Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-01-30
/. HOPE OF LIBERTY
Fills Hearts Of All the West
Indian People.
Porto RicansAnxiousIy Await the Com
ing Of Self Government.
And the cubans Live in Hopes Of Independence
al Early Day.

Correspondence of The Associated Press,
San Juan de Porto Rico. Jan 17.-Whi.e
the Porto Ricans do not offer the Ieas;
resistance to the military administration
they make no secret OF the fact that they
do not desire its continuance. 1t is no.
that they object to the Americaniza ton
of the island. but they earnestly wish for
a civil government, in some reasanable
and practicable form. Under the Old
Spanish regime. they will tell yoRs, they
enjoyed higher degree of freedom than
now, and though they seize With sincere
enthusiasm every opportunity for. putting
themselves in touch with the institutions
and demands of the new government.
they feel pride in working out their
own political salvation as free people,
and not as subjugated one. They love
liberty. and the intelligent element IS
convinced that under a civil administra-
ton the country would swiftly adapt IL
self to the better conditions offered by
the United States.
The military government Is thorough
and active. The whole island is effective
ly patrolied and quiet prevails in every
quarter. But the Porto Ricans complain
that the military authorities interfere
with the civil authorities without ade-
quate reason. Quite frequently of late
protests have been lodged at headquar-
ters agains: what the Porto Ricans have
described as in;rusions by United States
officers in municipal affairs not falling
within the scope of their duties. AS al
ready briefly cabled to The Associated
Press, the mayor and city council of San
Juao demonstrated. last week--in fact al
most rebelled-at what they considered
and called 'unwarranted military dicta-
ton
An enterprising Porto Rican. just re-
turned from the United States. had OBJ
tanned permission from the council 70
place small business signs on the lamp
posts around the plaza. The signs were
neat, but they offended the sight of many
of the Americans, who complained TO
Gen. Fred Grant. military commander IN
the district of San Juan. Gen. Grant
sent peremptory summons to the coun-
Gil to cancel the contract and to remove
the signs. Porto Rican pride could nor
endure it. The councillors regarded the
order as last straw and rendered their
designations to Gen. Henry the governor
of Porto Rico. There was no bad feeling.
The councillors merely said that as they
enjoyed no real authority they preferred
to give up their positions. Gen. Henry.
however took their view of the matter
and assured them that there would be no
further cause for complaint on the score
of military coercion, and he promptly is-
sued an order directing the secretary of
state to Inform the alcaldes of towns
that there is no authority for any officer
or soldier to enter council meetings or 10
interfere with or dictate their proceed
ings."
Every suggestion of Gen. Henry has
been responded to with alacrity and as a
result there is marvellous change in the
order of things. Economies have been
been effected in the various departments.
The people have accepted with good ma
ture the new sanitary regulations. though
these have wonderfully disturbed the un-
clean and crowded tenements that had
been regarded with complacency and as
a crowning test of popular patience they
inexpressibly worse than anything they
put up with the postal service. which is
were ever subjected to by the Spaniards.
1t is next to impossible for one to tran.
sact business in this island if ii be neces-
sary to use the mails, for these are un.
reliable to the last degree. Letters maile.l
in the San Juan post Office frequently do
not reach their destination in the island
for 10 days, and a most irritating indiffer-
ence marks the proceedings of the local
postal authorities.
The men Of Porto Rico are not religious.
OOlv ha nd nh;
church. Yet the church and its orders
have many pleasant associations for
them. Though they may dislike the
Spanish priests, they have good wishes
for the Roman Catholic church, which
they wish to see conducted as it is In the |
United States. An article recently ar
peared in Ell Liberal, the organ of the |
Liberal party. under the caption Halt
1t is known to have been written by |
Senior Munoz Rivera, president of the IN
sular cabinet. 1T called the attention of |
the military government in eloquent |
terms to the incOmpatbility of military |
rule with the development of the best in
terests of the country. The writer ap-
pealed to the wisdom and fairness of the
United States government to "treat
Porto Ricans as docile citizens and Eo:
as prisoners The self-restraint AMI far
sightedness that distinguish Rivera's ap-
peal will do more to win converts to the
American spirit and the American system
than the orders of military commanders.
Great interest is taken in hte action of
Congress and of the gr. al government de-
partments at Washington regarding
Porto Rico. The new tariff is awaited
with much anxiety. interest being CEN
tered upon the course of the United
States regarding the admission Of Porto
Rican sugar and tobacco free OF duty. Il
is contended that if the duty should be
taken off, the island would not only be
the most prosperous in the tropics. bur
would speedily become source Of large
revenue to the American government.
t.yea the establishment Of a fixed rate of
exchange would not help much. apart
from this all-important concession. Free
trade and a more intimate union with
he United States this is the motto of the
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