by Patrick J. Buchanan – September 15, 1998

On July 25, 1898, U.S. Gen. Nelson Miles and his troops waded ashore at Guanica to capture Puerto Rico. Since the time of Queen Isabella and Columbus, the island had belonged to Spain.

On the 100th anniversary of Miles’ invasion, thousands came to Guanica — some to celebrate 100 years of association, others to decry a century of Yankee imperialism. In New York, 1,000 Puerto Ricans marched to the United Nations to denounce U.S. colonialism.