The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-30
! THE PORTO RICANS
Oppose the Continuance Of Military
S..u.s.. Government.
WANT ISLAND AMERICANIEGD,

Dut They Earnestly Desire a civil
Government In some e'Rensonable and
Practicable Form - Less Freedom
Now Than Under the Spaninrds.
San Juan de Porto Rico, Jan. 30.--
While the Porto Ricans do not offer the
least resistance to the military admin
!stration, they made no secret OF the
fact that they do not desire its con-
tiuuance. 1t is not that they object to
the ,Amerlcanizatlon OF the island, but
they earnestly wish for civil govern
ment In some reasonable and practl-
cable form. Under the old Spanish
regime, they will tell you, they enjoyed
a higher degree of freedom than now,
, and, though they seize with sincere en-
thusiasm every opportunity for putting
themselves In touch with the instltu-
4ions and demands of the new govern
ment, they feel a pride in working out
their own political salvation as a free
people, and not as subjugated one.
They love liberty, and the intelligent
element is convinced that under a civil
administration the country would
swiftly adapt itself to the better con-
ditions offered by the United States
The military government Is thorough
and active. The whole island is ef-
fectively patrolled, and quiet and or
der prevails i'll every quarter. But the
Porto Ricans sometimes complain that
the military authorities interfere with
the civil authorities without adequate
reason. Quite frequently of late pro-
tests have been lodged at headquer-
!. ters against what the Porto Ricans
! have described as intrusions AZ United
States officers in municipal Slfalrs not
falling within the scope of their du-
ties. As already briefly cabed, the
mayor and city council of San Juan
remonstrated-in. fact, almost rebeled
at what they considered and called
''unwarranted military dictation."
An enterprising Porto Rican just re-
turned from the United States. had
obtained permission from the council
to place small business signs upon the
lamp posts around the plaza. The signs
were neat enough, but they offended
the sight Of many Of the Americans,
vito complained to General Fred
Grant, military commander of the dis
trict of San Juan. General Grant sent
peremptory summons to the council
to cancel the contract and to remove
the signs. Porto Rican pride could not
endure it. The councillors regarded the
erder as last straw and rendered
their designations to General Henry.
the governor of Porto Rico. There was
no bad feeling. The councillors merely
said that, as they enjoyed so little real
authority, they preferred to give up
their positions. General Henry, how
ever, took their view of the matter and
assured them that there would be M
further cause for complaint on the
score Of military coercion.
Every suggestion of General Henry
has been responded to with alacrity,
and as result there Is marvellous
change in the order Of things. Econo-
mics have been effected in the various
departments, at the expense Of the
army of satellites and the formality
dear to the subjects of kings. The peo-
pie have accepted with good nature
the new sanitary regulations, though
these have wonderfully disturbed the
uIclean and crowded tenements that
had been regarded with complacency,
and as a crowning test of popular pa
= tieRce they put UP with the postal SER
vice. which is inexpressibly worse than
anything they were ever subjected to
by the Spaniards.
1t is next to impossible for one to
transact business in this island If it be
necessary to use the mails, for these
are unreliable to the last degree. Let
ters mailed in the San Juan postoffice
frequently do not reach their destina-
tiDn in the island for ten days. and a
most irritating Indifference marks the
proceedings Of the local postal authori-
-fies