The record-union., 1899-04-01
At the Publication Of Reports That the
People Were Ripe for Rebellion.
Never Since the Island Has Been
Occupied by United States
Forces Has There Been Any At
tempt at Organization for In
surrection Natives Have No
Disposition to Rebel.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.1
SAN JUAN, March PA great deal
of Indignation has been felt by both
Americans and Porto Ricans here since
the publication of reports that the peo-
pie of this island We're ripe for insur-
rection and rebellion. 1t is very hard
to understand how such alarming ru-
mors originated. There never has been
any organized effort nor any attempt
at organization to insurrection in this
island since the occupation by the
American forces. The natives have no
arms and they have no organization,
and what is more to the point they have
not the disposition to rebel.
A number of reforms are being made
in the administration of justice, includ-
ing the abolition of secret trials. The
marriage laws have been modified so
that authority is given to ministers of
all faiths to perform marriages, and
the fees have been abolished where the
ceremony is before a civil magistrate.
A new political party has been born
'The Republican Party of Porto Rico
Though the party was organized by the
the Radicals under the leadership of
Manuel Rossey, it has for its object the
association Of all political elements on
this island, and they have agreed upon
q platform which is pronounced to be
faultless in its Americanism. The
platform in part is as follows.
THAT 1t is the highest duty of every
citizen to uphold the integrity of the
country and the laws of the land; that
We pledge ourselves as men, animated
by common cause, aiming at a COM
mi
cur Government
We indorse and commend the able,
patriotic and true American spirit man
ifested by the Hon. William Mckinley,
President of the United States, in re-
leasing us from the misrule of Spain,
and we pledge our faithfulness to ad-
here 20 the new principles of our new
country, and have for our aim, har-
mony, unity and good government, re-
lying with confidence upon the hope of
a speedy settlement of our national
affairs.
The name of our party shall be the
Republican Party of Porto Rico
I'VE declare our sincere loyalty to the
American flag and American ideas, and
hereby pledge ourselves to strive to be-
come worthy of the great nation of
"
We hail with pride our annexation
to the United States.
We believe the people of Porto Rico
could be trusted with the civil gov
ern,nent of the island, but as that au-
thority only emanates from the Con-
gress of the United States, it is but our
duty to await their action, and while
under military government awaiting
action by Congress, we desire that all
civil offices should be filed by men ca
pable, honest and of unquestionable
loyalty tc the Government of the United
States. and disposed to act singly for
the best interest of this island and our
common country without distinction,
thereby afforeing us an opportunity to
demonstrate our fitness for self-gov-
ernment with all the burdens and re-
spcnsibilities which it entails, and
which will hasten the day when our
island will have a place among the
States of our Union"
The insular commission has just COM
pleted its preliminary investigation in
San Juan, and has departed for the
western portion of the island 1t is
learned from reliable sources that in
general the arguments before the COM
mission nave been in favor of the early
termination of the military government,
and the adoption of territorial law for
the island.
Every Porto Rican, almost will con-
cede that the United States should ap-
point an American Governor and should
sustain strong garrison on the island,
but they demand that all of the civil
officers under the Governor should be
Porto Ricans, and above all that Por-
to Ricaa Legislature should be estab
1ished for insular affairs, and that mu-
inequalities should have the right of
local f-government. A great deal of
argument has been made for the COM
mission for the recommendation of free
tr.sde with the United States. The peo-
pie of Porto Rico claim that unless the
sugar of this island is admitted free in
the United States no prosperity can be
had there.