The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-21

barbarity and oppression has been brought
10 light through the arrest of one Pazo, the
accredited President of the White Society.
This organization Is none less than a
complete and vigorous Malta of the
worst type. It's tenets and VOWS compel
the most nameless atrocities upon the ma
tive population, and hundreds of Innocent
persons have fallen through its direction
No native was ever admitted to It's coun-
ellis.
On the pla. of the Ku-K ux khan.
only its atrocities were far more
cruel IL was founded In 1887.
and since then has fiourshed continuously.
DR.. Julio Henna, President of the Palri-
otto Porto Rlcan League, last night fur
nished The World information concerning
IL.
1.-THE White Society. or Blanco, as It Is
called in Porto Rico. aims only at the OPP
preston of the natives. It's members range
through all grads of Spanish in the is
land from the common soldier to the nigh
government official Through it's working
the Spaniards robbed the Porto Ricans
right and left.
For instance, a petty official desiring
to curry favor with his superior, would
report that he had discovered some
wealthy or well-to-do native conspirng
against Spain. Following this, the ma
tive, with two or three friends, would be
arrested. Upon arriving al the prison the
officials would begin their torture. Slen-
der wooden rods thrust between the fing-
ers would notify the subject what was in
store. Then the man would be told that
he had conspired against Spain. Naturally,
he would deny what he he'd not done.
A twist of the rods usually admonlshed
him that the answer was unsatisfactory.
The officials would inform him that every
thing was discovered, and that So-and-So
was implicated. If he still denied the tor
ture would be renewed and II at the end
he persisted In his innocence he was. cast
into jail.
I'm this way complete terror would be
inspired among the inhabitants, and what
ever the Spanish officials chose to do, none
would have the temerity to complain.
again. every inhabltant of Porto Rico
is compelled to bear a passport. Without
this document none may travel through
the island. Every potce-soldier has the
right there 10 demand view of the pass
port, and unless he secs IL may cast the
unlucky one into prison. If the native
should be so foolish as to try to escape,
the soldier, by law, could shoot him down
with impunity
"For these passports the officials ex-
torted fee ranging from 10 cents to $500
a year. depending upon the condition Of
the applicant Under this oppression the
way OF the Spanlards was simple. A ma
tive wishing to travel outside a city would
be held up by the Spanish guards.
1T will cost you so much he would
be told. The ignorant perhaps would pro-
test.
Where's your passport"
"He would show 1t. Then the soldiers
would announce that they would keep the
passport till he returned. The man would
go on. AS soon as he was out Of sight the
soldiers, tearing up the passport. would
gallop after him. A shot, and the tragedy
was complete
f,I 10
would be the official report, and none ever
dared TO protest that the dead mans pociS-
cts were rifiedl
Here's another way they had. An Off
Ger in need OF money would enter a house
and demand-sav $780, If he did not get 1t
he would depart with the intimation that
his memory was long. After that the vic
tim was marked among the whites The
word would be passed along, and in a few
days or so the victim would be found dead.
Had no passport, and tried to escape
"OVerwhelmed by these successive bar
barities the natives formed societies Ct
their own--for protection purely. They
called themselves 'Secos and 'Mojados'--
dry and wet in other words. Their name
for the Spanish hghbinders was, Com
ponies
"As the entire Spanish administration Is
Of this organization, one can understand
the oppression that has ruled in the island.
No native was safe. IL was used for cx-
tortlon, oppression and murder.
"Do YOU wonder that the Porto Ricans
have risen up 20 greet the Americans? Our
Junta has instructed them In this. The
natives know that the advance OF the
Americans Is the march of progress and
liberty. For this reason the world has
seen a campaign unlike any other ever
known IN the history OF wars The end
Of Spanish barbarity has come in Porto
Rico. and her people VIII be free"