The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-24
PORTO RICO.
Wretched Condition of AGhirs-Tcrrible In-
crease Of misunderstanding In High
Circfcs-Government Outrages ON Citizens
A Crisis at Hand.

WEctCucu N0uOitlOu OF AuNIf6-TCFffDIe lus
crease Of misunderstanding In High
Circfes-GOvernment Outrages ON Citizens
Crisis at Hand.
Porto Rico, August s, 1868.
II is long time since wrote you my last letter.
Unavoidable circumstances have been the cause Of
my long silence.
The state of this island is every day more and
more alarming TO the Spanish government, and such
is the discomfort OF the people that an outbreak may
come when 1t IL least expected, because the
government, instead of trying to soothe the
pains and paate the evils we have suffered
oflate hurricanes earthquakes, &c.) and their con-
sequences is only doing precisely the contrary, as
if bent on increasing our miseres The system Of
taxation Is changed and kind of income tax is SUBJ
stItuted instead OF the old SYSTEM nine per cent on
the gross receipts to be paid now six to the govern
ment and three to the municipality. 1t is impossible,
in the wretched state of the country, to pay such
enormous taxes; but we must pay or suler our
property to be condscated and sold.
The new Governor General, Pavia, is good, a
very good fellow; he allows to gamble; he is the
first gambler in the island, and spends many an
hour at the monte table every day. He patron
ICES cock lighting, and permits and invites us by
public circulars to crafty our native fondness for
this barbarous pleasure many days In the week as
we choose. All this under the preteXt that the
calamites that have visited us Of late must be for
gotten and the fear OF those that may must be
allayed. Knowing natural meekness OF tempera-
ment and the mildness of character the lamb on
the escutcheon of the island being very appropri-
ate emblem) he is trying to harden our souls and
strengthen our temperaments. To this end he has
introduced bull lights among us, an amusement
hitherto unknown in this island. The inhabitants OF st.
Johns treated to several real cOy1dds in of
the neighborng towns The most aristocratic young
Of the city the tOrerOs OF the occasions; the
bulls real ana true ones, and 1t is said In the OIL
cial papers that the scions OF our best families ac-
quilted themselves splendidly and deserved the con-
gratuati0ns OF our delighted Governor.
Perhaps You have read in some Paris papers that
the naturalist and historian ~ from Porto Rico, ID.
Jose J. de AcOsta has just liberated six slaves he
owned. This gentleman ~ one of those who went to
Madrid about two years ago to obtain from the
mother country liberal reforms for this island rs
well as Cuba. lie is Spanard at heart, though
native OF the island, and does not believe In any
progress for this island If severed from SPAIN We
did not know that he owned so many slaves. We
had right to think by his aDtecedents that he had
none. man who has talked so much against
slavery and who played SO conspicuous a part In
OF the institution In this island, &C, who had
right, we say, to expect that such a
to his slavesS At any rate there If no occasion to
make so much fuss and flourish about liberatng i've
or SIX poor slaves most OF whom Will probably ra-
main in the service Of his family a. before above ALL
when the master has waited before doing II 10 be-
rich and has no more need of the sweat OF their
brOws
Many outrages have been committed by our au.
authorities. The system OF prosecutions and Danish
ments instituted by General Marchesi, IL being FOL
lowed up with modern improvements by his most
amiaoe successor in Office, General Pava. Here arr
some few instances
Mr.. Pedro Garcia, a houng Cuban, and resident
OF Mayaguez, happened to 90 to ST. Thomas on
visit TO some friends, among them DR.. Betanees
year from Porto Rico and afterwards by BaeZ from
st. Domingo 10 propitiate the Spanish government
when Baez was about to ask the prctectorate OF
Spain some few months ago. Mr.. Garcia was only
two three days in ~. Thomas and on coming back,
having been denounced "a a rebel by q spy OF the
governments Badomero Solo, he tGarciaj was ar
rested on the wharf in Mayagiez by Colonel Balboa.
commander OF the district and Mayor OF the
town. and was sent to prison, stripped and
searched but neither papers nor anything sus-
picOus was found in his baggage or on his person.
lie was left In jail solitary for four days and then
sent 10 the capital Of the island, about seventy miles
distant, 10 report to the captain General. Thence
he was sent To prison again among thieves and as
sassins. confined In cell full OF vermin, damp and
with ali the Inconvenience that can be conceived
Happily n merchant and planter from Mayagiiez
both natives OF the island AT the time AT the
capital. Both gentlemen are men OF high position
and great influences but this IL not u security that
one OF these days they will not suffer the same treat
ment hut for the time being they succeeded in OBJ
tanning the release OF Garcia Had II not been for
this happy circumstance the poor fellow would I've
stl locked up I'm the subterrancan, rather subma
rne cells OF the Moro Castle without any process
of law without particle or evidence against him,
his only CRIME being that he Is q friend Of DR..
Betanees At last he obliged TO leave the island.
Mr.. Elsdo Ayala was also peremptorily sent 10 the
captal from Mayaoies, leaving his family and bsi
ness 80 take care Of themselves and he was there
whole month without being able to obtain an inter-
view with the Captain General, SO as to learn what
was his crime and what II all meant. great many
more atrocities are committed every day: but will
not tax your patience any more. The truth IL, the
me coming storm. They do not know viva, TO do 10
prevent II and blunder accordingly.