New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-11

ress and education in self-government must 10
largely superficial.
WHERE CIVIL EDUCATION MUST BEGIN.
Meanwhile the real lesson that every American
actually living in Porto Rico IS learning and the
one that Will doubtless be pertinent TO the other
recently acquired possessions is this: Civic educa-
ton must begin in the most elementary political
units, whore public opinion can get root and ne
tlectlNe in securing EooQ government htu VIII"
the administrative problems are simple WINE
American authority and American methods should
Se nca ne from be c 4e m a
II these denarfn,anfs no ,ciseiv administered and
educational facilities provided, the people may
learn from practice in small affairs 10 manage
great and self-government may be progressively
extended from The smalies, units 10 the larger
units that embrace them. We have begun at the
General Henry has Cabinet that is not po-
htical. and does not meet officially except when
called together by him. All the departments are
subject 20 inspection. and there are Americans
ooing special duty in all Of them nominaly subor-
providing inspection and securing the Introduction
Of American methods OF administration. But there
are elements OF dlscord al work ana politics sur
wives. though IL Is no longer officially recognized
OF the pro Spanish antl-Amercan reaction litt
was sure 20 follow the enthusiastic reception which
M 70 Tho evnectati1,,e ~, - for,1ad NJ fbe
ruly IN places. and made Americans personally Oh.
military posts All the tic of language and relig-
ion and the strong social ties with Spain being
cunnngly brought into play boy politicians for party
Islander Of public officials is exceedingly popular
the corruption that it il charged now exists
IN public NE escaping even dhe keen eye Of Amor
lean ofncials. Is there. then Tammany has nothing
10 teach these people OF practical politics.
place lie came TO Porto RICO afier an unwise sy,
tenn had been introduced. and every step that he
mas taken SO far has been judicious one and one
IN the right direction The only way TO secure good
government for these people-for the great unvOcal
government the island has ever had-is TO get q
man such as we nave here one whose honesty and
I flfaFa 114g
lutely, and leave everything absolutely TO his dis
creuon Such man even cannot rise TO highest
hampered by difference OF language and racial
policy of colonial government Much less however.
can Congress or distant War Department do 50.
II is the man upon the ground and the who
has the responsibility resting directly upon his
shoulders whom We must trust to work out
problems for us man in such a position Will not
ma fat places for incompetent favOrites allow
ineffciency 70 creep into any department under
him He has 10 face two public opinions-the opin-
ion at home and that Of the people around him.
I,S MN Iespohsn.Ity ana ne authority that
| trusted with the
THREE WAYS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
IN the opinion OF the writer there are three ways
in which the political condition Of the island could
be improved. CThe economic condition Is another
matter) In the first place. the modified Roman law
IS In force here-a system entirely Incompatible
with personal liberty in the sense in which Amer
leans understand II. People charged with crimes
have not sufficient protection; courts Of examna-
f lloh pdftdke 100 muCh OF inQuisltOral char
acter, there are too many opportunities for cor.
ruption, favorltism injustice OF all sorts i'm legal
actions between men Of different degrees Of wealth
ne simple eXpedient Of instituting federal dis
trict court IL the island
In the second place. as already mentioned the
centfal,zed system Of administratiou should be
ilItrerate norroTer,v Zee salatt OF al pu,
introdu led in tho school district and the township
and probably IN the larger towns as well The
policy in the island should be one Of progress tow
% b los q cff-
inEton should be deceived boy a fallacious sur
face appearance into the fancy that because tho
talk p!ausibly about liberty and autonomisuc
they. would thereby secure the real liberty Of the
people sucn Pelcj %ouia propaoiy mahe per
the very system that We have been fighting. The
court 10 pay a tax OF go where his rich neighbor
paid s.. 10 live with limited facilites for educa-
titles to har4 him know too much. Spanish would
be the language; Spain would educate the lawyer.
enm en- spain awe Would continue TO TIE
conincrce Porto Rico would not he as Spanish as
she was before and she might gradually grow less
Spanish but ths would be due TO other influences
America would Re .alse to he trust II she We're
70 institute government here based upon ne mi i-
tary and colonial principe that was intended 70
be permanent. and II she did not from the start
political affairs But sh" would be equally IaIse
10 her trust II she We're 10 turn the island over 20
ard principle Of government 70 De under inc
agis of Federal AUTHORITY t1eir possession foI-
liberty came from the town meeting. our, duty Is
10 lead these people rapidly as possible along
the path that have trOd.
The third thing hat Is needed AZ present is some
definite and emphatic expression of confidence IN
General Henry on the part ~ the authorities ar
Washington There IS impression here ihlf inc
Liberal leaders going 10 Wae the nltel states
Government ana maxi u sort %. ,al,isi al lll --
dage 10 the island. This may sound ehsufd. h.ii
II is real So civil Service employees are seriously
disturbed. because they fancy that some opposite
marty man will 60 20 Washington and turn ih"fn
out. There is restless: unsettled condi'lon per
yadinc the whole island. because IT, is Thought thaf
thc members OF the ola cabinet VIII turn out Gem
eral Henry So long as this feeling exists politics
viii survive Politics viii continue 10 stand IN me
yyav of Internal reforms here. because no flHf''f
how wise the reforms they viii De VIGOROUSLY OPP
posed and criticised by the outs
Porto Rico is q small place. and what has pceI
reported IL small talk But the facts 70 which
attention has been ca led are Important, hechu-e
they possibly have a universal bearing upqn me
colonial questions that' must he met Under g.
heir diversity there IS similarity porFadlNk an
the SPANISH colonies. and that similarity Us NnI'I-
,,rafAlv due 10 tho existence 0f - poHlct system
ertapouistic 10 our own form % eovernmtnii.
evetern that still remains although m" spanish
eovereientv has been Withdrawn u is system
IA mist be unIearned by the peopl" whom IL or
r~esses Ike bad habit. And = VII take mu
i,rne and patience well as EFFORT 70 t'ach ana
train them I'm what is better