The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-03

lovable people, and for the greater part
are entirely worthy of our trust and
confidence"
In the report of the insular commits
sion already referred to can be found
these statements:
1.-The people of Porto Rico are most
loyal in their devotion to their new
country and are solicitous to be re-
garded as part of the United States.
Upon every hand we heard of all
classes and conditions ready and will
ing to accept American institutions
and to be content with them, and at
the same time they are asking that the
spirit of our laws and institutions be
given them and that they be quickly
relieved of the oppressive laws to which
they have so long been subjected by
Spanish rule. They are generally
a peaceful and law-abiding people,
1t is for these reasons they object to
living under military rule-a rule which
places them in the same category with
nations conquered or rebellious.
AS one of them stated to the writer
in Ponce: eve feel, all of us, senior,
as if we were under arrest and about
to be placed on trial for crime. We
feel brow-beaten and dominated, and
when we find laws made daily, laws
in which we have no voice nor Npre
sentation, we ask ourselves, is the
American rule to be one of despotism
and oppression, like that of our former
masters"
According to General Henry, this
question of military rule should, like
the tariff and financial conditions, be
left to congress. Unquestionably what
is termed "one man power" that is,
rule by military governor who acts
solely under orders from the president
of the United States or on his own re-
sposibility, is the only possible plan
for the present.
Statehood is not to be thought Of a
territorial form of government is as
yet impracticable, and therefore, the
one course rational and convenient is
military rule. A reduction in the num-
Der of troops and the employment OF
Porto Rico local military force and
body of insular police, might offer a
temporary relief to the feelings of the
sensitive natives. During General Hen
rvs administration of the island he en-
ployed the police to great advantage.
They were greatly welcomed and APP
proved. Ell Pals, a newspaper of San
Juan, said under date of April q, 1899:
THE insular police force is formed OF
men of the best Porto Rican So
ciety; they are we'll educated well built,
and courageous fellows. The force is
an honor to this country, and natives
and strangers admire this institution
| The press of the whole country con-
stantly reports valuable services per
formed by the insular police. For this
reason the innovation has been received
by the country as blessing.
The Natives Suffer Bitterly.
The many apparently unjust laws and
the hardness of settling the tariff,
money and civil government questions,
has led to- considerable suffering among
the natives They were, in the major
! ity of cases, entirely too proud to beg,
and if they applied at. all for relief it
was for work. General Henry, kwhe
! knew them well, and had a kindly SYM
pathy for the natives under his care
devoted-a part. of the funds, accumulat-
| ing from taxes and duties to the build
| ing of roads and other public improve
ments.
The expenditures gained two worthy
ends' he said. THE money, of which
| paid out some $4,000 daily throughout
| the island, resulted in the construction
of good roads, which facilitated the
transportation of crops. and also gave
, an army of deserving men honest en-
ployment.'
General Henry's successor, General
| Davis, found it necessary, for reasons
not quite clear, to stop the public work
but the recent tornado caused him to
resume the scheme.
General Guy V. Henry, in summarize
! ing the troubles and conditions of Por-
| to Rico, said:
There is no question that affairs
down there are in need of radical
change, but only congress can act upon
| the tariff, money military government
and other veXed questions. Upon con-
gress rests the responsibility for the flu
ture welfare of the unfortunate Porto
/, Ricans."