New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-31
POLITICS IN PORTO RICO.
THE IDEA OF INDEPENDENCE FAST FADING
FROM THE PUBLIC MIND.

Ponce Porto Rico. Aug 2-To every one IN
Porto Rico the main topic Of interest is the polti-
cal and commercial condition Of the island ana us
prospects for the future. Six months ago there
were many natives who looked forward 10 absolute
!udependence and I'm this they were encouraged by
their desire 10 reap personal rewards IN the gov
erning Of their island and by their taking from the
newspapers and periodicals the wrong ideas as 70
the strength and the extent Of the influence OF the
anti-expansionists and anu-imperiadsts IN the
United States one hears every possible theory and
combination Of theories advanced as to the govern
ing Of tnis the first West Indian possession NJ the
United states hut the idea Of independence seems
20 have entirely gone. and now the men who are
the thinking men. the land owners. merchants and
others with large interests hoping for a gov
eminent almost entirely by Americans. OF course,
Porto Ricans who have political aspirations are
opposed 10 this and others who have little or moth
ing 10 lose hope TO gain more from government
conducted largely by the natives than from one by
Americans The present military form ~ govern
ment Is unsatisfactory 20 every one military au-
,horues and civilians alike. Everything is IN a
more OF less chaotic condition, and there are TWO
or three bosses" for every sob" This is caused
chiefly by retaining the native courts police and
municipal governments, and Al the same time max
ing them subservient 10 the military authorities.
The Army officers do the best they can. but they
primarily soldiers and secondarly business
men while now they are overworked In attempting
IN
queut changes are great cause OF trouble. ON
GERS are not detached. but assigned. 20 civil
duties near the post Of their regiment. and when
the regiment moves officer is placed In the
civil office. A military order will abolish a native
court and perhaps make provision for the trial
Of causes formerly tried IN that court The island
is entirely peaceful but confusion arises because
there are insular police municipal police and
soldiers all in a measure doing the same work
The AIcade, or Mayor. has much the same duties
formerly. but his action IS not free. because the
military commander can take any matter from his
hands or carry II over his head.
Formerly most OF the commerce Of Porto Rico
with Europe. and Spain I'm particular. Now this
has been disturbed. and yet satisfactory CONNER
cal relations have not yet been established with
the United States. Merchants import only absolute
necessarles and these IN small quantltes compare
lively. Many merchants from here have visited
N-w-YOrk and been unable 20 buy goods there so
they could De sold here 10 advantage. and have
gone 20 Europe to buy there. The market for
Porto Rican products has likewise been disturbed
and the crops were stored I'm large quantities when
The hurricane Of August came 20 unr0of the ware
houses and 20 cause enormous losses by rain and
flood. This. the greatest calamity that ever visited
Porto Rico. makes the commercial condition worse
than ever before and makes II incumbent upon the
United States TO establish speedily some stable
permanent form OF government and 10 give the
people OF this island relief from the depression that
has been upon them so long and has been so in
tensely increased by the recent storm.