The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-14
GOVERNMENT OF PORTO RICO.
NATIVES OBJECT MOST sTRENu-
OusLY TO SPANISH OFFICIALS.
They Don't Care So Much for the Of
fees Themselves, but Want Pres
ent incumEcnts Removed.

Correspondence of the Associated Press. }
San Juan De Porto Rico, Oct 23,--It is
the purpose OF General Brooke, military
governor OF this island. TO retain as far as
possbla the governmental institutions, both
general ami municipal, now existing mere.
anna 10 permit these various institutions to
regulate the Islands affairs In the future
as they have done in the past. To this pol
icy There has been two features. 1t Is TO
DO distinctly understood that each and ev-
cry institution Is under ths' absolute control
of the American military government and
that this state OF affairs shall continue I'M
I'll such time as the congress OF the United
States shall have determined lust what sort
OF housekeeping we shall undertake in
Porto Rico. Partisan politics should not
exist under present circumstances and a
strong effort will be made TO eliminate them
from the premises and to allay thei- dis
turbing influence Just how far this can be
done successfully Is a question open to and
receiving considerable discussion at the
present time. The above outline OF policy
was visible in the business-lke general Or
uers No. issued from the palace 10 San
Juan on October is, and as soon as tho fact
contained tharein found It's way 10 the pub
lie mind, the $50 Rican advantages OF the
theory that to the ylctors belong tho
spoils sprang Into print. and this discus
sion may be expected to lead TO SONS grand
stand grafton.
When i, comes To question of spoils the
Porto Rican considers himself the victor.
While he does not for a moment believe
himself in any way a party TO the recent
Spanish departure, he counts himself VIC
tor over the Spaniarl in so much as he
stq Ac nd no haN a
American with open arms and lae conse-
guently does not see why this country
klould hold over him any man who ID
spaIiard or continue any institution To re-
mind him Of the much talked OF past days
of oppression aud tyranny. That Rome
was not built In a day and other argu-
ments based upon that isrefutable state
ment, does mol have the auieting effect
which one wouli wish
"You have" they say, come to remove
the odi0us and hated yoke OF Spain. Well,
away with IL now and at once! Every
Spaniard should be removed from office,
for we can not and will not stand even the
controlled administration OF mon who OPP
pressed us In days gone by, and We want
the immediate undoing OF the form OF gov
eminent in all It's branches that Spain saw
Ut 10 force upon US We VIII accept Porto
Rcans In control, but we Will have moth
ing more TO 10 with Uhe Spaniards.
And when Die Porto Rican. In the role
OF victor, calls loudly for the spells, he
does not seek office for himself or his
friends as u reward, nor for reasons OF
possible gain, but simply 10 bring about
The removal OF The detested Spanlard and
the substitution OF men he Is willing to
have over him.
Hut General Brooke has said that me will
continue, as far as possible, the old insti-
tutions. and this also means the old men.
This path Will have its difficulties. II Is
said that charges OF various kinds, all tend
ing TO show the unfitness OF certain Span
iards to longer hold office Will be carefully
prepared and set before General Brooke
In many cases Tie charges may be true; In
many cases being prompted by the funda-
mental desire Of having the men removed,
they may be exaggerated and misleading or
unfair and falEe There may be presented
very good reasons why certain man
should be removed from office. II this were
done a SUCCESSOR would have to be appoint
ed, and then what an opportunity for par
tisan politics. lobbying, influence, etc. with
a fair chance UaaL the most wise appoint
ment possible under the circumstances
would carry AS mach local discomfort as the
continuance OF the man who was shown
10 be unified for bis post.
Then there Will also come NJ the question
a. 10 whether Spaniards Of known infeg-
rity. honesty and efficacy should be re-
moved simply because they are Spaniards.
Tbere will surely be men 10 request this
and they Will az surely eritieise and rans
and declaim In all the wealth Of the Castil-
liam tongue when they learn that the Great
Republic--that fountain head Of Justice.
that home OF the oppressai--will force upon
the people the detested presence OF SER
want Of Spain.
hear much discussion and complaint.
large portion OF which will grow out Of the
outlined above. General Brooke
will ind 70 his hand many matters reQuif..