The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-30
Inhabitants Of Island Chafe Under
Military Rule.
INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL AU.
THORITIEs RESENTED.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press. }
San Juan do Porto Rico, January IL.
While the Porto Ricans do not offer the
least resistance TO the military admins
tration, they make no secret Of the fact
that they do not desire its continuance.
IL Is not that they object to the American.
ization OF the island, but they earnestly
wish for civil government, In some rea-
sonable and practicable form. Under the
old Spanish regime, they will tell you,
they enjoyed higher degree Of freedom
than now, and. though they seize with
sincere enthusiasm every opportunity for
putting themselves In touch with the In
stitutions ani demands of the new gov
ernment they feel q pride in working out
their own political salvation as free
people andlnot as subjugated one. They
love liberty and the Intelligent element is
convinced that under civil admin istra-
tion the country would swiftly adapt
itself to the better conditions offered by
the United States.
The military governments is thorough
and activs. The whole island is effective
iy patrolled and quiet and order prevail
in every quarter. But the Porto Ricans
sometimes complain that the military
authorities interfere with thejcivil author
tiles without adequate reason. Quite
frequently of late protests have been
lodged at headquarters against what the
Porto Ricans have described as intrusions
by United States officers in municipal
affairs not falling within the scope of
their duties As already briefly cabled to
| the Associated Press the mayor and city
council Of San Juan demonstrated last
week-in fact almost rebelled, at what
they considered and called "unwarranted
military dictation." An enterprisingPo Porto
Rican. just returned from the United
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.
tien. Grant sent peremptory summons
to the council to cancel the contract and
to remo'e the signs. Porto kican pride
could not endure 1t. The councillors re-
garded the order as a last straw and ten.
dered their designations to Gov. Henry,
the governor of Porto Rico. There was
no bad feeling. The councillors merely
said that, as they enjoyed so little real
authority they preferred to give up their
positions Gen. 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 coer.
Dion; and he promptly issued an order
directing the secretary OF state to "in.
form the alcslde Of towns that there Is n,
authority for any officer or soldier to
enter council meetings or to interfere
with or dictate their proceedings"
Every suggestion of Gen. Henry has
been responded 70 with slacrity and M
result there Is marvellous change In
the order of things.
Economies have bsenI effected In the
various departments. The people have
accepted with good nature the new sani-
tary regulations though these have won-
dsrfully disturbed the unclean and
crowded tenements that had been re-
garded with complaceny and as q CROWN
ing test of popular patience, they put up
with the postal service which Is inex-
pressibly worse than anything they were
ever subjected to by the Spanish.
1t is next to impossible for one to
transact business in this island II IL be
necessary TO use the mails. for these are
unreliable to the last degree. Letters
mailed in the San Juan post Office fire.
quently do not reach their destination in
the island for ten days and most irri-
tating indifference marks the proceedings
Of the local postal auth critics.
The men of Porto Rico are not relig-
ious. Only the women and children at
tend 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 in Ell Lib.
eral. the organ OF the Liberal party, under
the caption Halt"
1t is known to have been written by
Senior Munoz Rivera, president of the
insular cabinet. 1t called the attention
of the military in eloquent terms TO the
"incompatibility of military rule with
the development of the best interests of
the country"
The writer appealed to the wisdom and
fairness Of the United States government
to treat Porto Ricans as docile citi-
zens and not as prisoners.
The self restraint and far-sightedness
that distinguish Riveraa's appeal will
do more to win converts to the American
spirit and the American system than
the orders Of military commanders.
Grsat interest Is taken in the action
Of Congress and Of the great government
departments at Washington regarding
Porto Rico. The new tariff Is awaited
with much anxiety. interest being Gen.