Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-01-06

Aseraua RalEna and Dr. Henna Have Asade
 an Offensive and Defensive Alliance With
 Cuba-How the Islanders Are Downtrod-
 den by Spanish Misrnle.
 Members of the Puerto Rican reyolu, tlonary party, who have organized a lunta to work i'll conjunction with the Cuban Junta, are purchasing arms and iltting out an expedition. The organiza- ton of the party and of the junta has met with the approval of Puerto Ricans in New York and elsewhere. who realize that decisive blow can be struck for liberty now that Spain s energy is de- voted to quelling the instruction in Cuba.
 1t was positively learned the other day that Senor Estrada Palma, on be- half of the Cuban junta, has entered into a compact with Dr. J. Julio Henna. president of the Puerto Rican revolu t1onary party, whereby both parties will cooperate in aiding the causes of Cuba and Puerto Rico. President Henna ac- knowledged that he had been in consul tation with President Palma and that steps will at once be taken to assist the people of Puerto Rico, who are anxious ly awaiting the signal to rise.
 A meeting of the members of both the Cuban and Puerto Riean juntas will be held at the Cuban headquarters, when plan of campaign favorable to the Puer- to Ricans will be decided upon. The Cuban junta realizes that it has secured powerful allies in the war against Spain. With the development of an insuTrec- tion in Puerto Rico, the efforts of the Spanish to put down the war in Cuba will, necessarily, be weakened, and troops will be sent from the island of Cuba to Puerto Rico
 For months past the revolutionary Puerto Ricans in New York have been corresponding with the leading revolu- t1onary spirits in their island, and Pres ident Henna said the other day that 80 towns had been heard from whose in habltants are ready to revolt when the proper time comes.
 He said We addressed eommunica- tions also to our general delegate, Dr. Ramon E. Betances, who is also agent for the Cubans in Paris, and to other prominent Cubans and Puerto Ricans abroad who arc eager to see Puerto Rico free From them we received great en- eouragement and proffers of assistance They forwarded me the necessary doeu- ments of indorsement
 T realize that a few men have no right to force revolution, even in the cause of liberty, but our people are wait ing only for leaders. and revolution is what the people want. Our plans are maturing.
 'Guba's success means Puerto Rico's triumph. We will aid Cuba, and she will aid us. When we are prepared for battle, our people will rise, armed with guns and ammunition sent from this and other countries.
 Expeditions will be fitted out and landed on the coasts. Spain cannot pre- vent the outbreak in Puerto Rico. The concentration of her navy and army in Cuba makes our chances of success very encouraging. Money is coming in rapid ly for the purchase of arms and ammu. milton. Like Cubans. Puerto Ricans are compelled to suffer the burden of an ab- surd and heavy taxation. Our people are downtrodden and enslaved. Outrages by the Spanish government upon the people arc of common occurrence. Our police is composed of ex-convicts sent from Spain, and our people are subjected to gross outrages at the hands of these men, who are invested with power that makes them petty tyrants.
 Sales and purchases cannot be effect ed between Individuals without the pay ment of taxes. Taxes are exacted from persons going from one town to anoth- CT, and passports, upon which a tax is alto levied, are demanded all over the island. The money issued by the Span ish government ill Puerto Rico are colo nial medals. There are no educational facilities There is nothing but life of slavery in Puerto Rico under Spanish rule, and that on an island which nature has generously blessed.
 We realize our strength now. We, too, will fight for independence, and with Spain's waning energies divided between the two countries Cnbans and Puerto Ricans hope to achieve their free dom. ''--New York Journal.