The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-04

minor matters. few OF which had any,
thing to do with the business in hand
All OF those questions the American
commissioners waived aside as unimpor-
tant. pending the decision OF the main
questionable evacuation. For several
days they allowed General Ortega 10
talk on until he and his colleagues were
compelled TO revert 10 the main issue.
Inc language Of the protocol was plain.
definite and specific. 1t provided for
the immediate evacuation OF the island
On its text our commissioners stood
and 10 their grasification they found
the Spanish commissioners not only
acquiescent. but seemingly anxious TO
retire from the island at the earliest
possible moment.
The Spanish authorities realized that
the entire population had become sud
denly hostile to them; that they had been
dispossessed by the high court OF war.
and that they were there no longer by
any right. but by suffrance. They were
already strangers among people OF their
own race, blood and language. Those
who had fawned upon the captain gem
oral in the old days no longer came TO
the palace. He had no more favors TO
bestow. and they remained away lest
association with the old regime might
prejudice them I'm the eyes OF the new.
The positions OF the Spanish authorities
was a painful one. and though return
to Spain meant heavy reduction in SAL
aries and the rich perqusites, the sooner
IL came to an end the better they would
like It. This was the tone they as
sumed.
1t was then that they were confronted
with a new embarrassment They had
no transports to convey their troops
back TO Spain and were powerless 10
obtain them. They were compelled -
announce this TO the American commits
sioners. Until the Madrid government
should send transportation they could
do nothing. Our commissioners. real
izing the force OF this argument. made
10 attempt to force them, although IL
occurred TO them. as IL did to other
Americans in San Juan, that transports
OF other countries could have been char
tered for this purpose. Had there been
too much delay this view Of the situa-
ton would have been presented officially.
but in this our commissioners preferred
TO accept the Spanish statements in
perfect good faith, and in due time their
course was vindicated
While awaiting the arrival of the first
transport, the whole scheme for the re-
trement OF the Spanish troops to San
Juan was arranged. Both the Spanish
and American authorities were being
flooded with appeals for protection. The
former were beseeched by the Spanish
residents living between the lines and
within the American lines TO guard their
lives and property from the rapacity
OF the native inhabitants, who were
threatening them with all sorts Of perse-
cutions; and the latter were the sub
jects of the opportunities Of the rich
Porto Ricans within the Spanish lines
who feared that the Spanish soldiers, as
a last act of cruelty. would despol them
or all tneir property. Some OF the ap-
peals were both frantic and hysterical,
but steps were Immediately taken TO
prevent disorders, as far as possible.
1t was bat natural that in the transit
tion from the control of the Spanish gov
ernment TO a condition Of civil liberty
they had suffered at the hands OF the
governing class they should seek ven
geance or that private individuals should
seek the opportunity to redress wrongs.
That there were outrages is beyond
question. The natives burned Gotta and
many fine Spanish haciendas in various
parts of the island. The Spanish troops
massacred about 30 people in GALES. and
later in suppressing an incipient riot a.
Arecibo shot four natives. A reign of
terror also existed for a time near
Cocoas in the center of the island. About
20 brigands. many of them said to be
convicts released by the American au-
thorities at Bohce, and others, 1t is
said, from Hayti, with their headquar-
ters in the heart of the mountains. pill
laged and ravaged the country during
the interrenum.