The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-22
UNHAPPY PORTO RICANS.
They Want to Fight Us As Well As
Spain.

Washington, July 21.-The members of
the Porto Rico Republican party, who
comprise the Porto Rican Junta ID New
York city, are just now very much per-
turbed over the p aspect of annexation
of the island by the United States govern
ment. General Miles has refused the re-
quest made by DR.. Julio Henna, president
of the Junta, and Senior Roberto Todd,
the secretary, to allow civil commission
to accompany the American army of in
vasion into the island to look after the
interests of the proposed republic, and
yesterday a telegram was received at
Washington announcing that DIR. Henna,
Senior Todd and Senior Francisco Eugenio
Maria Hostos, prominent Porto Rican
just arrived in this country, will come to
Washington to hold conference with the
President and tie secretary of war.
The visit is the result of meeting of
the Junta held on July i2 in New York,
presided over by Dr.. Henna. and which
was a stormy one. The majority of the
2S Porto Ricans present were in favor of
annexation to the United States, but the
Republican sympathizers made some
very vehement speeches, ons of them
Senior Sotero Figuera, colored Porto
Rican, urging that instead of sending an
expedition OF men from New York to as
sist the Americans, the men should
rather be armed to fight against them
and resist the invasion.
Gen. Antonio Mattel Lueyeras a
prominent Porto Rican in Washington,
who is in favor of annexation and who
has furnished the war department. with
much valuable matter to assist il in pre-
pairing for the invasion, was also strongly
criticized for his attitude toward the re-
pablicans.
The meeting was called by DR.. Henna
after his request for civil commission of
Porto Ricans was refused. He, accom-
panied By Senior Todd. made several trips
to Washington, having interviews with
President Mckinley and others, and
hoped even now to alize their aim and
bring about tho establishment of an in
dependent government for Porto Rico.
Il motion was made to arm and equip
the exposition offered to Gen. Miles, and
t. supply each man with rifles, machetes,
and $40 in money. Senior Figurea then
stated strong objection to that PROPOSE
tion, saying that 10 Porto kican would
fight with the Americans. On the con-
trarg he stated that the Porto Ricans
ouLl equip an expedition rather TO fight
against the American army. Finally by
u 70 If the mpjority wLo favor annexa-
tion th9 meeting was adjourned. the re-
'pulllcans atverNard holding private
ms, ting.
Gen. Liuevcras has cabled to Gen.
Miles that it will be dangerous to land
the American forces a5 San Juan, and
sugga sted Puerto dc Faldrdo The water
nsailAble in San juan is only rain water
held in cisterns, and it would he an easy
mater fer the spaniards TO poIluts the
supply with yellow fever germs from
"vonli;a negro" and ruin tho Tnole
army. Puerto de Fajardo. he says, is
healthier. has natural water supply,
and is by far the best adapted 10, landing
the American troops.
Dir. Henua has been named president Of
the Porto Rican republic by the Porto
Rico colony of New York. but has never
reoeived recognition from the majority CT
Porto Ricans in this country.
The Jun;a is we'll supplied with caps,
rifles, machetes, modern cannon ana a
steamer. The steamer was presented to
the Junta by Don San Francisco Cisneros,
former Cuban president, who died re-
Gently in New York. The Cuban govern
ment presented the revolutionary party
with 100000 in gold and Cuban bonds
the latter being since disposed Of for cash
and number Of other subscriptions have
been received from Porto Ricans. They
had for military chief the Dom inican gen
eral, Augustin E. Morales, who was shot
some time ago in Monte Cristo, San
Domingo, and who left them a
quantity Of money. All of these re-
sources are in the hands of DR.. Henna
and it is being rapidly applied to the
formation CT an expedition. Now that
this project has been checked by Gen.
Miles the republicans of the Junta are
on the anxious bench, and hence the pro-
posed conference with the President and
the secretary of war by DR.. Henna and
Seniors Todd and Hesse. They will
probably endeayor to convince the Presi-
dent that an independent government,
possibly under United States protecto
Tare, would be better than annexation.