Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-30

Correspondence Associated Press.)
San Juan de Porto Rico, January II.
While the Porto Ricans do not Of
fer the least resistance to the military
administration, they make no secret
Of the fact that they do not desire its
ject to the Americanization of the ISL
and, but they earnestly wish for a civil
government in some reasonable and
practical form. Under the old Span
ish regime, they will tell you, they en-
joyed a higher degree of freedom than
now, and though they seize with sin
cere enthusiasm every opportunity for
putting themselves in touch with the
institutions and demands Of the new
government, they feel a pride in work
ing out their political salvation as a
free people, and not as a %subjugated
one. They love liberty, and the intel
ligent element is convinced under a
civil administration the country would
swiftly adapt itself to the better con
ditions offered by the United States.
The military government is thor
ough. The whole island is effectively
patrolled, and quiet prevails in every
quarter. But the Porto Ricans some
times complains that the military au-
thorities interfere with the civil au-
thorities without adequate reason.
An enterprising Porto Rican, just re-
W., 81 fcO-o +Io TT.;+nI CAr4o1 hoJ oh
tanned permission from the Council to
place small business signs on the lamp
posts 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. Gen. Grant SEN a peremp-
tory N to the Council to cancel
the contract and to remove the signs.
Porto Rican pride could not endure it.
The councillors regarded the order as
a last straw, and rendered their resig-
nations to Governor Henry, the gov
ernOr of Porto Rico. There was no
bad feeling.
Every suggestion of Gen. Henry has
been responded to with alacrity, and as
a result there is a marvellous change
IN the order of things. Economies
nave been effected in the various de-
partments at the expense of the army
of satellites and the f0rmality dear to
the subjects Of the king. The people
accepted with good nature the new SAN
itary regulations, though these have
wonderfully disturbed the unclean and
crowded tenements that had been re-
garded with camplacency, and as a
crowding test of popular patience, they
put up with the postal service, which
is inexpressibly worse than anything
they were ever subjected to % the
Spaniards.
The men of Porto Rico are not re-
ligious. Only the women and children
attend church. Yet the church and it's
orders have many pleasant associa-
tons for them. Though they may dis
like the Spanish priests, they have
good wishes for the Roman Catholic
churches, which they wish to be con-
Quoted as it is in the United States.
Great interest is taken in the action
of Congress and Of the great govern
ment departments at Washington re-
garding Porto Rico. The new tariff is
awaited with much anxiety.
Free trade and a more intimate I'M
ion with the United States, this is the
motto of the Porto Rican, and his
policy is to agitate for a civil govern
ment as the quickest and most effec-
tive means of Americanizing the is
land and of securing its proper devel-
GDment.