Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-26

J A violent attack upon the United
| States and its policies in dealing with
our detached territories. and friendly
neighboring peoples bordering on the
Caribbean Sea, has been published in
Spain, and is creating sensation in
Latin America 1t is a book called
LA Agonia Antillana, or the Agony of
the Antilles" written by Luis Araquis-
tain. a brilliant Spanish journalist. who
recently made a trip TO the United
States. Cuba, Porto Rico, Haiti and
Santo Domingo.
Arauuistain has made up somewhat
nv fine writing what his book lacks in
facts and sober judgment. and has pic
tured the people of the Antilles as be-
! ing slowly crushed under the iron heel
of North American industriallsm, I'M
pcrialism and capitalism. His proposal
| is for a league of Caribbean states
which would appeal to the League OF
Nations for protection against Yankee
domination. He would have Porto Rico
| independent of this country, and the
other islands free from the influence
f! of our progress and culture.
The book was simultaneously released
| for sale in many parts OF Latin America.
| In Cuba its sale has been forbidden,
| chiefly because of casting reflection on
| Cuban racial purity, and intimating that
| the people there are decadent race
| because of the intermingling OF African
blood. In that island the book Is being
bootlegged. Elsewhere it has been a
| sensation.
Reaction Already Evident.
Already a reaction is evident among
thoughtful people. who have welcomed
| the growing understanding with the
| United States American diplomatic
| and consular agents and Americans liv-
| ing and trading in the Antilles have
watched the various reactions to the
book with interest
In Porto Rico. the commissioner OF
| education, Juan B. Huyke. native OF
! the island, has published in newspaper
articles comprehensive refutation OF
most of Araquistain's arguments. Huyke
sees Porto Rico as the most advanced
/ meeting ground Of the North American
! and the Latin American ideals, melt
ing pot of the Spanish and Yankee Gull
lures. To his mind this development is
one Of progress a great blessing rather
! than crushing agony. The alarms OF
| the Spanish journalist vanish before the
application of fact and logic. II they
disturb the radical and anti-American
enthusiasts of Latin America, he sees
no reason for disturbing people with
| broader vision and better sense.
! Mr. Huyke has answered only on be-
| half of Porto Rico, but the sanity and
calmress of his views, and the facts
which he marshals to display the ex-
act situation of Porto Rico under the
| jurisdiction of the United States. viii
/ have their effect wherever the Span
iard's hectic writing has stirred public
opinion. Mr.. Huyke discerns no agony
In Porto Rico. On the material side
he sees what any observer not blinded
by prejudice can see, land of 1900
/ 900 people set free by the United States
from ignorance and exploitation. and
| thriving greatly in every way, with ed
ucation, trade, law, order and justice
vastly benefited, and national wealth
increased many hundred per cent In
80 years OF progress under the Stars
and Stripes.
| Races Live i'm Peace and Harmony.
On the cultural side he sees some
| thing more, land where the Porte
Rican native people. the Spanish and
the Americans are living and working
in peace and harmony, with a sprin-
king of other nationalities, and an ed
ucational system teaching not only the
| English and Spanish language side
by side. but the whole culture and ira
dition of both races In the University
of Porto Rico even the critical Araquis-
| tain saw q remarkable institution. The
| Spanish traveller refused. however, the
offer of Mr.. Huyke to show him the
whole educational system of common
and high schools built up by the United
States. From this the educator con-
cludes that the journalist wanted to
see only the dark side of the Antil-
lean picture. and kept his eyes and ears
| tightly closed against evidence that II
was practical for the ideals of the Unit
ed States and Latin culture to mix anC
mingle and produce happy. prosper
Gus. educated and independent people
| The Pnrtn Rican educator does mo-