The New York herald., 1873-12-05
TO RICO.
The Captain OF The
VirEiniuS-
of Slavery Of tho Press
and of Public Meeting
The Local Mections

Taking into account the wide difference OF
opinion among the Spaniards OF this island, the
| strong antagonism between liberals and conserva-
tives, and the disagreements resulting thcrefrom
in Official and even social intercourse, it Will per-
haps, be enough to say that the news OF the cap
ture OF the steamer virgnus has been received
here with various and conflicting sentiments
That OF the conservatives, the rabid Spaniards is
complete concurrence IN and approval of the action
OF the Spanish government in Cuba. while the
liberals, more rejecting In nature. ashamed OF
and q plore the undue haste oil the cuban author
tiles.
IL is the purpose OF this present letter TO depict
the situation as 1t really is In Porto Rico growing
out OF this very difference OF opinion ana the sell
fish expression or the same in almost every cir.
cumstance OF life among the inhabitants. Those
who were opposed to the Introduction OF liberal
reforms those who saw In them and IN tile abolition
OF slavery only source OF evil, have been con-
vinced OF their mistake. The advent OF the Re-
public in Spain destroyed the suspicious and jeal-
Gus policy that existed in this Antlla, one OF the
most faithful provinces or the nation and the re-
| publican government frankly entered upon another
/ policy more adapted to the requirements OF the
country.
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
] was proclaimed by the National Assembly in the
/ remarkable session OF March % OF this year, the
most brilliant date OF its contemporary history,
and the new government, determined to establish
| reforms which would give Porto Ricans rights
| equal to hose Of other Spanards. appointed new
| Governor Captain General Primo de Rivera, who
arrived in Porto Rico on the 14tn OF April last and
made 1t his first that the law the abolition
oil slavery should be carried into effect. This great
event took place on the goth OF the same month, by
the publication OF the law, model OF equity and
OF liberal spirit, and rules to guide the first steps
OF the freedman in the new social condition In
| which he was placed. This so important law
did not change the economical features of
the country, nor create any disturbance. and the
country remained perfectly tranquil Not even
the first outbreak Of joy produced by the posses
| sion Of benefit so esteemed disturbed the public
| repose. The freedmen by religious feasts cee-
brated in every town their thanksgivngs for their
| freedom with eloquent protestati0ns OF love and
| gratitude towards Spain, whose name and their
| redemption from slavery will henceiorward be
associated in their minds. The enemies of the
abolition of slavery attribute to IL the financial
crisis in the country but do not take into account
two OF the principal causes for lt-rst the scarcity
OF the sugar crop this year from the want OF rain,
and secondly, the low price for its products. 1t is
well known that the freed negroes have not IN
creased the number OF beggars nor given them
selves up to dangerous idleness, was predicted
by the shareholders. All work In virtue of the con-
| tracts which the rule imposes on them, for during
| three years they are to remain with their former
| masters, or at least with those with whom they
are contracted and have engaged, In conformity
1 to the rules.
Following the abolition Of slavery the new Gov
ern0r issued DEGREES authorizing
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
and sancti0nlng the right to peaceable meetings
poses, and thus the sphere OF action Of these in
habtants was broadened until the Constituent
Cortes promulgated tor Porto Rico the first title OF
n
to ALL In The exercise OF their rights the people OF
has been preserved and reigas everywhere and
peace ana tranquility are enjoyed all over the Is
ah1 shed Which gives autonomy @ '''h to es'nn the
ay'.nta,ntentos or municipalities, and dis
centrallzng the administration conides to their
| discretion and care the administration and
airection OF many affairs which before were sub
ect to the Governor OF the is.and. In August last
the municipal elections took place, passing Off
quietly and peacefully; white persons only were
elected, and these now popular corporations have,
the new laws. The elections Tor Provincial Depu-
ties nor the Provincial House have just been held
Constituent Deputies. Acting always in opposition
to these reforms. which have Deen introduced with
50 much TRANQUILITY ana a. without any disturbance
tude and Joy. and which have strengthened their
adhesion TO the mother country, binding them
is the conservative party, composed mostly OF
spaniards who are opposed to all liberal
IDEAS, because such deprive them OF the influence
and control that they formerly held on the island.
Their attitude Is repasye to the authorities ag
ambition and excusivencss by b0asting OF
| SENTIMENT OF "HISPANIsMu
mnrh criticised hv hv anu nauges so
OF aclion Is the national integrity" and the cry OF
"Aue1a Espaiiai' their shield and defence. This
fratricidal cry they attribute to The islanders
whenever 1t suits them but they never fix upon
the person who pronounces 1t nor give any clew to
testatOns OF their fidelity TO the mother
country, and in vain do they, by their conduct,
their actions and In their newspapers show any
love to the land OF their fathers and their own;
nothing snflccs for their deractors nor can suffice
iOr them, because II they allowed themselves to be
convinced they would lose the only base OF their
opposition They have carried and still wage
the hcrcest war against the government; they have
refused the calls that have been made on them, and
have even carried their opposition to the degree OF
Withdrawing personal intercourse; they write
false and absurd news TO SPAIN tney depict the
island as In the greatest anarchy and about TO
separate rom the Spanish nationally; they call
themselves "SDaniards without conditions and
yet only accept from spain that which atters their
aspirations.
This conservative party is aided by the Official
element which, being nearly all Spaniards, be-
longs, with but few exceptions, to the same poti-
cal party Thus the employees torilcials), civil and
military, especially the latter, profess the same
doctrines from common cause with the conserva-
tives anu are an obstacle to all the liberal acts OF
ernor, and IN the CASINO Espafiol the copy OF that
IN CUBA, they crlticlse his dispositions and acts.
although they may emanate from the Constituent
Cortcs themselves. Moreover, this party counts
upon
| THE VOLUNTEERS,
VINO are organized according to the style OF those
| IN CuDa, with semi-miiitary organization. The
OBJECT o their Institution Is to preserve public
order anu lend their aid to the Governor OF the
Island when needed a duty tney cannot fulfil un-
less with absolute independence rom all political
ties. me volunteers OF Porto Rico also call them
selves "Spanards without condtronsn which Is
thc motto OF the conservatives, and, in adopting
u, they declare themselves aniated to this party
10 which they all belong, as they follow the same
me OF conduct and do NOT admit into their
ranks any person Of liberal IDEAS Their spirit
oi exclusivlsm and their pretensions 10 supe-
rlority and importance such that they adopt
anu take up the private quarrcls Of their mem
bers; and but recently there between
TWO persons OF the town or san Lorenzo a
quarrel, IN which OF them. who was
volunteer, got the worst OF 10. Notwithstanding
that the quarrel was strictly a private one the
chieis oil the volunteer battalion applied to the
local authority, demanding a special punlshme mt