The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-21
A LEADER BADLY NEEDED
Porto Ricans viii Welcome Broad and
Patriotic Adviser.
NEW CONDITIONS CONFRONT THE PEOPLE
a Trnctabic Nation which Only
Needs 10 Bc Properly Educated IN
the ways Of Independence.
tcarrespondenea AssoaIatsa rress.,


II is said hero in San Juan Cast Porto Rico
needs new loaiers-that the men OF today
are not fit. because OF the ranking dis
sensions OF the past, which can not be for
gotten, 10 lead the Island to the brilliant
future that awaits u. In this respect tho
following letter, freely translated. from
the Correspondence is interesting
The weight OF four centuries OF error
has torn tho Spanish flag from Porto Rico.
"Thu passionate and uncontrolled Span
ish government that during its sway sic
cecded in poisoning all iocai organizations
OF administration has also succeeded. b.
reason of the inevitable influence of con-
stitutional power. in killing the faith OF
the people. 1t has awakened and kept
iilive feeling OF deep hatred in the hearts
of our public lemiers. Ii is possible for
those MEN to shake off the clinging In
tiuence OF colonial ideas breathed by them
in the past
The Spanish government in Porto Rico
Is dead, but, as a logical consequence OF
four centuries OF political misrule, we have
nade 81 mourntul inueritance.
our local politics were a reflection or
those of Spain. The practice of the ex-
'PlCltatlon of the community at Large ior
the financial benefit of those In power @:a
followed by the natural feelings of resent
nleht oiat nre suio 70 DC amu a III tiie
iie,i 70 vi q Peopic MN, NM ieeiiI9 .ne-t ~. w.,
'is'i l, Posisioh ~, s oseIn.us ss',
In each everything had its price.
This state of affairs gave birth TO the
utst cVnpeIiuohs' oh Yhe siue stVOt tuose
Wso "tHc pells roppcu' oh tne o.nei t,''sp
WI" r"vveu 10. ii,ele ~ oso t te'sN't.e nas-
Ieus, tVitVWcu ny tnc pete, iiiie ne POI ,is
sloh Oh those ainohs US Who N"inis ''i'o'
ior justice.
Inns siuauAoh Is Inc keynote 70 our ~
s,'lar position today folllleal laeds anu
lueais were losl unuer Vno SnV"el VI PEI
sohai hhinloACes dTecieo at lne neh "no
We're party leaders. AS result Oh THESE
oonditions our local pohtical parues were
senooied from me very neginntng IN the
aiilnloslties ana haueus Oh d ptttel Sttus
gle that knew neither reason nor reflection.
And they have NOT peeh ahle 10 iorset their
curry lessons. III was n Strme tna. sAu-
dened the hearts OF the isianNs pest men
and that in the past, ms Wen aus TO-DAY, mas
overpowered them with its bitter realities
and lasting hatreds.
There tnen came 10 us the new sover
eighty, only to una existent me political
degeneration THAT Is oNir inheritance from
the Spaniard
Porto Rico is confronted today, not by
questions OF reforms, but by necessity for
creation, ana this Is the most solemn ana
important moment In our islands history
Our land is wearst by futile strifei 1t
needs guiding hands and minds in the
great work of regeneration before 1t. But
hands that VIII not be raised IN vengeance
ior past wrongs. MINDS tAan can forget
the past in the bright promise OF the fu-
tiue. Now Is the time for RECONSTRUCTION.
THIS great work claims the best effort OF
every Porto Riean. But, IN order that our
work be lasting and strong. that we oulld
upon the foundations OF rock and not upon
the shifting sands OF Passion ana h aadr
we must nave new leaders New leaders
and new blood. Men who are without ram
cor; men who do not regret the death OF
Spanish supremacy men VINO 10 not sun
hearaen to the echoes OF recent strife;
whose minds do not brood upon past
wrongs and deceptions, and whose hearls
are not full OF the cruel scenes and acts OF
ra5ent days
"under such leaders only can be formed
Il party truly representative az Porto ftieo'
Nothing lasting or good cav be construct
cd with rancor and hard feeling for its
foundations, and these feelings exist In
every Forto acan family today Feace.
concord and wnaninity OF purpose are the
keynotes 10 a prosperous future'
striving ambition still cSisls among our
men; there are hopes uniuit.lied ana many
petty political cnmitcs. Ana the men OF
the old tusionist ana autonomlst parties
wfo have recently been noticeable because
CT their enthusiastic perseverance Ih pup
lie life, are in no proper mehth cohui-
ticn to bring about the true union oil the
Porto RFcan people, There Is crying
need for self sacrifice; demand for men
with whlm love of country Is truly greater
than all else.
when the new men come let them have
n clear path; let us leave them alone. we
who carry the sears and wounds that come
10 soldiers II liberty need rest. FOR our
hearts are tired and worn.
And all for the country's good
This demand for new men and new
bleed in the conniry's affairs has been
promptly met by the query:
Where viii they come from? II there
arc among MS today no men OF mature
years with clear tides 10 the new posts,
nfusl we wait until the children OF this
geutVation grow up to fill thomY'
There Is much truth in the FOREGOING
lusnslat5on. The country is indeed In want
Of new blood TO lead IL to better things,
anti thn Porto Rlcans arc neople mat
can bo easily led. The leading, however
must be in tho right way--it must be q
development and an education. they ere
o docle, peace- loving and quiet people
they are IN n .aegrec childish. and q clear
headed. dispossonaie leader towards pet-
T., - fh.a Agnttxf try n