The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1899-02-01
TIRED OF MILITARY RULE.
Porto Ricans Desire TO show Ability
TO Conduct n Civil Government,

IOItO EAlCHnS DeBIIe 10 SnONN AOAlty
to Conduct a Civil Governments
San Juan, Porto Rico, Jan. 3d.
While the Porto Ricans do not offer
the least resistance to the military ad- |
ministration, they do not desire its con-
tinuance. 1t is not that they object to
the Americanization of the island, but
they earnestly wish for civil govern
ment in some form. Under the old
Spanish regime, they will tell you,
they enjoyed higher degree of free
dom than now, and though they seize
with enthusiasm every opportunity for
putting themselves in touch with the
institutions and demands of the new
government, they feel pride in work.
ing out their own political salvation
as free people, and not as subiuga-
ted one. They love liberty, and the
intelligent element is convinced that
under civil administration the coun-
try would swiftly adapt itself to the
better conditions offered by the United
States.
The military government is thorough
and active. The whole island is effect
lively patrolled and quiet and order pre-
vail in every quarter. But the Porto
Ricans sometimes complain that the
military authorities interfere with the
civil authorities without adequate rea'
son. Quite frequently Of late protests
have been lodged at headquarters
against what the Porto Ricans have
described as intrusions by United
States officers in municipal affairs not
falling within the scope of their duties.
AS already briefly cabled, the mayor
and city council of San Juan remon-
strated against what they called "un-
warranted military dictation," An en-
terprising Porto Rican, just returned
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 Americans, who
complained to Gen. Fred Grant, mill
tary commander of the district of San
Juan.
Gen. Grant sent summons to the
council to cancel the contract and re-
move the signs. Porto Rican pride
could not endure it. The councillors
regard the order as last straw and
rendered their designations TO Gen.
Henry, the governor of Porto Rico.
There was no bad feeling. The coun-
cillors merely said that as they enjoyed
so little real authority they preferred
to give up their positions. Gen. Hen
ry, however, took their view of the mat.
ter and assured them that there would
be no further cause for complaint on
the score of military coercion, and he
issued 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 coun-
Gil meeting or interfere with or dictate
their proceedings"
Every suggestion of Gen. Henry
has been responded to with alacrity
and as a result there is marvellous
change in the order of things. Eco.
nomics have been effected in the vari
Gus departments, at the expense of ar
army of satellites. The people have
accepted with good nature the new san
tary regulations, though these have
wonderfully disturbed the unclean ant
crowded tenements that had been re
garded with complacency, and as {
crowning test of the popular patience
they put up with the postal service
which is inexpressibly worse than any
thing they were ever subjected to by
the Spaniards.
1t is next to impossible for one tt
transact business in this island if i
, be necessary to use the mail, for it il
unreliable to the last degree. Letters
mailed in the San Juan post office fre
quently do not reach their destination
in the island for ten days, and mos
irritating Indifference marks the pro
ceedings of the local postal authorities