The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-02
REFORMS pOnro RICO.
Text of Those which VIII be Innu.
surnfcd.

Washington. Jan. l.-Scnor De LONE.
the Spanish Minister, resident here,
furnishes the Southern Associated Press
the following copy of a telegram from
Foreign Minister Tetuan:
In the Council of Ministers. presided
over by her Majesty the Queen Regent.
royal decree was signed which APPLIES
TO the island of Porto Rico, the laws of
reforms voted in the Cortes on the 18th
of March. 1895.
The preamble to this decree is Of tho
greatest Importance because of the
statements il contains regarding Cuba
~ neSlns by explaining the reasons WHY
the reforms are applied to-day and
wherefore this has not been done be-
iore. Among other paragraphs IL con-
tAinS the Following, which. owing to
the!T Importance. are copied in their en-
t.rcty:
In the actual circumstances the Gov
ernmcnt considers that the proper time
mas arrived for giving to the world am
pie proof of its firm resolve to fulfill the
engagements voluntarily contracted by
the nation. by implanting and carrvinG.
INTO effect In Porto Rico the reform OF
the system Of government and civil nd-
mlniStrat.on voted by the Cortes nnd
sanctioned by her Majesty. and which.
CONVENIENTLY enlarged and extended
Will be applied in due time to Cuba
I'm unfolding the bases of the rc-
forms with that scrupulous care which
the complex nature OF the case, and its
many and varied problems demand, tho
undersigned Minister has been Inspired
with sense of the necessity of ample
administrative decentralization, and has
proceeded 10 the utmost limit which Tho
actual law allows, without diminution-
or the Inherent sovereignty of the ma
ton. AT the same time. true to the
solemn promise made before Parliament
py us president the Government pro-
poses TO give more ample scope to the
reforms when. as herald of peace. the
proper moment arrives for the definite
appilcation OF the reforms In both the
Antilles, as soon as possible. Her Majes-
tvs Government viii hasten 10 apply
To Cuba, not only the reforms which
FORM the groundwork of the law applied
to-day to Porto Rico. but also will cx-
tend to both provinces the reforms
Which have been offered with the view
OF comforting upon both Antilles an
administrative and economic personality
or local character. which shall facili-
tate the complete intervention Of the
country in its own affairs. maintaining
at the same time. intact the right OF
sovereignty and the condition necessary
10 the maintenance of that right as
was stated in the words Her Majesty
deiSned TO address to the Cortes by the
ADVICE of her responsible Government,
upon the opening of Parliament
THESE amplified reforms can be part
~ put into practice by means Of the
power possessed by the executive Gov
ernment and partly will require the
sanction OF Parliament. The Govern
ment is confident that ii will not en-
counter insuperable obstacles TO it's
rapid action in this sense, looking to the
patriotic uniformity of opinion respect
ing the fundamental ideas which under
lie the application OF the reforms
"Briefly, the law of reforms voted by
the Cortes and sanctioned by the crown.
which Is to-day To he applied To Porto
Rico will form the foundation stone of
the new regime; but an additional de-
cree. accounts OF which will be given TO
the Cortes, will amplify to such an ex-
tent these reforms that n genuine home
administration will be constituted in
our Antilles. in the first instant for