Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-09-22


pleased with the new condition OF
things They nre glad that America
has control of the island, all the more
80 when they realize TINT the Spanish
yoke, under which they have been np.
pressed for 80 long, has been thrown oil
without any effort on their part They
are exceedingly grateful to America
and Americans and are delighted to
lsnsw that they are now subjects OF
this country. They are also grHtified
TO know that there is prospect that
in this near future that they will viz
tu8lly govern themselves
Befors lsnving Ponce, which was on
September Sth, Cen. Wilson filled all
of the offices which had been vacated |
by Spaniards, selecting for such officers
representative men, who, he knew, !
would administer the laws properly and
give general satisfaction. In Ponce
there were six ofiices to ill. There
we've eight lawyers available and five
wers placed in official positions, leaving
the other three to practice law in the
city. The other position was filled by
the appointment of citizen who was
not lawyer. He was appointed a
magistrate. III of the persons selected
are men OF good character and will un-
doubtedly discharge their duties in a
creditable manner. They will retain
their positions at least until Congress
takes some action In regard to the
island and possibly longer, provided
they conduct themselves properly. The
hest. paying position is probably that
OF register of deeds and wills, whose
salary ia, derived from fees, while the
chief judge receives u salary OF $3.50
fier month in Porto Rican money, or
about s175 in the money Of the Unitsd
States. The other officers receive
saaries OF about 5000 per month. The
oilicers we're notified when they re.
ceived their appointments that they
were to charge only the fees authorized
by law and were not to practice ex-
| tortion, and were given to under
| stand that IL they did otherwise than
directed they would he discharged.
The city of Ponce has population
Of about $4,000 people, while in the
euhurbs there are about as many more,
and the three lawyers now practicing
will undoubtedly have plenty to keep
them busy. !,
! The business interests of the island
are diversified. Sugar and coffee plan
4 tations are numerous and extensive,
but there Is ample room for develop.
4 ment, and the Indications are that the
development will be- marked under the
new order Of things.
WOULD RETAIN THE PHIL PPINEs.
Concerning the hiIippiues, Gen.
Wilsnn said be favored retaining them.
He thought their retention would open
up new territory for commerce and
would add to the general wealth OF the
Upitsd States. While he thought it
would be the host policy not to give
the islands baek to Spain he said they
might be traded for some other terri
tory, il some other country would Dc
willing ~ mBka d trade. lie would
like to see them traded for Cnnada. il
such an arrangement would be salts
factory to Great Britain.
GEN. Wilson'S SPEECH AT ADJUNTas.
While Gen. Wilson was guest one
day 10 the latter part Of August at
dinner on the coffee plantation OF Senoi
Pierluisi, at Adiuntas, near Ponce, hi
made an interesting address In rsspons'
to toast, and in the course of his re
, marks spoke as follows:
1.-THE great Republic, unlike the
| government OF Europe, has no subjects
It ATTENDS its rights and privileges
, freely and equally TO all men, regard
| less of race or color or previous condi
, tion, who reside within it's far reach
5 ing dominions. 1t makes citizens
, all who forawear their allegiance T.
t foreign Powers, princes and potentates
( and promise hencsforth to bear tru
3 faith and nllegisnce to the unite'
0 States.
9 "Ths expulsion of the Spanish powe
9 from, YOUR benutiful and long sufferiu
i ,slani and the hoisting OF the Ameri
t can flag will be followed shortly, lot u
hone, by the establishment of atabl
i civil administration, hased on th
n American principle Of local lf-goyerr
: ment.
/, 1.-THE government now exercising su
! preme authority in the island. you wi
b understand, is government OF cor
/. quest, in which the will Of the mil
d tary commander is substituted for tht
% OF the Spanish King and Cortes.
d does not pretend to interfere with 81
& local laws, except in 30 far ms may
Ie necessary to protect the army Of IL
y United States and maintain peace an
10 good order among the people OF I'll
d island 1t looks to the local courts to
Justice MS between man and man, an
to the moderation and good aense
tbs people them aelves for the mai
y, u tenance Of public tranquility. and +
VI the cultivation Of that perfect respe
hs for the rights of persons and proper
e' which constitutes the foundation
u the American aystem of government.
q, SIT has been wisely said by one
Is the fathers of the republic that Th
~ government ia best which Cover
least, and this is the principle " hi'
ot Porto l.iuo should keep constantly
~ view. Government interference
az necessary only whsn the people, inste
ass of coniining themselves exclusively
10 their own particular affairs. presume
w interiors with tho affairs OF their neig
III bora. !.
~ .tIf avery one, high and low, ri
u. and poor, Porto Rican and Spauiar
M NJ devotes himself strictly and exclusive
~ ~, to his own private or official buHlne'
'm eHchswiug politics and public aifail
n for the next year, everyhody will find
~ ~ the end Of that time that the isla
s " has been well governed and prosperol
''o and your American fellow citizens "
proclaim you worthy of tbs good. K
tune which has united your destin|
os- to those OF the great republic.
ial Permit me to add that as soon
10, the Spaniards have evacuated I
he leland, and the sovereignty OF I
IN. United States is fully established,
ch military governor will be appointed
he the President, and he will govern
an the main in accordance with the pr!
ars ciples have indicated. How long q
ain military government will last must I
o. pend largely upon tine people of Po
her Ric1 themselves.
in In the natural and regular cOu