New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-10
PROSPECTS IN PORTO RICO
AZ INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT
OF THE INsULAR GOVERNMENT.


rRNMEST-SEEp OF EDUCATION
CO, Jsan. Island OF Porto Rico. Sept sO.-Ths
leading politicians Of the island are much con-
csrned about the future government OF Porto Rico.
.,.r a prolonged struggle they succeeded. Just be-
80 tho opening Of the war. in securing from Spain
-. outward semblance of complete autonomistc
rsene Although II never received fair trial, the
.,ran; Of autonomy. with its promise OF home rule
sor the island was hailed a great victory. and
,,ch WIS expected of IT in time. The result Nt the
~ tho transfer OF sovereignty to the United
states acceptable rs It was TO all classes gen
.rslr OF course, upset the plans OF many of the
,eodlrg natives. who had ambitiously striven 10
so IA eminenCe in the land OF their nativity. Their
dreams OF power and prominence were, they oe-
,ieyed about TO he realized.
Suddenly the old government Is swept away. ana
another country alien i'm tongue. and customs.
- IN determine the future status of the island.
Naturally these men. many Of them really OF fne
ability and unselhsh patriotism. dread the issues.
rbov do not want TO be obliterated They wei
come the advent OF union with the United states
with its possibilities for progress and prosperity
hut they fear that the aggressive spirit OF inc
Anglo Saxon will crowd them into the background
and leave the reins OF government entirely IN 'he
hands Of the conquerors In word II Is 'carpe'-
nag" rule they fear. They believe they are ready
rovr for q system OF home rule and they will re-
sent any undue proongation Of military contro o'
the island They think Congress. at the coming
session should determine their status and grant 10
them q government IN which the people OF the
Island could select their rulers.
ArTONONISTIC IDEAS OF MUNEZ
An interview With Luis Munez Riviera. the presi-
tent Of tho Insular government under the autono-
ris,ic regime made It plain that the people OF the
island would take kindly TO a system wh''n
does not recognize their individuality. Munez. as
he is called chat being his fathers. While RIVIERA
,s his mothers nance is the greatest native po-
gefa, IIa hQc
,he leader OF the movement for lnsular autonomy,
and as the chief of the Liberal party which Sc
cured the autonomistic scheme from the Sagas'a
Ministry was chosen president of the first insuiar
government He is a militant journalist an orator
OF force and poet Of no mean ability. lie IS II
man of immense energy for of his race. and ior
eighteen years he devoted his talent and energies
10 the struggle for Porto Rican AUTONOMY against
oaas seIrmade man. Ills father
spaniard but he born In Porto Rico; at ., Boz
While in his teens he contemplated a rebellion
against the despotism q Spain but he al
successful conclusion on so small an island. A. -. the
age Of twenty he Went 10 w9nse "G eVoted to the
cause OF Porto Rico and the reform OF abuses abuses
Daban was then Captan-General OF the island;
His robberies were notorious and he was haied
by every native in the island None h pt ss;
article in ia Democracia" attacked him.
ATTACK ON THE cAPTAINGENERAL
The article was entitled THE Two Flags" IT
was in its essence plea for separation from
Spain and in II the writer. inveghing against the
wholesale robbery OF the natives by the Captain
GsFf for TOi pSc ne pxDdr The article
instant attention and in few weeks the paper at
on the island Daban was enraged. and at his in
stgation Angel Riviero, the Editor OF the IN IN
je6Fed Munez. Although duelng was prohibited,
Dban ordered the Guardian CrGle not 10 RH b
latter. the challenged party. claimed the priv
peTt s G and Munez insisted upon pistols
The result was the duel did not come OFF Munez
was prosecuted and Imprisoned But the people
edored him He was repeatedly elected rr9Vihf f
none Of the elections were ever recognized and his
seat was always set aside =. -o,,o,r,,on
and OF leading party in Porto Rico which could
conceivsd The idea Of merring the political fort,
Of those who were struggling for home rule IN
the island with those Of the most dem9cEate parry
in spainthe Liberal party Of , %nch t Sasq asg
icsi convention at MSyaguez, in 1897 but / was re-
5ected Whereupon on his own responSiP}i ro ne
latter a promise Of autonomy.
HIS RISE TO POWER BEGINS.
Upon his return the Radical party reversed its
action, the Radical party becoming the Liberal
party. haiing its chief It's creator. Autonomy
was granted The popular demand that
Munez be made premier Marin. the Captain
General, opposed him, and the Cabinet could not be
formed. Marin recalled. and Gonzales sent to
open the autonomistic government He died the
day after his arrival Then came Macias, me pres,
ent Captain-General who. like Marin demanded
scheme promised failure. when Munez. placing pa.
triotism before self withdrew. Harmony followed
for President. Here. Munez declared the people
should make their own choice He stood for
where the Spanish controlled was so bitter that
he was almost moobed in the streets. he was chosen
by an overwhelming majority.
This is briefly the story of the nfe Of this
markable man. Unlike most of the natives, Munez
lvers 10 haf-dgested opinions. and when seen at
OF the situation. The following is a close transla-
tion of his statements and answers to some Of the
questions asked:
FAULTS IN THE SPANISH SYSTEM.
The old colonial system of Spain" said he,
checked the productive energies and wasted the
Intellectual forces Of the Porto Rcans. 1t crushed
them under the weight Of an absurd despotsm.
retaining all initiative in the hands OF the Govern
at Madrid. The natives had no voice in the
management OF their own affairs. The whole
scheme Of Of the l,and WAS created
directed by the resident Spaniards. For thirty
destinies Finally. eight months ago, some sem
blance OF Willingness 10 do justice TO the natives
and the Porto Ricans came into power by virtue
o. a liberal law which gave to the insnlar Cham
works instruction postoffces and teegraphs. char
tiles. commerce, agriculture. In fact. practically
ssnd which concerned the local a'a'' OF the
Once under the benencent Mnuence OF sucn am
pie autonomy, the development Of the country be-
gan and would have been accomplished in a brief
period TO paralyze this work came the American
Invasion. The whole country greeted the invading
army with demonsirations Of Joy. which ] consid
cred premature Discretion would have counselled
a dgnifed and noble reserve, until the purposes
OF the Washington Government with regard 10 the
Island were known.
SYMPATHY WITH THE UNITED STATES.
i can only explain these demonstrations by
nembering the democratic traditions. the expensive
Character and the enormous prosperity OF the
United States There liberty resided. Our people