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[[start COLUMN 1]] Hamburg American Line. La Veloce, vapores italianos. New York y Portorico Steamship Company. Vapores de Sobrinos de Herrera Entre Cuba y Puerto Rico. Linea <>. Munson Steamship Line. Galveston y P. R. Steamship Line. Vapores costaneros de la New York y P. p. S. S. Co. EN MAYAGUEZ Hamburg American Line. New York y Portorico Steamship Company. Linea < >. Vapores de C. Prats y Compania. Galveston y P. R. Steamship Line. Vapores costaneros de la New York y Puerto Rico S. S. Co ___ EN MAYAGUEZ: Corresponsales del Ntionoal Board of Underwriterd. EN PONCE: Corresponsales del Board of Underwriers. Idem del West India & Panama Cable Co ____ [[italics]]Representantes Generales de las siguientes Companias de Seguros contra Incendios[[/italics]] La Hamburgo Bremense, de Hamburgo. La Bailose, de Basilea. La Aachen y Munich de Aachen. North Britihs & Mercantile Insurance Co, Londres. [[heading]]ASEGUROS MARITIMOS[[/heading]] ______ [[italics]] Unicos importadores en Puerto-Rico de la afamada Harina de trigo marca < >, de Galveston, Texas.[[/italics]] _____ Constante surtido de arroces y provisiones de todas clases. _____ Giran por cable sobre Nek-York y las principales plazas de Eurapa. [[image line across column]] [[heading]] "La Villa de Paris"[[/heading]] _____ Ofrece un selecto surtido de telas de color, propias de camisas, recibidas expresamente para su Taller de Camiseria, donde sirven los encargos de este ramo con esmero y prontitud. En cuellos y punos reciben mensualmente los ultimos modelos. Camisetas, Calcetines y generos de punto las hay a escoger. [[Heading]] Fernandez Hermano. [[/heading]] San Juan. [[end column 1]] [[begin column 2]] In view of the original[[?]] events of the past few weeks and their critical effect upon the destinies of two countries which are, by virtue of authorized pledges, actual and implied, one and the same, it is expedient that the people of the United States should become aware of the memorable pledges made in their behalf at the time of the occupation of our Island; what the National Legistature is doing regarding the fulfilment of those obligations; and, lastly, what the people of the Island have a right to expect by way of civil rights and privileges--what they may equitably demand not only for the restoration of their former prosperity, but for the preservation of their very existence. In the summer of 'ninety-eight Gen. Nelson A. Miles and a small army accomplished a practically bloodless victory over an island which had been four hundred years under the yoke of Spain misrule. Instead of enemies. he found only friends; instead of shot and shell, only cheers of welcome, and planting there the flag which was hailed as the symbol of a pleople's deliverance, he promised "protection not only to the Islanders but to their property"; and "to promote prosperity, and bestow upon them the immunities and blessings of the liberal institqtions of the American Government." Not content, however, with allowing the people of Puerto Rico to remain in ignorance of their exact [[italics]]status[[/italics]] as either citizens or subjects of their adopted country; deaf to their cries of distress and blind to their imperative needs, the National Congress now proposes to add ignominy to sorrow and injustice to affliction by imposing upon the Island, systems of taxation and vassalage as inmoral in principle as they are questionable in purppse; as odious to freedom-loving Americans as they are obnoxious to the people they oppress, and identical with those which drove the American patriots of '76 to resist and destroy by force of arms the tyrant that imposed them. Against the express wlll and wish of the Chief Executive in his last message to Congress;against the solemn vows of thesoldier who first hoisted the flag of freedom over Puerto Rican soil; against the advice of the honorable Secretary of War; the Governors General of the Island; the recommendations of the President's Special Commissioner; and the United States Consul General to Puerto Rico; against the just demands of the Puerto Rican Delegates; and above all against the combined sentiment of the representative press and seventy-five millions of people, whose exponent it is, -- an unjust and odious tax measure has passed the House of Representatives, and it is now even proposed to set aside all measures establishing civil government for the Island. The American people and the press, who, thrusting aside all Constitutional questions and all subterfuges or sophistries, have recently, almost with one voice, emphatically demanded for Puerto Rico as [[italics]]her right,[[/italics]] free commerce with the United States, will be starteed and indignant beyond measure to learn that it is now proposed to fling the reduced tariff [[end column 2]] [[start column 3]] so little ago, every good thing under the folds of the American flag? It arouses the utmost indignation that a million intelligent Christian people, nearly eighty per cent. of Caucasion birth, long in the enjoyment of the highest rights of representation in the National Cortes of Spain; who have had universal suffrage, municipal autonomy, and (substantially) free commerce with their sovereign country for years; a community whose thrift, freedom from debt, virtue, and achievements bespeak its character which freed its slaves on its own motion and paid for them without murmer; whose steadfastness gave it the name, even in Spain of < > must now plead for those fundamental civil rights which the Fathers of the great Republic declared to be < > of every man. To deny immediate stable civil government to Puerto Rico means (beside the vio enc[[?]] done the overwhelming and unanswerable moral considerations which demand it ):-- [[italics]]First.[[/italics]] To continue upon a million people without defensible warrant or excuse, th[[?]] always blighting and repressive effects of military government, alike abhorrent to the people of the United States and of Puerto Rico, for military government is repugnant to American ideas, is never progressive, and can at most only hope to maintain order and preserve the [[italics]]status quo.[[/italics]] It breeds distrust, suppresses ambition, stimulates resentments, and destroys every incentive an hope: [[italics]]Second.[[/italics]] It means to prevent the investment of capital, the extension of trade-enterprises, or the development of the resources of the island. Capital will not venture where trade-conditions, government, and laws are not stable and without capital to rehabilitate her ruined interests, restore her industries and develop her resources, Puerto Rico m[[ust?]] revert to a state of nature, which in the tropic it requires but a few months of neglect effect: [[italics]] Third. [[/italics]] It means the absence of adequate law to protect person and property, regulate society, and advance agriculture and commerce: [[italics]] Fourth. [[/italics]] It means that no authority can exist for the negotiation of a Territorial lo[[?]] whereby the Island, pledging its credit and resources, can alone raise the funds [[italics]]absolutely essential [[/italics]] for the maintenance of public works and improvements, educational advantages and assistance to the ruined agriculturi[[sm?]] upon whose prosperity the very life of the Island must depend. It was to enable Congress to authorize and arrange this loan in interests of agriculture that the President extended for six months, the prorogation mortgage forclosures: [[italics]]Fifth:[[/italics]] It means idle and wasted plan[[ta]]tions, deserted sugar mills and factories, stagnant commerce, a wandering and starving people, -- an utterly and cruelly desolated and ruined Island. Taken by the war-power of this Republic -- the most enlightened, resourceful and powerful of the Nations -- into its possession, w[[?]] [[end column 3]]
Transcription Notes:
last word could be "with"
