be consecrated
to freedom.

Colonel Alexander McClure, in an address at the laying of the
cornerstone of the new State Capitol of Pennsylvania, expressed most
eloquently the true American feeling in regard to the possessions which
our naval and military prowess won from Spain:

"The same supreme power that demanded this war will demand the complete
fulfillment of its purpose. It will demand, in tones which none can
misunderstand and which no power or party can be strong enough to
disregard, that the United States' flag shall never be furled in any
Spanish province where it has been planted by the heroism of our army
and navy.

"Call it imperialism if you will; but it is not the imperialism that is
inspired by the lust of conquest. It is the higher and nobler
imperialism that voices the sovereign power of this nation and demands
the extension of our flag and authority over the provinces of Spain,
solely that 'government of the people by the people, and for the people
shall not perish from the earth.'

"Such is the imperialism that has become interwoven with the destiny of
our great free Government, and it will be welcomed by our people
regardless of party lines, and will command the commendation of the
enlightened powers of the Old World, as it rears, for the guidance of
all, the grandest monuments of freedom as the proclaimed policy and
purpose of the noblest Government ever reared by a man or blessed by
Heaven."

CHAPTER XII.

WHAT THE POSSESSION OF PORTO RICO WILL MEAN.

The heading of this chapter presents a most difficult problem at this
time. It would require an inspired prophet to answer the question, and
all that we can do is to look at it as dispassionately as possible, and
to show the opinions of those who are more or less informed upon the
subject. From these opinions the reader must of necessity draw his own
conjectures.

Of course, from the very nature of conditions the land is at the present
time of writing in a most unsettled state, from a political, commercial
and social point of view.

A new element has entered into the lives of the Porto Ricans, and this
new element naturally brings with it an unknown future.

The Spaniards and Porto Ricans have but little idea of political
tolerance. They are enemies, now, and both seem to think that the
opposite party is to be abused, persecuted and even tortured.

Many of the Porto Ricans, on the word of a competent authority, believe
that vio