Evening star., 1898-09-19
1t Relieved the Tension of the
Spaniards' Feelings.
VIEW OF THE DEFENSES

With tne invaders. ana VINO would have
hailed with delight this deliverance from
| oppression and misrule, were overawed by
the presence of the Spanish authority to
which they have bowed so long. During
| the three weeks since they have known
| that the terms of peace gave Porto Rico to
the United States they have not dared to
| exhibit their satisfaction. Secretly many
| OF them began the study IF the language
| or their ceiiverers but English was ta-
booed language.
| An English gentleman who entered the
| city two days after the peace protocol was
signed. and who knew no Spanish, could
md no interpreter, in fact, could find no
one who professed knowledge of English
save her majestys consul But with the
arrival of the American evacuation COM
mlshloners - Gen. Brooke, Rear Admiral
Schley and Gen. Gordon-the whole atmos-
phere changed. Every native Porto Rican
who understood a word of English sought
| out the Americans who came in The train
or the commissioners, and lav,shed an En-
sI1sh word or a broken sentence upon them
with an air of pride such as one would
II he were displaying some priceless herit-
age.
Fear of Spain Banished
Their fear and dread of the Spanish SOL
diery in the streets and Spanish officers
in the hotels and cafes disappeared at
the sight of the American uniform They
| N>-N 'Atbe theic Hetu ALREADY Deen thrown
about them the protecting aegis of the
United States, although the Spanish flag
still flew from MORO Castle, and the evil
dences of Spanish authority still confronted
them on every hand.
1t must he said to the credit of the Span
iards that as far as known there has not
been single instance where they have un-
dertaken to arrest or punish these displays
of pro-American feeling, which, but a few
weeks ago would have instantly sent the
nf Flnr rArf-.
fate. This is the more remarkable mas
much as the city is full of Spanish soldiers,
who show on their faces the deep resent
ment they feel and some of the natives
seem to delight in making their exhibition
as provoking as possible. But thus far
they have held their temper. The officers
and the higher officials feel their humliat-
ing position keenly. although they try to
deceive themselves with the boast that
Porto Rico was surrendered, not conquered.
and that their honor is unsullied. 1t IS not
strange that they should yield control
of the island with reluctance, for to the
officers of minor rank service here means
double salary, house rent, subsistence at
the expense Of the province: and to the
high officials, military and civil. enormous
salaries. position and opportunity, which,
in the majority Of instances, is the eQuiya-
lent of wealth.
But despite their chagrn the Spanish
soldiers have been scrupulously, indeed
punctiliously. polite in their attitude toward
leans first entered the harbor a week ago
salutes and formal visits were exchanged
Immediately.
A Bit of Courtesy.
When our officers came ashore they made
it a point when they met Spanish officers
on the street to salute them first, even
though in mahy cases they knew they out
ranked those to whcm they showed this
courtesy, naval etiquette the world over re-
quirng the subordinate officer to first
salute him who outrG nks him. 1t
bit OF courtesy which took some thing from
the sting of defeat and relieved the ten
sion. That it was appreciated by the van
quished was evident by the spontaneous
heartiness with which the salutes were re-
turned. Our officers could afford to be
generous. 1t is a mean victor who can
withhold his hand from a fellow foe.
When Admiral Schley reached here on
the Seneca and the Spanish gunboat Isabel
II replied to the admiral's salute as his
double-starrel pennant was raised on the
New Orleans the admiral ordered the Span
sh flag hauled to the peak and saluted.
The official exchange followed the arrival
of the peace commissioners with almost
mathamatlca precision. The brigadier of
marine, Commodore Nallarino, called upon
Admiral Schley as the etiquette of the oc-
casion required, Vallarino being Schley.s
inferior in rank, and this visit thu Ameri
can admiral returned the next morning.
Inc SuII oh haCiaS.
Mai Gen Brooke and Admiral Schley, as
the highest military and naval officers, on
the afternoon of their arrival proceeded to
the palace accompanied by their respective
staffs and paid their respects to the cap
tain general who is lieutenant general in
the Spanish army. Admiral Schley, with
his personal staff, Lieuts. Sears and Wells,
wer. arrayad in full uniform at the hotel
when Gen. Brooke, with Gen. Sheridan, his
chief of staff; Col Richards, his adjutant
general; Maj Carson, Col Hunter, Maj.
Cosby, Col. Goethal, and the remainder of
his staff drove up to join them. Then it
was discovered that Gen. Brooke and staff
were in fatigue uniform. Their dress uni
forms they had left behind when they
started into the field. AS it would have
baen manifest improperly, under the cir
cUmstances, for the admiral and his staff
to wear full dress, they donned fatigues
The party were driven to the palace be-
tween lines of people from wall to curb
The intel view took place in the grand sa-
lon of the palace, under massive gold
framed portrait of the queen regent and
the youth for the protection of whose
crown this war so disastrous to Spain had
been waged. The call lasted scarcely ten
minutes, most of the time being occupied
in introductions.
SchIey Spoke Spanish.
Admiral Schley, who speaks Spanish flu
entity, engaged the captain general in con-
verSatton after the introductions were COM
peted, and the principals had seated them
selves with the members of their STATS
ranged behind them. General Brooke spoke
through the official Interpreter, notwith-
standing the suspicion that he is Span
ish scholar of no mean ability.
The Spanish uniforms much more
shCwy than ours. The captain general was
arrayed in dark-blue coat, resplendent
with gold braid and sparkling with orders
and insignia of rank. His trousers were
deep crimson. A polished gentleman of
kindly oountenance, in most trying posi-
ton, he placed every one at his ease by
the grace and suavity with which he greet
ed those who practically came conquer
ors to claim a prize won.
The captain general with his staff rode
today to the Hotel Ingleterra, at which
Admiral Schley is stopping, and returned
the admirals visit. Later he called upon
General Brooke at Rio Pedros.
This does not complete the list of official
visits The Spanish commissioners must
call upon the American commissioners, and
the latter must return the visit before the