The record-union., 1899-05-18
Natives and Spaniards Alike Astonlshsd al
His Democr attic Conduct.
Is in Marked Contrast to the Bear
ing of Governors General Dur
ing Spanish Regime-General
Henry's Departure From the ISL
and Marked by a Brilliant
Demonstration.

SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO, May
1.-THE arrival on Monday of Brigadier
General Davis, the new Military Gov
ernor, was marked by the greatest sim
plicity. Porto Ricans and Spaniards
alike regard with establishment the
democratic conduct of General Davis,
which is in marked contrast to the
bearing of the Spanish Governors Cen
eral. When these naughty officials
came whole day was usually given up
to demonstrations by military and civil
bodies. All the guns of MORO and San
Cristobal doomed and the water front
was lined with brilliantly CARRIED
troops and officials.
In this instance there was not the
least ostentation. Early risers heard
the distant booming of a few guns at
MORO port as the transport Mcpherson
entered the harbor, but very few were
aware of what it signified. An aide of
Major General Henry, the retiring Mil
itary Governor, boarded the vessel to
present the compliments of his chief.
After breakfast General Davis, accom-
panied by his aide, Lieutenant Lang
horne. made landing from the gang
way of the ship by stepping deftly over
and, entering the carriage of General
Henry, drove Immediately to the palace,
where General Davis was soon installed
in the Fortalessa.
The new Governor begins his admin
| istration with no special problem ex-
cept what his instructions or policy
may involve. Before departing on the
Mcpherson General Henry held fire.
quent conferences with his successor
regarding the affairs of the island.
During the last two weeks General
Henry's staff has addressed itself to
clearing up all old matters requiring
the personal attention of the retiring
Governor and so we'll was this work
done that there was nothing of import
ance undisposed of when General Davis
undertook his new functions.
Tuesday afternoon, the day after the
arrival of General Davis, General
Henry and his family embarked. The
scene must have been gratifying to him.
Brilliantly dressed from stem to stern
in flying signal flags, the Mcpherson
fairly shone in the afternoon sun from
the effect of white paint and much
scrubbing A thousand discharged SOL
diers, shaved and dressed as if for an
inspection, made solid front of blue
along the sides of the big transport,
from which flashed occasional sparks of
the artilleryman's scarlet and FURNISHED
buttons. Infantrymen in blue peopled
the shrouds.
The day before a public demonstra-
ton was held in the theater, where the
inhabitants of the city welcomed the
new Governor and sped the old one On
that occasion a fine portrait of General
Henry was presented to him, and he re-
quested that it be hung in the hall of
the new pedagogical museum of Porto
Rico at San Juan. The citizens how
ever, were bound that he should take
away with him some tangible evidence
of their regard, and promptly ordered
copy to be painted by the same artist
This will be sent to Mrs Henry as soon
as it is finished
There may have been more brilliant
embarkations from this port in the
days of the old grandees, but there GER
tainly never was one more affecting and
spontaneous in it's expression of joyous
regret AS the Mcpherson cast off into
the channel two bands played in har-
mony the American national airs and
Rico. When she was abreast of the
United States auxiliary cruiser Pan
Their. the naval station ship here. a sa-
lutte was fired in honor of General
Henry. The guns and tars of the cruis-
er roared double farewell. A party of
army officers accompanied the trans
port out to sea some distance in the
transport tug Slocum, returning at
shutdown.
The first incident of Importance fol-
lowing General Henry's departure is
the retirement of Senior Acuno, Assist
ant Secretary of State. He will leave
on the Philadelphia to-day for the
United States, going on behalf of the
Spanish Bank of Porto Rico, whose Of
ficers are endeavoring to make some ar
rangements with the Government by
which they may continue the existence
of that institution. 1t is also believed
that he will endeavor to secure Ameri-
can capital so as to effect reorganiza-
ton upon American plans.
Senior Manuel Rossi. leader of the
Porto Rican Radical party, will be APP
pointed, it is understood, to succeed
Acuna. Though possessed of no previ-
Gus experience in important offices, he
is lawyer of prominence, and has al
ways been a student of political affairs.
GENERAL HENRY DISLIKED.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-Senor Luis
Munoz Rivera, Premier of the Porto Ri
can Cabinet under the Spanish regime,
was interviewed concerning the letter
written by him declaring that General
Henry had been recalled as Governor
General of the island and severely and
even violently criticising General Henry
and others. Senior Rivera admitted the
authorship of the letter, but says it was
not written for publication and had
been badly translated. In the interview
he reiterated the statement that Cen
eral Henry had made many mistakes in
Porto Rico and a majority of the papers
applauded his retirement. The Radical
party, he admitted. had given farewell
manifestations of regret, as General
Henry favored this party in all things.
He complained of the trea tment of the
Liberal party, of which he is the head,
by General Henry. All people in Porto
Rico he said, welcomed annexation to
the United States and would not change
it for independence. He (Rivera) rep
resented the agriculturisits of the island
having been elected by large assem-
bly, at San Juan. Porto Rico asked full
admission into the American Union with
a free interchange of products, reform
of money system, freedom of the press,
home rule in municipal affairs, and such