The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-13
GOOD STUFF N THEM
Father Sherman Rather Likes
the Porto RicanS.
TO BE EASILY GOVERNED
Private Morals, However, are
Nothing to Boast of,

Washington, L. c., jan 12-Assistan
Secretary Meiklejohn made public today
through the division of customs and in
sular affairs, Father Thomas E. Sher-
mans very interesting and instructive re-
port to General Brooke of his recent tours
through the island of Porto Rico.
Father Sherman left San Juan October
19 and visited Arecibo, Utado and Laresi
and from thence south to Adjuntas, alone
and unarmed and without Witnessing any
disorder. Subsequently he visited Coamo,
| Aibonito, Cayey, Cagua, Aguas, Buenos,
/ Juncos and Numacos. All Of these towns
he found in perfect peace and full of the
sense of security. Late in December Faith
er Sherman says he visited the towns of
| Vieques, Fajardo and Carolina with the
| same result.
A MIID-AIANNERED PEOPLE.
AS far as his observation went Father
| Sherman says that he found the people of
| Porto Rico gentle, docile and kindly, and
! that the Spaniards living there rejoice with
| their Porto Rican friends in the change
| in sovereignty. The disorderly element is
very small Traction in the teeming popu-
lation of the island. There is some tim
| idity expressed on the part of property
| holders, but this is largely due to the pa
ternal system to which they have become
| accustomed. He says that liberal public
outlay on the roads would immensely add
to the commerce and security Of the island.
MAKEUP OF THE BANDITTI.
Father Sherman says it is common talk
that the disorders of the past few months
have been caused by bands composed
partly Of prisoners released by the Span
iards and of Spanish soldiers discharged
and remaining on the island. Having, he
says, ridden about the island alone, and,
ats a rule, unarmed. for the past three
months. having visited many priests al
caldes and prominent merchants, he is
strongly impressed by the fact that pro-
found respect is felt for American author
age Of all Of our men.
MUST KNOW THEIR MASTERS.
At the same time. Father Sherman says,
we cannot TOO strongly emphasize the
needs OF an island at once tropical and
mountainous, where the bandit finds myr-
lad hooks for hiding and easy sustenance
even on the mountain top; where passions
are easily heated and an overcrowded
population leaves large numbers out of
employment, an island whose needs can
only be met by the strong hand of the
military arm, aided and abetted by a sys-
tenn of civil police and rural guard, COM
posed, where possible of some of the best
class of Porto Ricans, and in holding all
civil authorities, beginning with the COM
missaries of the Barrios. personally re-
spcnsib.e for the good order of their dis
tricts. All commanders, even Of the small
est detachments, should be well advised of
all this and should help to emphasize the
responsibility Of the commissaries.
This being done. it would seem that Por-
to Rico can be easily governed and will
prove to be In many senses a veritable
paradise. The telephone can easily be used
in districts where danger exists. to give
prompt warning to the authorities.
RELIGION IN A BAD WAY.
Father Sherman says that the state of |
religion on the island is very unsatisfac-
tory. Though in every town OF any size |
there is found a large and lAkldsome edi- |
fee, the services are very poorly attended |
All the inhabitants of the islands. with |
few exceptions, are nominauy at least,
Roman Catholics. Very few Of the men |
are more than Catholic in name They |
are baptized, married and buried by the |
priests but that is the extent of their !
Catholicism. Now that the priests are de-
prived of governmental aid, many are
leaving the country and more intend to |
depart before the winter is over. A mod
crate percentage of the clergy are of ma
tive origin, and these will be more inclined |
to stay, as they are more in sympathy
with the new order of things and have a
chance of procuring more desirable par
ishes owing to the vacancies left by the
departure OF the Spanish clergy. The
church in Porto Rico has been so united
with the state and so identified with it in
the eyes of the people that it must share
the odium with which the Spanish rule is
commonly regarded. Complaint is made
that the priests were too much interested
in political matters, that they preached
Spain instead of the gospel, and that many
displayed the mercenary spirit. There are
many excellent priests in Porto Rico, and
the women and children are in a great
part practically Catholic
When the congregations have become &C
customed to sustain their PRESS the Cath
clio religion viii flourish much more in
Porto Rico than it has under Spanish rule.
The bishop recently appointed is said 10
be unwilling to serve and there is need
that our government should show an &C
tive Interest in the matter
It would seem that change IN the &C.
clesiastical system was too sudden. caus-
Ing kind or paralysis and CONSERVATION
among a body OF men accustomed TO lean
on the government and find in {; their
normal means Of support Religion Is
dad on the island. Whether it cao he !
revived as a living influence IS higalv {
problemaficaL There is little OF no obser-
vance OF the sanctity OF Sunday.
EDUCATION.
WITH regard to education, Father shsr-