The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-09

Well-known local paper argued for fair
judgment and the remaining from
nasty criticism ana unjust general crit
clsm. Some natives saw the matter
In this light, but the majority did not;
the majority judged the army and the
country by the acts of the few, and
the mal-reputation of our soldiers grew
apace. The pendulum swung back too
tar in the other direction-this is a
country and language of exagger-
ated words-and the army got worse
than it deserved. Still there was much
truth in the many assertions.
A gentleman of the writer's ac-
Quaintance, thirty years resident OF
Ponce, and a man of culture, educa-
ton and much knowledge of our coun-
try and Europe, said that he had lived
in Porto Rico during many troubled
years and under many modes of adj
illustrations; that he had always
avoided politics and attended quietly
to his profession of doctor, and that
during all his residence here life had
not seemed impossible. But that now
it did. In the past his family had al
ways been able to attend mass, to
walk on the plaza of a Sunday even
lib anu ~ OlC OuI Oh lllC1I PO1NAA,
which is on the second floor, without
molestation of any kind from any one.
But that now his daughters could not
even sit at their own windows without
being subjected to insult, much less go
ON the streets. Consequently, his fam
lily were as prisoners within the walls
of their own home, and it was his
firm intention to remove himself and
- II, ,rrc
did not prevail. Ponce had been par
ticularly unfortunate in this respect.
The Porto Rican is no saint; far from
it, indeed. He has his full share of
faults and vices, but the rowdyism OF
uncontrolled troops is particularly dis
tasteful and offensive to a people who
are at least gentle.
People here looked forward to COM
mercial revival and influx of Amer
lean capital to follow the army; there
We're rose-colored dreams as to what
American business would do for the
island. For these dreams we are not
responsible. They We're unreasonably
exaggerated by the islanders them
selves, and it is not our fault if we
have not fulfilled their expectations
The capital will doubtless come by
means of loan and trust companies,
and the business revival is retarded
by the existing tariffs. But the islander
expected so much and to-day sees SO
little that his heart fails him, and he
cries: My unhappy country, what IS
thy future?" He has seen number
of Americans, all anxious to exploit
him for all he is worth, and this in
stead of his dreams. He has been Of
fered a varied assortment OF cheap
goods by loudspeaking drummerS VINO
have come down declaring they would
show the "dagos'' how to hustle. Be
cause of existing tariffs and uncer-
tainty concerning the money question
the Porto Rican has bought sparingly.
and the drummer has gone home, de-
claring the island is no good. Beer,
whisky and tobacco sellers have been
the most fortunate; some orders for
these goods have been placed and in
definite future contracts entered into.
But the seekers abound, looking for
chances They have found it difficult
to obtain advantages from the Gov
eminent. and they have found Porto
Ricans anxious to sell poor farms for
good prices. Many have gone back
to the States in disgust; others are
holding on, always waiting for some
indefinite oportunity.
This is how the Porto Rican sees us,
and he is a good judge of men and
manners. This is the outcome of his
exaggerated hopes, and he is prone to
whimper like child. First impress
sions are lasting; shattered idols are
slow in re-establishing themselves. The
Porto Rican had no right to his idol,
but he set it up, and to-day it is
crumbling. To the Porto Rican the
result of the last three months is doubt.
Doubt as to what future does really
lie before this country; doubt as TO
what the Americans can and will do
for him. There is regret that we did
not land to find him fighting the Span
lard, that they then might have the
same claim to independence as has
Cuba. Rose colored hopes gave US
ringing welcome in the beginning; sor-
rowful doubt has stepped in, and to-
day we get the welcome of courtesy
and good manners.