The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-18
ARE LEARNING ENGLISH.
Porto Ricans Pleased That the American.
Are in Control.

~
Are in Control.
Copyright 1898 by Associated Press.
a Juan, Island of Porto Rico, Sept.
l6.-The quieting influence of the Amer
lean conquest of Porto Rico was felt
here last night at the capital, where
the unconquered, but morally defeated
Spanish army. with every outpost
driven in, is now being concentrated
preparatory to the final and
REIMBURSEMENT of the island. The ma
tives, who secretly sympathized with
the invaders and who would have
hailed with delight their deliverance
from oppression and misrule, were
overawed by the presence of the Span
ish authority to which they have bowed
so long.
During three weeks since they have
known that the terms of peace gave
Porto Rico to the United States, the
have not dared to exhibit their salts
faction. Secretly many of them began
the study of the language of the pres
ent ~deliverers, but English was a ia
booed language. An English general,
who entered the city two days after
the peace protocol was signed and who
knew no Spanish, could find nc inter
prefer; in fact he could find no one who
professed a knowledge of English, save
her majesty's consul.
But with the arrival of the Ameri-
Ndil evacuation commissioners SNIiti al
Brooke, Admiral Schley and General
Gordon. the whole atmosphere changed.
Every native Porto Rican who under
stood a word of English sought out the
Americans who came in the train of
the commissioners and lavished an
English word or sentence upon them
with an air of pride such as one would
If he were displaying some priceless
heritage. Their fear and dread of the
Spanish soldiers in the streets and
Spanish officers in the hotels and cafes
disappeared at the sight of the Ameri-
can uniform. They felt there had al
ready been thrown about them the pro-
tecting agencies of the United States,
although the Spanish flags still flew
from MORO castle and the evidences Of
Spanish authority still confronted them
on every hand.
1t must be said to the credit of the
~Spaniards that there has not been a
single instance where they have under
taken to arrest or punish those dis
plays of pro-American feeling which
but a few weeks ago would instantly
have sent the offenders to prison or
perhaps to a worse fate. The city Is
full of Spanish soldiers who show on
their faces the deep resentment they
feel, and some natives seem to delight
I'm making their exhibition as provok-
ing as possible. Officers n higher
olliNAdiS Itti NiA~li pS~
keenly, although they try to deceive
themselves with the boast that Porto
Rico was surrendered and not con-
uuered and their honor is unsullied.
1t is not strange that they should yield
control of the island with reluctance
for offices of minor rank in the service
here mean double salary, house rent,
subsistence at the expense of the prov
ince and 10 high officials, military and
civil. enormous salaries, position n
opportunity which. in a majority of in
stances, is the equivalent of wealth.
But despite their chagrin the Spanish
officials have been scrupulously. indeed
punctiliously, polite in their attitude
toward American officers. When our
officers came ashore they made II a
point when they met the Spanish ON
GERS on the street to salute them first,
even though in many cases they knew
they ~outranked these to whom they
showed this courtesy and nava ell
quette the world over requires a sub
ordinate officer 10 first salute him who
outranks him.