Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-05
THE IDEA OF
GEN. HENRY
Is an Assembly Of Leading
Porto RicanS.
HE HAS ISSUED A CALL
For a Meeting of One Radical and One
Liberal From Zach Munic-
ipal Council.

San Juan, Porto Rico, Dec. 15-(Corre-
spondence of the Associated Press.)-One
of the best things for the successful future
OF the island of Porto Rico and a measure
which promises much for the islands i'm
mediate good government and political
peace is the general assembly, which con-
venes upon December 10 in San Juan. The
idea of this meeting was launched by Gen.
eral Henry a few days after he ssulned
control Of the islands affairs. His letter
on the matter suggests and requests that
there convene on the 18th instant, in San
Juan, two delegates from every municipal
council in Porto Rico, of which there are
" all told. One of these delegates will be
a liberal and the other a radical. Thus will
the islands two parties be evenly repre-
scented. The mayors off, the respective
towns will make these appointments of del
egates, and they have been cautioned to
do so fairly. They have been told that if
there are no radicals, for Instance, in their
council, such a man must be selected from
the community at large. Copies of these
instructions sent to the different mayors
have been placed in the hands of all Amer
lean military post commanders, and these
officers have been instructed to see that
the appointments of the delegates be fairly
made.
The purpose Of this assembly is first to
destroy the impression that Porto Rico is
governed by one-man power, and, second,
to bring General Henry into closer contact
with the wishes and desires of the people.
The measure has much to recommend it.
In the first place it is a direct appeal to
the manhood and the best characteristics
OF every man in the island. 1t gives them
self-respect, for it shows them that they
nTn al fo 1o ooo~;l.~~l -. A. --1--
at present rules their destiny, and it gives
them a practical Illustration that the gov
eminent of the island is for the good of the
greatest number of it's inhabitants.
When the meeting convenes upon Deem
Der 10, General Henry will be present. He
has already made it plainly understood that
there are to be no personal chickering's and
1nvect1ves, no childish complaints of politi-
cal enemies, no efforts to further personal
vengeances at this assembly. Such actions
will not be tolerated for a moment. GEN
eral Henry will open the meeting by first
asking all the members present of one po-
litical party to stand up, then the same re-
quest will be made to the members of the
other party. This will be followed by a few
well chosen words from the general, in
which he will say that he purposes to or
ganize another party, of which he will be
the leader, a party which has no past his
tory, a party which is friendly to all men,
a party which holds one object and that is
lIS lIlS cuuCcIllOH, lIe Iii
provement, the prosperity, the peace and
future happiness of the island of Porto
Rico. Every man who desires to join this
new party will be asked to arise, and it
is expected that every man present will
do so. Those who have not the manliness
and sincerity to answer to this appeal will
be politely told that their presence is no
longer wanted.
If one can judge from the comments al
ready current concerning General Henry's
idea it runs a very good chance of being
aN,ip,nt,fJy c,ronnrcf,1 r. will do ,nv 70
unite the people of Porto Rico than any
other thing. What the country needs is dis
interested and capable leaders, and the
country will follow such men like sheer
when once they are convinced of that lead
er's sincerity. 1t is doubtful if there are
any such leaders among the Porto Ricans
themselves; they are too suspicious and
too cunning to believe in the integrity and
singleness of purpose of any of their owr
men. But a man from the outside world
concerning whose honesty of intention