The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-30

Correspondence OF tho Associated Press.
SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO, Jan.
1I.-While the Porto Ricans do not Of
fer the least resistance to the military
administration they make no secret OF
the fnct that they do not desire It's con-
tinuance. II Is not that they object to
the Amer!canization of the island. but
they earnestly wish for civil govern
ment In some reasonable and practical
bic form. Under the old Spanish reg!-
ne they will tell you. they enjoyed n
higher degree OF freedom than now. and
though they seize with sincere enthu-
sIasm every opportunity for putting
themselves In touch with the instltu-
t!ons and demands OF the new govern
mnnt they feel 4 pride in working ou.
their political salvation as n free peo-
pie, and not as a subjugated one. They
love liberty. and the Intelligent clement
Is convinced under n ciy!! administra-
tlOn the country would swiftly adapt it.
self 10 the better conditions offered by
the United States.
The military government Is thorough.
The whole ISlnrd is effectively patro'led
and dulat prevails in every quarter. Bit.
the Porto RIcaNs some times complain
that the military authorities interfere
with the civil authorities without ade-
Quatc reason.
An enterprising Porto Rlcan, Just re-
81 ln IL, y T.
taned permission from the councl! to
place small business signs on the lamp
posts around the Plaza. The signs Were
neat enougt.hut they offended the sight
Oi many OF the Americans. who COM
planned to General Fred Grant. mill
tary commander Of the district OF San
Juan. General Grant sent peremptory
summons Ia the council TO cancel the
contract and to remove the signs. Porto
itlc1n pride could not endure It. The
councillors regarded The order as last
straw ard tnudered their res'gnotfons to
Governor Henry. the governor OF Porto
Rico. There was TO had feeling.
Ever% suggestion of General Henry
has been responded to with alncri:v and
ne result. there Is u marvellous change
IN the order Of things. Economics haze
been effected in the vfrions dap1rt-
mcN'S n the expense OF the army OF
satellites and the rormn'i'v dear to the
subjects of the kings. The people ac-
cented with GOOD nature the new snni-
tarr regulations. though these have
w"rderfullr disturbed the urclenn- and
4 crowded 'rnemerts TINT had been re-
1 FarG"d with complhcency and as Il
4 crnWnInr 'ast Of ponular patience. they.
nut uH with the postal service. which Is
4 inevnressibly worse than anything they
were ever subjected 10 by the Span
] !arfs.
4 The non or Porto Rico arc not rclig-
lous. Only the women and children at.
tend church. Yet the church and ite
orders have many pleasant assocIa-
tons for them. Though they may dis
Ike the Spanish priests. they hare
rood wishes for the Roman Catholic
churches, which they wish to conduct
rs they are conducted In the United
States.
Great interest is taken in the action OF
Congress and OF the great government
denartments at Washington regarding
Porto Rico. The. new tariff is awaited
with much anxiety.
Free trade and more intimate union
with the United States. this Is the mot
10 ol the Porto Rican and his policy Is
I 10 AElta,c for civil governments MS the
quickest and most effective means of
;Amtrlcanlzing The island and OF secir-
] lhs lis proper development.