The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-03-17
AN EFFORT TO
POOL ISSUES
Disconnected Porto Ricans At
tempt to Effect an Entente
With the Cubans.
THE WORK OF MUNOz RIVERA
VIII Come TO Was .lngtOn and De-
mand Civil Government and With
drawai OF Our Troops

drawal Of Our Troops
Correspondence of the Associated Press
SAN JtfAN DE PORTO RICO. March
G--MunoE Rivera. until recently secre-
tAry Of state IN the Porto Hican cablnss
and the most accomplished pollllclab IN
the island, Will leave here on March 70
for Cuba, where he Will hold conferences
with the Cuban party and then proceed
~ tbe United Dtates.
In Washington he will, II h said. en-.
deay0r 70 attack the military govern
mont without attacking the military gov
crnor. lie will demand a civil govern
meni for his people. who are nov bitter.
ly warning among themselves for polltl-
cal supremacy. and be- will uEe the with.
drawal Of American troops from the most
important strategic base possessed by
thc United States In Atlantic waters.
I u n known 10 a chosen few that Mu-
noz will cndeavor 10 efTect an entente
with the Cuban leaders and will seek to
unite his cause with mat OF the Cubans.
Frequent publication II made Ia the
local papers OF letters that pass between
che two Islands on the subject Of Amer
lean rule In Porto Rico.
The Porto Rlcan editors OF Spanish
tendencies and the followers OF Munoz
Rivera refer with sympathy TO the con.
duct OF the Cubans who. they say.
worked As a united pcope for their IN.
dependence.
Since his disposition from the cabinet
by General Henry. Riyenas party has
b-en the object Of vigorous attack by
che radicals. Hermanlo Dlaz. the new
secretary II justice was appointed by
General Hcnry % a representative Of the
liberal party nnd because OF his relations
with Rivera. whom the general desired
60 treat with consideration.
three Of the four Aewspapers of Popc
began a campaign Of abuse against DiaE
and the military government They were
warned to moderate the tone OF their ar
tlclrs. but the warning passed unheeded.
one morning last week the cltizCns Of
Ponce missed their papers and upon go
Ing down town found the Offices occupied
by American troops who had been or
dfrrG by the district - mmandsr 20 clos
the establishments. The editor OF one
" the papers refused TO submit. TO the
officer who took possession Of his ONCE
In an alteration that followed the ed
ilor drew a knife soldier from mis-
sourl In the excitement which followed
used his .nsh with almost deadly encc,
upon the nghiIng journalist. It was
some hours before the latter revived.
Most unfortunate collisions Between
drunken soldiers and natives have con-
tributcd 10 the underrCrrcnt OF bal feel
ing that runs among the lower classes
In recent trip around the island
general feeling Of discomfort and unrest
was discovered.
There are a great many idle men all
over the island and the great army OF
attaches and hangers on that were part
OF the Spanish system. and which occa-
stoned an enormous burden for the tax
payers, are being discharged
The prospect Of building the remainder
OF the present railroad system by the
French Railroad Company is hailed with
delight by the aborlng men OF the
Island.
A representative OF che railroad has
been travelling about the island recently
preparing plans FOR the extension OF the
road, Planters and aborers alike pray
Nr the completion Of the road. The COM |
pAny is anxious 10 complete the work !
nd Is now arranging some details with I
le local government. NJ. ChRrpertier. B
hC has been here for several months /
udying this matter, will depart for /
Washington on the steamer San Marcos,
lie win urge upon the president and the /
feretary OF war a recognition OF the
Jntact and concession of the French
ompany. =
The new insular police has been or
,anlEed and employment VIII be given 10
more than 300 men who will aid the army .
md municipal police In preserving Or
Ter, The body will De conducted on the
Military plans and in many respects cor
esponds with the Guardla Civil OF Spain
nd Mexico
The politicians here are beginning 10
ee the firm and impartial method OF
he governor general Is wise one. To
learly define the position, the following
rider was recently addressed TO the mu-
iclpalties, dated February 20: Il
"Alcaides and councilmen are reminded ,
hat orders are issued TO be obeyed, In {
ne case the alcalde resigned because
hey supposed they had received an order
ot agreeable TO them. No order had
cen given, but II 1t had been and not !
arrled out. the course OF the council !
-ould have been contumacious and in s
etlance Of authority and other actions
'oEd have followed instead of resIgna- X
ons being accepted, u
at cannot be too strongly impressed 4
pen municipal councils that the interests l
{ the municipalities depend upon their
onesty, zeal and attention to duty,
Without this, the people they represent
infer and the progress of the island is
eld back No more important body ex- r
ts than the various councils, and the ;,
oople should insist upon being properly !,
presented by their best men and no h
Ihers. and 1t should be considered an :
onor to hold such positions of respon- h
blity
"rhey must learn one lesson how
YER. that s before they govern others 4
can give proper example to people :,
,ey must govern themselves and obey .
romptly all legal orders submitting for ,
ppeal any unjust ones, which viii al :
avs be remedied, a
"P- command Of Major General Henry
"W. p. HALL Adjutant General
lew ENTERPRISE FOR SEATTLE, o
o.. March l6.-Q b. Guer- >
/, formerly president of the Columbus, >
& Hooking railroad, has ac- h
opted the presidency OF the Seattle q a