The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-30
Show Pride in Their Friendship for
Everything American, n
But CHAFE UNDER MILITARY LAWS
The Masses Take Deep Interest IN the
Prospective Tariff.
ANXIOUS 10 DEVELOP THEIR COUNTRY
Aud their Motto IL FREQ Trade and
a. More IwtiMatc Rcl1tionship
with the United states.
tcorrspondenco & Associated rrsssl

,(Cotresponjences Of Associated Prsssl
san Juan, Porto Rico. January I ---NNhiio
the Porto Ricans do not ofcr the least re-
slstanco to tho military administrator
they mako no secret OF tho fact that they
DO not aesiro its continuance. Not that
they object TO tho Americanixattpn OF tho
island. bur they merely wish native gov
eminent In some reasonable and practto-
able form. ,inder the old spanish regime.
they viii tell vow they enjoyed q higher
degree OF freedom I han now. and though
they Seisn With enthusiasm any opportunity
OF putting thcmeelyeA In touch Win thu
institutions and demands of tho new gov
crpment. they feel pride In working out
their own political salvation as FREQ PEG.
plo and not as nyeWbjueated one. They
love liberty and the intelligent element Is
convinced that under a native adn,intstra-
ton the country would swiftly adopt itself
to the better conditions offered b. tho
United states Tho military government
Is thorough and active. The whole island
Is putrolled and Ia quiet and orderly In
every quarter But tho Porto Ricnns
sometimes complain that the military au-
thorities interfere with the civil authorl-
ties without adequate reasons and quito
frequently OF late protests have been
lodged at headquarters against what tho
Porto Ricans have described as inirusio1s
by United States officers In municipal at
fairs not falling Within the scope of their
duties.
Ar already briefly cablod 10 the Assoc
ciated Press, the mayor and city council OF
San Juan demonstrated last week-sain fact,
almost robcl)ed- nj what they considered
and called eunquestoned dicta,ion.''
An enferprising Porto Rican Just re-
turned from the United States has obtained
permission frpni the council TO place small
business signs ,iron The lamp signs around
tho piagaii. Tho signs were neat enough,
but they offcnded the sight Of inany Of the
Americans, who complained To General
Fred Grant. military commander OF The
district Of San Juan. General Grant sent
n percfiiptcry summons TO the council to
cancel the contract and remove the signs.
Porto Rlcani pride could not endure II.
The councillors regard the order as a last
straw and rendered their designations tn
Governor Henry. There was no bad fcsi-
ing. Tho councillors merely raid thnt ~
they enjoyed 20 little real authority they
preferred TO give UP their positions.
Governor Henry, however, took their
view of tho matter and assured them that
there would be no further cause for com
plant on the score OF military coercion.
mud hc promptly issued an order directing
the secretary al state to Inform the al
caljcs of the towns that shcrc Is no AIT
thorlty for any officer or soldier TO enter
council meetings or to interfere with pro-
ceeiings.'
Every suggestion Of General Her-y has
bnen responded to with alacrity and as "A
result there Is marvellous changs in the
order of thlngH Economics have been ef-
fcctod In tho various departments at the
expense Of the army and the forinaIity DEAR
to the subjects OF the kings Psoplr bnve
accepted with gtod nature the sanitary
regulations.
It is next 10 impossible FOR one 10 trans-
act business in this island II II be necessary
to use the mails, for these arc Unreliable
TO The last degree. Letters mailed IN the
San Juan postofnce frequently do not reach
their distinction IN the Island FOR ten days
and most Irritating indifference marks
tho proceedings OF tho local postal authori-
ties.
The men Of Porto Rico are not religious.
Only the women and children attend
church. Yet the church and its orders have
many pleasant assoeiations far them.
Though they may dislike the spanish
man Catholic church. which they wish 70
sec conducted as 1t Is done in the unifed
An article recently appeared in vi lib
nral. the organ OF the liberal party. unucr
he caption Halt u Is known 20 nhys
dent OF the insular cabinet. II called tho
lttoptlon OF the military government ~
p,oouant terms 10 the incompatibility OF
military rule With the development OF the
sest interests Of The country The writer
,ppealod TO the wisdom and fairness u me
Rjcnns MS docle citizens and not as prts-
,ncrs The sclf-rcstraint and far-sixhted.
lega that distinguish HIveru's appeal VIII
10 more 10 win converts 20 ne Amerinan
spirit and hmerlcsii system than orders
II military comiunndera
Great lntorcst Is taken In the action q
congress and OF The great government de-
selopments at Washington Regarding Ports
Rico Tho new tariff IL awaited with much
,nrieiy. interest being centercd upon the
curse OF the United States regarding ths S
,dmissIon OF Porto Riean sugar and to9ecfo
rec Of duty. Ii Is contended that 4 ~
l,,ty should be taken on the island would
,oi only be the most prominent IN ~
rcpics, but would speedily beconle . souroe
Il large reyenuesto the. american Eoyeru-
nent Free trade and more inttmate
,nion with the United States,-this Is ~
MOTTO or the Porto Ricap. and his policy ~ q
q agitatc for civil government ~ -
Quickest and most favorable means tor tniA
and the securing 81 - propss