The record-union., 1899-01-13

Island.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-Assistant
Secretary Meiklejohn made public to-
Gay, through the Division of Customs
and Insular Affairs, Father Thomas e.
Sherman's interesting and instructive
report to General Brooke of his recent
tours through the Island of Porto Rico.
He Travelled alone and unaided.
Father Sherman says he found the
people. of Porto Rico gentle, docile and
kindly, and that the Spaniards living
there rejoice with their Porto Rican
friends in the change Of sovereignty.
The disorderly element is small frac-
ton in the teeming population. There
is some timidity expressed on the part
OF the property holders, but this is
largely due to the paternal system to
which they have become accustomed.
He says that a liberal public outlay on
the roads would immensely add to the
conworts and security of the islanders.
Father Sherman says it is common
talk that the disorders of the past few
months have been caused by bands
composed partly of prisoners released
ny lie Opdlldl us dll0 VI h0PoeAiAsoAA ~
diers discharged and remaining on the
island. He is strongly impressed by the
fact that profound respect is felt for
American authority and the utmost
confidence in the courage of all our
men.
At the same time, Father Sherman
says, we cannot too strongly empha-
size the needs of an island at once
tropical and mountainous, where the
bandit finds myriad moods for hiding
and easy sustenance, even on the noun
tain top; where passions are easily
heated and an overcrowded population
leaves numbers out of employment; an
island whose needs can only be met by
the strong hand of the military arm.
aided and abetted by a system of civil
police and rural guard, composed, where
possible, of some of the best class OF
Porto Ricans, and in holding all civil
authorities personally responsible for
the good order Of their districts.
& All commanders, even Of the smallest
detachments should be well advised of
all this, and sfiol1ld help to emphasize
the responsibility of the commissaries.
This being done, it would seem that
Porto Rico can be easily governed, and
will prove to be in many senses a verlt-
able paradise The telephone can easily
be used in districts where danger exists
to give prompt warning to the authori-
ties.
Father Sherman says the state Of re-
ligion is very unsatisfactory. Though
in every town of any size there is found
a large and handsome edifice, the serv-
ices are poorly attended. All the in
habitants of the island, with few ex-
ceptions are, nominally at least, Roman
Catholics. Very few of the men are
more than holy in name-they are bap-
tized, married and buried by the priests.
That is the extent of their Catholicism.
Now that the priests are deprived of
Governmental aid, many are leaving the
country, and more intend to depart be-
fore the winter is over. A moderate
percentage of the clergy are of native
origin. and these will be more inclined
to stay.
The church in Porto Rico has been so
united with the State and identified with
it iii the eyes of the people that it must
share the odium with which the Span
ish rule is commonly regarded. Com
plaint is made that the priests were too
much interested in political matters;
that they preached Spain instead Of the
gospeL When the congregations have
become accustomed to sustain their
priests. the Catholic religion will
flourish much more in Porto Rico than
unler Spanish rule.
With regard to education, Father
Sherman says he is not prepared to
make anything like a full report. There
are many schools, both in town aud
country. Those in the country are
poorly and irregularly attended The
children are bright and quick, develop
caller than ours, and many are capa-
bic of learning to read and write much
sooner than the American children. The
prompt sending of teachers of the lower
GRADES. acquainted with both English
and Spanish, would, he thinks, be the
best step to facilitate a change in the
system of education, and to enable the
rising generation to become Ameri-
cans. The Catholic colleges, both in
San Juan and Ponce, have had such a
FILLING off Of support, owing to the war,
that he can form no estimate Of the
work they did and the work they are
capable Of doing. The organized chart
ties in Porto Rico are defective.
Father Sherman says the system of
burial in Porto Rico has been barbar-
Gus. In some places corpses are thrown
into shallow graves, sometimes without
box or casket. The cemeteries are too
small. and frequently crowded.
The state of morality can be inferred
from the fact that the number of il
legitimate children exceeds that of the
legitimate. Concubinage is said to be
common. and it is not sufficiently dis
countenanced either legally or socially.
The problem that is most difficult is the
eradication of this great evil, owing to
mixture of races there. 1t is often as
serted that the Catholic clergy are part
Nv to blame for this deplorable state of
affairs, because marriage is said to be
expensive.
In conclusion he says: "A million
people differing from us in language,
literature, tradition, customs and man
pers welcome us by reason of political
sympathy, and a sentiment OF conf
dence in our desire to govern for their
good, to enlarge their liberties and to
Increase the substantial blessings they
enjoy, without imposing on them any
rev burdens. Porto Rico Is not to be