The Portland daily press., 1898-10-10
THEY WANT FREEDOM.
Educated Porto Ricans Fear Carpet Bag
Rule.


| fCorresnondence of the Associated Press
DOWNRIGHT 1898 by the Associated Press
San Juan, Island of Porto Rico, Sep.
TENDER 3O.-The leading politicians of the
island are very much concerned about the
future government of Porto Rico. After
prolonged struggle they succeeded just
before the opening of the war, in securing
from Spain the outward semblance OF
complete autop omistic regime. Although
it never received fair trial. the grant of
autonomy, with it's promise OF home rule
for the island, was hailed as great vic.
| tory and much was expected OF 1t in time.
The result of the war, the transfer OF
SO vereignty to the United States, accepta-
BILE as it was to all classes generally, OF
course upset the plans of many of the
leading natives who had ambitiously
! striven to rise to eminence in the land Of
their nativity. Their dreams of power
and prominence were, they believed, about
to be realized. Suddenly the old govern
ment is swept away and another country,
alien in tongue, race and customs, Is to
determine the future status of the island.
Naturally these men, many of them really
of fine ability and unselfish patriotism,
dread the issues. They do not want to be
obliterated. They welcome the advent of
union with the United States with it's
possibilities for progress and prosperity
but they fear that the aggressive spirit of
the Anglo-Saxon will crowd them into
the background and leave the reins of the
oonquerors. In word, it is "carpet-bag"
rule, they fear. They believe they are
ready now for system of home rule and
they will resent any undue prolongation
of military control of the island. They
think Congress at the coming session
should determine their status and grant
them a government in which the psople
of the island could select their rulers.
The correspondent here for the Asso
ciated Press had an interview with Luis
Munoz Riviera, the president of the
insular government under the autonomis-
tic regime, and remarkably strong figure
in politics, in which he made it plain
that the people of the island would not
take kindly to system which destroyed
their individuality.
81 am of the opinion" said he. that
my country is able to govern and admin
lister itself and that this is the anticipa-
ton of the great body of the natives.
There are in the country very competent
directing elements with dooile and sensi-
BILE people behind them. I believe, first
that the military. occupation should be
brief. very brief, not to be prolonged be-.
yond the next session of Congress. Dur
| ing the military occupation existing laws
and civil administration should be con-
| tinued. Congress should grant us then
territorial government compatible with
the laws Of the United States but it
should not be less autonomic nor liberal
| than the plan we are giving up. Later,
after a short period, our recognition as
state would completely crafty the ardent
desires of the country and wholly identity
us with new fatherland. This would
be the easiest and implest method OF
Americanizing Porto Rico. Let the people
| be satisfied; let uhem learn the 1nstitu-
lions of the great republic; let them lind
under them honorable life and secure well
being; let not their participation in the
government be limited by restriction OF
suffrage, let encouragement be offered to
their habits of industry let them be free
and prosperous and I guarantee that
whoever shall realize this will be reward
cd with the solid LOYALTY and deep graft
tude of our people