The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-21
PORTO RICO'S SORRY STATE.
Misrule with Consequent business
and Agricultural Depression.
New York Sun.

new YORK sun.
Under date of Sept. a gentleman living
in Porto Rico writes to one of his friends
in this city: 1.-THE government fears that
serious uprising may occur at any mo-
ment, and all sorts of precautions are taken
to prevent it. Forts are building all along
the ridge of mountains across the island.
The forts In course of construction are:
One midway between Aibonite and Cayey,
another between Cayey and CagGaS, an
other between Adjuntas and Lares. an
other between Concrete and Bayamon, and
one more at Luquill0.
1T was said a few days ago that Captain
General Marin had resigned, but the report
has not been confirmed.
1.-THE country is in a state of alarm.
There seems to be no end to the infamous
proceedings over the Yauco uprising. New
arrests in connection with the affair are
made almost every day. The jails all over
the island are crowded with political pris-
oners. / know that some sixty persons, In
have lately been imprisoned at Camuy,
Vega Baja, Sabana Grande, and Yaueo
There are no indications that the situation
is going to improve. Many persons have
left the island, and others are preparing to
leave, for fear of Incarceration.
~ do not know whether a revolution is
actually preparing of not; but / may say
that if this condition of affairs should con-
tinue the people here will be driven to re-
volt. Prisoners are subjected to torture m m
their participation in alleged conspirac1es.
We are now witnessing revival of Tor
quemada's methods. with all the improve
genuity has of late added TO the primitive
horrors Of their infamous inquisition. The
practice is now in vogue here to feed pris-
oners on salt Goldfish with no water to drink
until they have been forced to declare
whatever their hangmen choose.
1.-THE outlook cannot be more gloomy. Our
country is now going through a terrible
crisis. There is very little money in circula-
ton. The coming crop will be a very small
one. Credit has disappeared, nobody daring
to go into undertakings on account of the
uneasiness prevailing. The price of vege-
tables, upon which the poor here depend,
is rapidly going up, as the result of con-
siderable exports to Cuba, where it seems
that no cultivation is carried on. To make
matters worse, most of the coffee from last
years crop is still in the warehouses. Our
only market for coffee was Cuba, but no
orders come from there now.
1.-The immediate consequence OF CanoyaS.s
reforms has been an increase of $l,500,OO0
in the provincial budget; but there is no
probability that 1t will be covered. Taxes
have been nearly doubled just at the mo-
ment when distress is greatest The inhabi-
tants of the English and French colonies
French, as the case may be, but there are
few Cubans or Porto Ricans who would call
themselves Spanish Why? Because we are
governed with the lash of a tyrant. Would
that we could throw our yoke off and live
the life of independence under the protec-
ton of the United States. What great
country Porto Rico would be then. We
are ali here either for annexation or for
independence under an American protec-
Spanish soldiers here. The country would
all side with the Americans and in less
than one week the island would be in their
hands"