The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-30
ANXIOUS FOR HOME RULE
PORTO RICANs NOT SATISFIED WITH
MILITARY GOVERNMENT.
Many Say They Enjoyed More Free
dom Under Spaniards than Now
General HeDry's Policy.
ndence Of the Associated Press.


Correspondence Of the Associated Press
SAN JUAN DE PUERTO RICO, Jan. IT,
While the Porto Ricans do not offer the
least resistance to the military administra-
ton they make no secret Of the fact that
they do not desire it's continuance 1t is not
that they object to the Americanization of
the island, but they earnestly wish for a
civil government in some reasonable and
practicable form Under the old Spanish
regime they will tell you they enjoyed d
higher degree of freedom ethan now, and
though they seize with sincere enthusiasm
every opportunity for putting themselves in
touch with the institutions and demands of
the new government they feel a pride in
working out their own political salvation
as a free people and not as a subjugated
one. They love liberty, and the intelligent
element is convinced that under a civil ad
ministration the country would swl1tiy
adapt itself to the better conditions offered
by the United States.
The military government is thorough and
active. The whole island is effectively pa
trolled and quiet and order prevail in every
quarter. But the Porto Ricans sometimes
complain that the military authorities inter-
| fere with the civil authorities without ade-
quate reason. Quite frequently of late pro-
tests have been lodged at headquarters
against what the Porto Ricans have de-
scribed as intrusions by United States Off
GERS in municipal affairs not falling within
| the scope of their duties. AS already briefly
| ca bled the mayor and City Council of San
Juan iemonstra ed last eek--in lact almosc
rebelled-at what they considered and called
''unwarranted military dictaton."
An enterprising Porto Rican just returned
from the United States, has obtained per-
mission from the Council to place small
business signs upon the lampposts around
| the plaza. The signs were neat enough,
| but they offended the sight of many Of the
| Americans, who complained to Gen. Fred
| Grant, military, Commander of the district
of San Juan. General Grant sent a peremp-
! tory summons to the Council to cancel the
contract and to remove the signs. Porto
Rican pride could not endure it. The coun-
cilors regard the order as a last straw and
rendered their resignation to Governor
Henry, the governor of Porto Rico. There
was no bad feeling. The councillors mere
| ly said that, as they enjoyed so little real
! authority, they preferred to give up their
positions. General Henry, however, took
| their view of the matter and assured them
/ that there would be no further cause for
| complaint on the score of military coercion;
and he promptly issued an order directing
the secretary of state to Inform the al
caldes of towns that there is no authority
| for any officer or soldier to enter council
meetings or to interfere with or dictate their
! proceedings"
Every suggestion of General Henry has
| been responded TO with alacrity, and as a re-
| suit there is a marvellous change in the or
! der of things. Economies have been effected
"A
| of the army of satellites and formalities
| dear to the subjects of kings. The people
! have accepted with good nature the
sanitary regulations though these have won
| derfully disturbed the uncean and crowded
! tenements that had been regarded with com
/ placency, and d crOwning test of popular
patience they put up with the postal service,
| which is ineXpresSibly worse than anything
| they were ever subjected to by the Span
iards. 1t is next to impossible for one to
transact business in this island if it be
necessary to use the mails, for these are un-
reliable to the last degree. Letters mailed
in the San Juan postofhce frequently do
not reach their destination in the island for
ten days, and d most irritating Indifference
marks the proceedings OF the local postal
The men of Porto Rico are not religious
Only the women and children attend church.
Yet the church and its orders have many
pleasant associations for them Though
they may dislike the Spanish priests, they
have good wishes for the Roman Catholic
Church, which they wish TO see conducted
as it is in the United States.
An article recently appeared i'm Ell Lib
eral, the organ of the Liberal party, under
the caption Halt" 1t is known to have
been written by Senior Munoz Rivera pres
ident of the nsuar Cabinet. 1t called the
attention of the military government in elo-
quent terms to the incompatibility of mill
tary rule with the development of the best
interests of the country. The writer ap-
pealed to the wisdom and fairness of the
United States government to treat Porto
Ricans as doce citizens, and not pris-
oners." The sef-restraint and farsighted-
ness that distinguish Riveras appeal will do
more harm to win converts to the American
spirit and the American system than the
orders of military commanders.
Great interest is taken in the action OF
Congress and of the great government de-
partments at Washington regarding Porto
Rico. The new tariff is awaited with much
anxiety, interest being centered upon the
course of the United States regarding the
admission of Porto Rico sugar and to-
bacco free of duty 1t is cOntended that
if the duty should be taken off the island
the tropics, but would speedily become a
source of large revenue to the American
government. Even the establishment OF
fixed rate of exchange would not help mucn
apart from this all-mportant concession.
Free trade and a more intimate union with
the United States. this is the motto of the
Porto Rican and his policy is to agitate for
a civil government as the quickest and most
effective means OF AmericaniZng the ISL
and and of securing its proper development