
tives "Boriquen"-and landed upon lts
shore-the only time he ever set 1901
1non anv part of the New World. he
took possession of the island in the
name of Ferdinand and Isabella OF
Snain. and it remained under spanish
rule until 1883. In all that 400 years
less was done for the benefit and &C.
yeloprnent of Porto Rico than has been
accomplished in the 80 years OF Amer
lean connection.
COLUMBUS brought with him the Vi
sionary Ponce Gle Leon, the seeker Tor
gold, and especially known as the
dreamer of a Fountain OF Perpetual
Youth" to be discovered somewhere III
the New World. 1t was Ponce de Leon
who, Is years later, returned TO the
island from Santo Domingo, discovered
the good harbor which he named san
Juan in honor of Prince John, heir ap-
parent. and was so impressed with the
natural advantages that he named the
island the Rich Port-Porto Rico. He
became governor, by the sovereignS' ap-
monument, and perhaps that accounts
for the speculative slreamincSs OF the
natives following him down the four
centuries.
X \ = x
Yet the last 80 years have proved that
there exist latent possibilities upon the
island. which, under wise and powerful
guidance. will develop a people and
81, DnyNan 6a y.anI1
dreamed of. The United States has
controlled the destinics of the island
far too short a time to remake race
or even to develop its physical condl-
tions. But the people are restless and
impatient to achieve results which have
taken other races centuries to accom-
plish.
When Ponce de Leon failed in his
search for gold and the Fountain OF
Perpetual Youth" he dared not return.
to be laughed at by his enemies, so he
tarricd in Cuba, and there died, the
same wear, 1921 Then came the news
of Pizarro'S dazzling success in lootinG
Peru and the whole population OF Porto
Rico would have stampeded to that
scene of conquest but for the firm1eSS
of the governor, who threatened to
hang every man found attempting TO
leave the island.
The following four centuries were
filled with romance and struggle, with
Spanish wars against the French and
English and consequent fighting Tor
possession of the island. Later 1t be-
came headquarters for pirates intestlnS
the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf CT
Mexico. so that to this day there are
tales of sunken, treasure ships OIL
water there is miles in depth-perhapS
the deepest part of the Atlantic
treasure hunting has not been profitable
So troublesome did the buccaneers of
the Caribbean and Mexican Gulf be
come that in 1923 the United States
Government decided to exterminate
them, and in that expedition the Porto
RicanS co-operated.
X x = X
The Porto Ricans owned slaves, as
did all American countries up to the
century, but Porto Rico in
1920 iorehade the further importation
of negroes. although it did not succeed
i'll inducing Spain to- free the slaves al
ready on the island until 1873.
II was more progressive in the mat
ter of prohibition than 1t was in slavery,
for 1t enforced a prohibition law in
1749 in some respects far more stringent
than the Volstead law According to an
Official history. the pretext for this
law, which was promulgated in Spain,
was that the use of aguardiente and
other drinks made from sugar cane was
to the health of the people
of Porto Rico, and the manufacture IF
such beverages was forbidden. under
heavy penalties. It's real reason for
existence was the fact that the wine
of Spain had complained