The evening times., 1899-01-12
FATHER SHERMAN'S
PORTO RICO TRAVELS
observations of the Priest
Chaplain in the Island.
He Finds Everywhere Profound Re
Spect for American Authority.
Conditions Of Religion Are Not Sat
isfacIcFy-CaIhOIici More
Name Than a Fact.

Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn made
public today through the Division of Gus
toms and InsGlar Affairs Father Thomas f.
Sherman's report TO Gen. Brooke of his
recent trip through the island of Porto
Rico.
Father sherman left San Juan October
- and visited Areebo, Utado and Lares,
and from thence south proceeded 10 Ad-
juntas alone and unarmed and without
Witnessing any disorder. Subsequently he
visited Coamo Aibonito, Cayey, Caguas,
Aguas. Buenas. Juncos and Humancao. All
of these towns he found in perfect peace
and full of the sense of security. Late
in December Father Sherman says he Wis
tied the towns OF Nieques, Fajardo and
Carolina, with the same result.
As far as his observations went, Father
sherman says that he found the people of
Porto Rico gentle, docle and kindly, and
that the Spaniards living there rejoice
with their Porto Rican friends in the
change of sovereignty. The disorderly ele-
ment is a very small fraction in the TEEN
ing population of the island. There is
some timidity expressed on the part of
property holders, but this is largely due
10 the paternal system 10 which they have
become accustomed. The state of the
roads on the island is wretched. Excepting
the main carriage road from Ponce TO San
Juan, with few short branches, the re
manning roads are unfit for carriages and
wagons, and are in desperate need OF OK
tensive repairs and improvements. In
many places they are absolutely impass-
able by wagons. The municipalities plead
inability 10 make improvements owing 10
a lack OF means lie says that a liberal
public outlay on the roads would add
immensely to the commerce ana security
OF the island The first piece Of road 10
be improved should be that from Ponce 10
Arecibo. connecting with the portions al
ready projected and partially construct
ed by the Spanish government
Father Sherman says ii is common talk
that the disorders CT the past few months
have been caused by bands composed partly
of prisoners released by the Sp3niards and
of Spanish soldiers discharged and remain
ing on the island. Having, he says. ridden
about The island alone and. as u rule un
armed for the past three months having
visited many priests ana alCaldes and
prominent merchants he is strongly i'm
pressed 10y The fact that profound respect
is felt for American authority and utmost
confidence IN the courage OF 2nE and all
OF our men The Latin races he says. are
far less frank than our own and somewhat
more timid
The ties of kinshjp and friendship often
lead 10 the shcl;eriHg Of the criminals and
failure 10 bear witness. Fear magn ties The
slightest dangers and wars alarms cast
long shadows. r. thinks we have reason
10 look with pride on the facT that Porto
Rico has passed tnlaugh a serious political
and national crisis without losing town
or crop. or in ans Way enduring the Sc
rious consequences of NaT save in the suf
feTiGg of some individuals.
Al the same lime says Father sherman
he cannot too strongly emphasize he needs
OF au island 81 once tropical and noun
famous, whore tho bandit GCds myriad
nooiJs for hiding and easy susteHaHce even
on The mountain tops where passions are
easily heated ana IN o.e-croWdfd popula-
tion leaves Large numbers ont O. employ
meuI. an island b. hose needs can only be
met 10y the strong hand oi the military
arm. aided and absi,ed by . system Of civil
police and rural guards composed where
possible OF some o. the better class of For
to Ricans. and in holding all civil au1hori-
ties. beginning with The romnissaries Of
the Bar1-ios, personally responsible for the
good order OF their districts
The Barriu in Porto Rico is the initial
political unit like the Town il New Eng
land. 7 he commissary is the justice of the
peace. He and his friends and relatives
can and should prevent the gathering OF
bduuilS. All Cb!LlEtItdsFS, even OF IHe
smallest detachneGts should be well al
yised of all this and should help to
emphasize the respOnsiblirv of The COM
missaries. This being done il would seem
that Porto Rico can be easily governed
and viii prove TO be in many Instances
Veritable paradise The telephone can
easily be used in districts where danger
exists 10 give prompt warning 10 the au-
thorities.
Father Sherman says that the state of
religion on the island is very unSatisfac-
tory. Though in every Town of any size
there is found large and handsome edi-
ice the services are very poorly attend
ed. All the inhabitants OF the island
with few exceptions are nominally a. least
Roman Catholics Very few of the men
are more than Catholic in name They
are baptized. married and buried by the
priest; that is the extent of their Catholi-
cism Now that the priests are deprived of
governmental aid. many are leaving the
country and more intend TO depart before
the winter is over. A moderate percentage
OF the clergy are OF native origin and
these will be more inclined TO stay as thev
are more in sympathy with the new order
OF things and have a chance of procuring
more desirable parishes owing TO the va
cancies left by the departure OF the Span
ish clergy. The church in Porto Rico has
been so united with the state and so iden-
tiiied with il in the eyes Of the people. that
IL must share the odium with which the
Spanish rule is commonly regarded Com
plant is made that the priests are too