The times., 1898-07-12
BoMBARDMENT OF SAN JUAN.
Admfraf Sampson's speedy Retire.
ment Was a Mistake.


Admiral Sampson's speedy Retire.
ment Was Mistake.
New York, July 1.-THE bombardment
of San Juap, Porto Rico. by the Ameri-
can fleet and the early retirement of the
American ships was a serious mistake
Spaniards made the Porto Ricans believe
it was an American defeat. and thou
sands who would have rallied under the
Stars and Stripes are now enrolled under
the Spanish flag. DIR. j. Julio Henna
president of the Porto Rican section of
the Cuban Revolutionary parry.
DR.. Henna, who lives at No West
Fortieth Street, this city discussed the
war with Spain with a reporter yester-
day.
Any one familiar with the resources
of Spain and America he said, has
had no doubt of the ultimate result
of the war, While the advices from
Santiago are of the most satisfactory
character, am in receipt of dis
quieting news concerning Por.o Rico.
L learn from most reliable source that
a formidable movement is on foot in
France and Spain, to induce the gov
ernment of the latter to give immediate
independence to Porto Rico. This, IL is
believed, would prevent an American at
tack.
Then, too, there had been a great
change in public opinion in Porto Rico
since the so-called bomba rdment of San
Juan. One of the results of the unsuc-
ful bombardment was that 3D. men
who would have rallied to the support of
this country have joined the volunteers
in Porto Rico.
'of course, II is very foolish that Spain
does not give in. But Spaniards are stub
born and hot-headed. 1 think story Will
best illustrate this:
THE construction of railroad was
agitated in Cuba and the surveyor car
ried the proposed road through the mid
die of mans farm. SO long as | have
a peseta and a drop of blood in my body
no train shall run across my farm, said
the farmer. He fought the railroad com
( pany in the courts and was beaten. The
road was built and the iirss trip over It
! was advertised. The farmer invited all
4 his friends to see him stop thc train. As
( the engine approached he prepared TO
! verify his declaration. He threw off his
( coat. rolled up his sleeves. and as the
/ train neared him jumped on the track
and struck the front of the locomotive
with his fist. The next moment he was
mangled corpse. His wife, an Irish wo-
man. had witnessed the scene and turn
ing TO her visitors said: Poor Juan He
had more courage than common sense.
That is true description of the average
/ Spaniard.
The natives of Porto Rico are peace
( full and Industrious There is an intense
desire on their part to shake of the yoke
! OF Spain They have long been .'.pe for
revolt. The best proof Of what Spanish
administration has done for them IS
-.
! ton of s0s10S there are 695.32S who can
/ neither read nor write. More than IA. 000
more can only read. Out of the annual
! revenues of $4,Il0690. only $3.50. 620.64 are
/ devoted to agriculture. industry pub ic
! instruction roads, etc. The rest is ab-
I soI3ed by the army and the horde Of
( Spanish officehoders.
There are many Porto Ricans in
/ New York and more than fifty of them
have already volunteered 10 go with the
first American expedition. They are, in
I the main. ledles They would go as in
/ terpreters. scouts. guides and soldiers.
Il am an American by adoption, and
4 / love this country and her people.
Z have offered my services 70 the Govern
( ment but there is hitch. and negotia-
tions are still pending. / have bean Of
fered a position as army surgeon. but as
am not q military man and do not care
to work under military rules / have re-
! jected the profter.
~ want to see Porto Rico free. and am
! willing 10 60 as an intermediary between
I the Americans md the Porto Ricans. II
Z my services in such a capacity are ac-
cepted | am ready to go at once. / will
| leave my family here and sacrifice my
practice and l viii serve without pay
If an American expedition goes 10
! Porto Rico the people of that island
should be given to understand that the
errand is not one of conquest So soon
as the natives understand that the Amer
( lean purpose is 10 give them freedom, lib
erty and political rights the Americans
1 will have a HalkGver
Spanish agencies, however have been
busiiy engaged in creating the belief that
America wants Porto Rico fer her own,
/ and that an American victory there would
mean only the enslavement of the people
| under new flag and a new master
! IF with the American army. | would
/ say to the Porto Ricans: This is not an
( army of invasion. 1t comes to free you
/ from the Spanish yoke, to give you liberty
and to enable you to spend the public
! revenues in educating the people. improv-
ing property and doing away with a mill
tary government. You shall have a pleb-
| iscite and select your own style of gov
| ernment-
That kind of talk will be more effec-
| tive than bullets and shells. The expedi-
| tiOn TO Porto Rico should start as soon
! as Santiago falls. If long delayed the
consequences may be bad. There is no
doubt that Porto Rico would prove
very valuable military station for the
| United States especially of the Mica
ragua Canal Is pushed to completion.
! With Porto Rican independence as the
1 result CT American aid and intervention
( this country could secure valuable con-
cessions. This fact Is recognized in
| Europe and is at the bottom of the move
ment in favor of Spain's immediate grant
of independence.
Porto Ricans who propose to accom-
| pany the American expedition TO Porto
Rico make their headquarters at No. 1856
| West Fourteenth Street
SENATOR KENNEYS TRIAL.
Unimportant Testimony Brought