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Show H 3iA360CIATION H Porto Ricans don't H Fear Empire. H The proclamation issued last H month at Porto-Rico setting forth B the reasons why they celebrate H the 35 of July should be com- B mended to all anti-impcrealist who B believe, or affect to be-lieve, that B the destruction, of our liberties is B night and that the administration's B Philippine policy means tyranny B and oppression to the natives. B The Porto-Ricans have not obtain- B c all that they were entitled to E and that it was our duty to accord B them, but they contrast their pre- H Pent condition with that which B obtained under Spanish rule, and H it is an instructive contract. H July, 1898, the proclamation H eays, loo the Forfo Ricans by B surprise, and, while they wcl- H corned the United States, it was K not without doubts and apprehen- H sions. What a marvelous tran- H1 iformatton since! Here is what B the Porto Ric&ns have "lost": H We have no longer the stamp- B ed paper; H Nor the dues on transfer of H property; B Nor the personal certificates; B Nor the passport; B Nor the cxport?duty;f B Nor the tax on professions ; B Nor the import duty, which is B now insignificant, and which it is B left us to abolish; B Nor the tribute to the crown of B Spain; B Nor the tribute to the Veraguas B B Nor the tribute to the ministry B of colonies; B Nor wir trabute in time of B i.ruce, and navy tribute without B BB s,ur ' e'lEune.l p'-opV (who B are mi Pwio Rican): PB Nor mounted r (uudia B civil); H Nor military courts to try or- B dinary and political offense; H Nor alendes appointed by the B government; B Nor military governor. B And here is what the pro- B clamation says they have gained : B But we have the inviolability of B our homes and the habeas carpus H The court of justice composed H of Forto Rican magistrates; B The divorce law, which guar- B antees domestic peace; B Uniform currency; B Regularity in the exchange; B Postal money orders ; B Uniformity in the postal stamp; B The municipalities will be auton- B omoui; B We have suffrage, the extension B of which is left to us ; B We have Porto Rican troops ; B An insular police composed of B Porto Ricans; B Free justice, for which the jud- B Ecs are responsible, without the B nconenienceof theprejudgment; B And quick procedure, in the B modification of which is left to us ; B And we have representation in B the executive council, even if not BB exactly to the extent we deserve ; B And we have a house of repre- B sentatives to legislate for the island B I' |