The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-04
Congress Must Give Relief.

as before the CesSiOn from Spain. all
goods imported into Porto Rico from the
United Statcs.'
Congress Must Give Relief.
In reference 10 the possibility of chang
ing this unjust state of affairs, Gen. Hen
~ said: Relief really rests with the
Congress of the United States. The Pres
ident dcplorcs the conditions in Porto
Rico even more than he has publicly stat
ed. He recognizes the need Of immediate
/ reforms, but in a way he is powerless.
Action under our laws must be left to
Congress. Changes in such national af
fairs cannot be made in an hour nor
by the stroke Of a pen. Critics who claim
that inactiOn is due to dilatOriness have
little knowledge of the subject The reel
procity laws of the United States provide
for treaty 20 be made by the President,
with the advice of the Senate with some
foreign Power, but since there is. as to
Porto Rico, no one to treat with and no
foreign Power, this provision certainly
does not apply. The only solution is the
action of the Congress of the United
States"
In the minds of the people Of PorAo
Rico, the presence Of American military
forces in the island is not less an evil
and burden than the tariff itself That
tho present system of military control Is
obnoxious 10 them cannot be doubted Gen.
Henry says of them: "They are most
SNNfi1 anu iONdbit ptDHtts dtiA III Alit
greater part are entirely worthy of our
trust and confidence"
In the report of the insular commission
already referred to- can be found these
statements
THE people of Porto Rico are most loyal
in their devotion 20 their new country, and
are solicitous to be regarded as a part of
the United States Upon every hand we
heard of all classes and conditions ready
and willing to accept American institutions
and to be content with them and a. the
same time they are asking that the spirit
Of our laws and institutions be given them
and that they be quickly relieved of the
oppressive laws to which they have so
long been subjected by Spanish rule.
They are generally a peaceful and law
abiding people"
II is for these reasons they object to
living under military rule-a rule when
places them in the same category with
nations conquered or rebellous.
AS one of them stated to the writer in
Ponce: I'VE feel, all of us, senior, as if
we were under arrest and about 10 be plac-
ed on trial for crime. We feel brow7beaten
and dominated, and when we find we have
no voice nor representation, we ask our
selves, Is the American rule to be one of
despotism and oppression like that of our
former masters?"
According TO Gen. Henry, this question
of military rule Should like the tariff and
financial conditions, be left to Congress.
Cnquestionab bly, what is termed lone man
power" that is rule by a military govern
or who acts solely under orders from the
President of the United States or on his
own responsibility, is the only possible
plan for the present
Statehood is not to be thought of,
territorial form of government is as yet
impracticable, and, therefore, the one
course rational and convenient Is military
A rp6nptiOp in the Nun her of frOOnS
and the employment of a Porto Rico local
military force and body of insular po-
lice. might offer temporary relief TO the
feelings of the sensitive natives During
Gen. Henry's administration of the island,
he employed the police to great advantage.
They were greatly welcomed and APP
proved. eel Pals a newspaper of San
Juan, said under date of April 27, 1899:
THE insular police force is formed of men
OF the best Porto Rican society they are
wen educated well built, and courageous
fellows. The force is an honor to this
country, and natives and strangers admire
this institution. The press of the whole
country constantly reports valuable serv-
ices performed by the insular police. For
this reason the innovation has been re-
ceived by The country as a blessing"
The Natives suffer Bitterly.
The many apparently unjust laws, and
the hardness in getting the tariff, money
and CIVIL government questions, mas leo
to considerable suffering among the ma
tives They were, in the majority of
cases, entirely too proud to beg, and il
they applied at all for relief 1t was for
work. Gen. Henry, who knew them well
and had kindly sympathy for the ma
tives under his care, devoted a part of
the funds accommodating from taxes and
duties to the building of roads and other
public works.
THE expenditures gained two worthy
ends" he said. 1.-THE money, of which
paid out some Sc 200 daily throughout the
island, resulted in the construction OF
good roads, which facilitated the trans
portation of crops, and also gave an army
of deserving men honest employment"
Gen. Henry's successor, Gen. Davis
found it necessary, for reasons not quite
clear, TO stop the PUBLIC work, but the
recent tornado caused him to resume the
scheme.
Gen. Guy V. Henry, in summarizing the
troubles and conditions of Porto Rico,
said:
There is no question that affairs down
there are in need of radical change, but
only Congress can act upon the tariff
money, military government and other
vexed questions. Upon Congress rests the
responsibility for the future welfare of the
unfor. innate Porto Ricans."