The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-09
THE ISLAND OF PORTO RICO.
SENTIMENT or THE INHABITANTS
REGARDING SPANISH RULE.
American Occupation Welcomed as
DeIiverance-nesire for AnneNn-
ton TO the United StateS-GeOgra-
ply, Commerce and History of the
Island.
From the New York Post.

ply. Commerce and History of the
Island.
From the New York Post.
In view of the fact that the feet under
the command Of Acting Rear Admiral
Sampson is supposed to be about 10 at
tack Porto Rico, and. perhaps open the
way for an invasion and occupation Of
the island by United States forces. ii be-
comes both important and interesting to
know what Is the temper of the inhabi-
tants towards such a movement. prom
inent and well-informed member of the
Porto Rican colony here said to-day:
81 was born on the island. as was my
father before me, of pure Spanish blood.
was educated in the United States; have
since been engaged In business with Porto
Rico. first as the representative OF house
in this city, and next upon my own ac-
count. am, therefore. through birth and
early aGliation. familiar with the cond-
ton and sentiment of the typical Porto
Rican and constant travelling from one
end of the island to the other since | en-
gagged in business-partcularl at the
time / was representing the firm In this
city-has given me an extensive and ac-
curate knowledge of the opinion of the
people as a whole. Hence l feel that
speak with some authority when l say
that the occupation of the island by the
United States will be welcomed by the
great majority of the Porto Ricans as a
deliverance that thousands of them will
take up arms to overthrow Spanish do
minion, that when this is accomplished
they will ask for annexation to the United
States, and that a large preponderance of
those who did not join in this request Will
acquiesce in it, and within short time
have all the zeal of converts.
To-day there are in Porto Rico three
political elements Spaniards, who prefer
a continuance Of the old regime Of abso-
lutte Spanish domination and oppression;
separatists and annexationsts. There are
no autonomists. In the Spanish element
there are those who still pretend 10 ac-
cept autonomy, because the attitude IS
deemed still polite, Notwithstanding tha5
autonomy has failed to prevent American
Intervention Among those who are now
uhcompromising annexationists or sepa-
ratsts are found those who were auto
nbmists upon the chance thai Spain really
meant to give genuine self-gOVernment.
Of these, the annexationists form the
lhrger number, for they preferred autono,
dry, if real, to the hazard of revolution.
and especially of what might follow sue
cessful revolution-that failure in self-goV-
eminent which has pursued so many La.-
ih-Amcrican peoples. / was one of sucn
autonomists; now with the rest, ! am
heart and soul for annexation. There were
thus, l say, for the moment autonomists
among those who are now Out-and-out
separatists and annexationists; they hoped
against hope that SPAN had at last learn
ed a lesson in modern government ana
would be henceforth enlightened enough
10 let Porto Rico manage its own affairs,
under the crown indeed, but with a free
dom equal TO that of Canada. They We're
inoredulous and scepical; they knew
Spain, ana the Spanish spirit and the
worth OF Spanish promises; they had an
acute recollection of the reforms Of the
70's, when Porto Rico was advanced from
colony 10 province of Spain, and an insular
parliament was instituted.
That incident Is worth recalling for II
dwells vividly in the memory of every
Porto Rican. The insular chamber was
hailed with JOY and enthusiasm as the
harbingera and palladium Of liberty and
prosperity 1t assembled 10 welcome with
due gratitude and respect the first governor
general Of the newly constituted province.
Enter Capt Gen Laureano Saenz with
troops al his back. You are a nest Of
conspirators, he cries One OF the aston
ished deputies attempts a protest. Not
a word, shouts the governor general; I
know that you are conspirators and trait
ors; you are deposed. They are driven
cut and men named by Saenz, tools OF
Spanish despotism, take the vacant places
Nevertheless, the autonomists OF a few
months ago were willing to accept Spaln-s
conversion, if such could be. But they
were prepared to find carried out as The
reforms OF The 7gs, he fair promise OF
true autonomy, and they were not In the
least surprised when they discovered thar
the election of March a. this year was a
mere farce-an election at which Spanish
bayonets presided. while The military pow
er both dictated the nominees and counted
he ballots. With this the scales fell from
their eyes for ever, and IT would in the fu-
ture be impossible for Spain 20 convince
the native people Of the is,and-or, for
that matter, the Spanish people either
that any promise of liberty was sincere.
The notion Of Porto Rican loyalty to
Spain, so far as It may have existed. has
arisen from the fact that such pro-Span-
ish sentiment as there is to be found
along the ittoral The farther from the
shore you go. the more prevalent the anti
Spanish feeling. In San Juan there is no
doubt a very large Spanish element al
though even there Il seems 10 be larger
than il is, since the circumstances OF many
men employed by the government or the
municipality force them 10 disguise their
real sentiments, and so appear 10 be loyal
Spaniards. l am satisfied that gwen IN
San Juan at least half Of It's thirty-odd
thousand population would be glad to see
an American occupation. a leading mer-
chant Of that place, writing 70 me under
date April II, describes the situation as
follows:
"War at our DOORS general discomfort
in the interior caused by the frauds in the
election; and the bankruptcy TO which we
are surely going with these exaggerated
rates OF exchange 200 per cent?.
"And he adds desperately: j trust how
ever In a favorable change on a day not
very far off-change which will cost rivers
Of blood, but which at the end will en-
large our commerce and raise, this poor
island from th6 estate Of poverty to which
IL has been brought by bad government and
mismanagement.'
The Spanish Island of Porto Rico lies
seventy miles east OF Hayti. and is a trihe
smaller than Jamaica. being thirty-dive
miles broad and nnety-five miles long
There are many small islands and reefs
70.