The sun., 1898-12-11
PORTO RIC0'S REAL NEEDS,
AN ANSWER TO THE REQUEST FOR 4
CIVIL GoTERNOR.

Agricultural Interests in Favor of the Con-
tinuance of Military Rule for the Present.
gentleman OF this city whose family repre-
sents one OF the largest single landhodlnR In
terests In Porto Rico says that responsible
landowners Of the island regret the efforts
which are being made to lead the people in this
country TO believe that civil government is an
immediate requisite In Porto Rico In place OF
the military government OF Gen. Brooke. The
cry for a civilian in place OF military man.
which has been heard here, represents he
says. only the sentiments Of the office and Job
seeker. The SUS's informant Is an American.
rs Is his brother, and became n citizen by the
naturalization OF his father nearly generation
ago. BY descent he is French. 30 he may not
be accused OF pro-Spanish feeling. His father
and brother live in Porto Rico.
II do not wish 10 bespeak undue Importance
for my family. and for that reason would rather
sreak anonymously. although have the facts
ready at the service Of any one interested. and
you have my address" he said. " 1t will ap-
pear to any thoughtful person that we who own
the land and cultivate IL are the people who will
have TO pay the taxes in the new American pos.
session. For that reason / think that what the
nRriculturists desire In the matter OF govern
ment should be considered when a system OF
government is being devised for the island We
ask nothing for ourselves We do not want Of
fees We want only a stable government under
which we can carry on our affairs. We do not
want to see the benefits OF the change OF gov
ernment thrust from us and from all the Island
through an injudicious granting OF system
OF free government for which the people whom
Il 10 tho desire OF the Americans to benefit are
not now fitted.
I've cannot admit that the people who are
trying now TO convince tho Americans that
statesman is needed to suppant Gen. Brooke
are actuated by the same singleness OF pur-
pose. We know who some OF them are. saw
in despatch from San Juan published In THE
Sun on Tuesday that some prominent Ameri-
cans and others had met to oppose the rec
concentrations OF the President that the new
colonial possessions remain under military
government till Congress devises another form
OF government for them They wanted civil
government by statesman right away.
Some Americans are looking for Jobs down
there. Iknow it. ] can only believe that those
are the onos who held that meeting, For tho
agriculturists and landowners held q meeting
onlya short time ago. at which they appointed
a delegation to visit Washington to urge upon
President Mckinley the continuance OF the
military government, and that Con. Brooke be
kept indefinitely at the head Of it. My brother
was selected as one of the delegates. The visit
OF Dr. Carroll. who was sent down there as the
personal representative OF fTeSluenC hchlnley
to make inquiries into the local conditions. rem
dered the trip to Washington unnecessary.
The agriculturists thought that it would be
Just as well to lay their ideas before him as be-
fore the President. Now that the President
has made his recommendations to Congress
come these other people to try to impress Con-
gressmen, through the American people, with
the idea that the Porto Ricans are unfairly
dealt with under the military government. and
should In all fairness-and even TO allay incipi-
ent revolt-have a civil governor who shall be
q statesman.
Ny brother has just written me about one
OF these men who are dissatisfied with the ad-
minstration Of Gen. Brooke. This man has
striven to secure the removal Of the Mayor OF
the town whore he lives. and. as the Mayor is
good officer. Gen. Brooke refuses to remove
him. The Mayor Is one of the men who illus
trate how well and how discerningy Gen.
Brooke has conducted the administration OF
the island by selecting the right sort Of people
among the natives to place In office. This fell
low who wants him removed and is one OF those
who want a Statesman for Governor lives by
gambling cockhghtinE. &c. He is glib talker
about liberty My brother points out the
mans character to me as though / did not
know it well. Now. this is the sort of person
that the Porto Rcans in their present state
ment ~ which tho neonle shall hava the d;rac.
tion. 1t is like asking child to walk before 1t
has learned to creep to tell them to vote for the
kind OF Government they wish or to givo
them voice in civil Government. To COM
prehend fully the state they are in, one must
recall the conditions under which they have
lived Remember, Porto Rico Is old, and it has
be.n under tho domination ~ tho Sn,ni,r5s
oeu uhu.t 'no ~, rVi''i,"''o' Vi t''' 'puhi"lus
Tor long time. Ihe spanish who have come
to Porto Rico have treated the natives
.a ~ thav war. ahsolnta nohodias And
- s .nes mere ""su.u'o hIpouIes; anu
they nave treated the people and the
country as though made only for their
usa Most of thon, horo r., Ill.
we, 49, Va 'oni n'' poeh onc'ais.
These officials as rule have been bankrupt
politicians at home. whose friends have secured
for them an appointment TO Porto Rico for the
~ ' % " U'p'e"v ~ '" ,0''o ihe' ioi 'ne
express purpose OF enabling them to pay their
debts at home. Their average stay in the
island vas narh,ns tbrsa and ora- bn,s ,oo.a
isianu was porlapS .nree anu one nan years.
and could name Governors who have como
over owing at home from half q million to
,iN ,ii',ion anu anu nan y, uoi'als' anu nave gone
back at the end OF short stay with these debts
maid nd p,onov aponph so th a. thou oool