The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-20
HATRED TAINTS ALL HEARTS.
PORTO nICO IN NEED OF NEW
BLOOD AND NEW LEADERS.


tiOn-They Have Lost the Faith OF
the PeopIe-Lenders Needed Who
/ Know Nothing of the Past and
whose Hearts are Not Full OF
Cruel Scenes of other Days.
/ Cores ondence of the Associated Press.
San Jna Porto Rico, Nov. SIT is said
here in san Juan that Porto Rico needs
new leaders-that the men of to-day are
not fit because Of the ranking djssendons
Of the past which cannot be forgotten, TO
lead The island to the brilliant future that
awaits it. In this respect the following
letter, freely translated. from the Core
spondencia, is Interesting:
The weight of four centuries Of error
has torn the Spanish flag from Porto Rico.
The passionate and uncontrolled Span
ish government that during its sway sue
ceeded in poisoning all local organizations
of administration has also succeeded, by
reason of the inevitable influence of con-
stitutional power, in killing the faith of
the people. 1t has awakened and kept
alive feeling of deep hatred in the hearts
of our public leaders 1t is not possible
for these men to shake off the clinging in
fiuence of colonial ideas breathed by them
in the past.
THE Spanish government in Porto Rico
is dead but, as a logical consequence of
four centuries of political misrule, we have
made a mournful inheritance.
"Our local politics were reflection of
those of Spain. The practice of the ex-
pioitatlon of the community at large for
the financial benefit of those in power was
followed by the natural feeling of resent
ment that are sure to be awakened in the
hearts of people who realize their humil-
iating position. The governing centers OF
the colony were like mercantile offices; in
each everything had les price.
This state of affairs gave birth to the
first contentious. On one side stood those
who were being robbed, on the other those
who robbed us. There arose ranking
hatreds. followed by the determined per
secutlon of those among US who vainly
called for justice
This situation is the keynote to our
insular position to-day. Political ideas and
ideals were lost under The shower of per-
sonal animosities directed at the men who
We're party leaders As a result of these
conditions our local political parties We're
scnooled from the very beginning in the
hninnosities and hatreds of a bitter strug-
gle thai knew neither reason nor refec-
ton. And they have not been able to for
get Their early lessons. Ii was a strife
that saddened the hearts of the islands
best men and that in the past. as well as
to-day. has overpowered them with It's
bitter realities and lasting hatreds.
There then came 10 us the new sovcr-
eighty, only 10 find existent the political
degeneration that is our inheritance from
the Spaniard.
Porto Rico is confronted to-day, not by
questions of reforms but by a necessity
for creation and this is the most solemn
and important moment in our islands
history. Our land is wearied by futile
strife. it needs guiding hands and minds in
the great work of regeneration before it,
But hands that will not be raised in ven
gence for past wrongs, minds that can
forget the past in the bright promise OF
the future. Now is the time for recon
struction. This great work claims the
best effort of every Porto Rican. But.
in order that our work be lasting and
strong. that we build upon foundations of
rock and not upon the shifting sands of
passion and hatred, we must have new
leaders. New leaders and new blood. Men
who are without rancor; men who do not
regret the death of Spanish supremacy;
men who do not still harken to the echoes
Of recent strife; whose minds do not brood
upon past wrongs and receptions, and
whose hearts are not full of the cruel
scenes and acts of recent days.
Under such leaders only can be form
ed party truly representative of Porto
Rico. Nothing lasting or good can be con-
structed with rancor and hard feeling for
its foundations, and these feelings exist
in every Porto Rican family to-day. Peace,
concord and unanimity of purpose are the
keynotes to a prosperous future.
STRIVING ambition sull exists among
our men; there are hopes unfulhlled, and
many petty political enmities. And the
men of the old fusonist and autonomist
parties who have recently been noticeable
because Of their enthusiastic perseverance
in public life, are in no proper mental con-
dition to bring about the true union of the
Porto Rico people. There is crying need
for self-sacrlfice, demand for men with
whom love of country is truly greater
than all else.
'sWhen the new men come let them have
a clear path; let us leave them alone. We
who carry the scars and wounds that
come to soldiers of liberty need rest, for
our hearts are tired and worn.
"And all for the country's good
This demand for new men and new
blood IN the countryS aHalrs mas been
promptly met by the query Where will
they come from?' If there are among us
to-day no men of mature years with clear
titles to the new posts, must we wait I'M
ill the children of this generation grow
up to fill them2"
There is much truth in the foregoing
translation. The country is indeed in
want of new blood to lead it TO better
things, and the Porto Ricans are people
that can be easily led. The leading, how
ever, must be in the right way-it must
be a development and an education They
are a docile, peace-loving and quiet peo-
pie; they are in a degree childish and
a clear-headed, dispasslonate leader to-
wards better things would surely win
devoted followers. The insignia of the
country is a lamb. and this can be said to
be truly emblematc of the people at large.
Where the leader will come from it is
hard to say. He may come suddenly from
the people, he should not come from
among the men prominent to-day In the
| islands affairs these are all tainted with