New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-01
SELF-RULE IN COLONIES.
GENERAL DAVIS REVIEWS AFFAIRS N
PORTO RICO.
SPANISH SYSTEM SHOULD BE ERApl'AIhp
BEFORE AUTONOMY is GRANTED-sCG-
crsT1ONs APPLICABLE TO CUBA
AND THE PHILIPPINES.
AND THE PHILIPPINES.
fpr TELEGRAM TO THE TnIBrNrl

fnv TrirGnArn TO TIE TRiBt SCI
,,.,,;,,c,or oct 31-Gencral George W.
,o,,s Nuitarv Governor OF Porto Rico. who has
,opq entoved the reputation Of being one OF the
hos, confined officers Of the Army on civil and
military administration points out what Is "h''E
TO prove true Of the future government oi 'un'
and the Philippines in his annual report TO 'he
War Department Speaking Of his own )urlS-
diction he says:
! do not fcol able now to indicate any date or
'ne Wo'm oonIe eft 70 regulate their affairs
Exn.rionte only can be relied on for the data 10
warrant an opinion. Now but small part OF me
inhahitants can read and write. Some estimate
the ratio low as from ID TO 10 per ,,,o he
spects nitcracy. the proportion mere oaino' ~,
materially different TO what i was "n'"ms s"
native NcwMe xcans when thai ARIIgshomgh
annexed TO the United States IN lsl'- Atnonhm
haif a century has elapsed since General hearmA
promuested ciyi cone i"' aHthorized in No
this Territory has not yet secured ii"'n 'D''- ,r
recognition of its capacity i'' Qua" s''''"
How much more rapid progress toward real ia
demonstrate than that OF the New-MeNicans TIM
only can determine. Immediate !'Ill'Vt ~ i1
omy for Porto Rico do not expect, ana II Woulu;
think be disastrous 10 the best interests Oh '"'
Nv polio, has been determined by the knowledge
that "a military government for any part 9i tc ~
m 3i measnTcs executed Tor maintaining law
and order have FOR their ultimate OBJECT inc plrp
meni Which, I Wien Authorized by Congress could
be implanted WIN me saS hat So far The peo
ME Of the island nave given me they have my
ppers,on and athough the task IS OF necessity
a difficult one to implant an American growth
R9n, n he e' year Of American 6ccgpancy
couraees tho hope and the belief that tho maj re-
suit Will be successful
DANGER OF HASTY ACTION.
The danger in prcmaturely establishing any
system Of unrestricted self-govcrnment IN the
new acquisitions OF the United states until the
spanlsh system IS thoroughly eradicated is
shown in greater detail in an exhaustive report
ACCOMMODATING that Of General Davis, made by
Major A c. sharpe. the Inspector general and
Judge advocate. whose opinion is OF the greatest
weight throughout the service In his conclud-
ms recommendations he says in part
T, is gratifying TO note the cagerne=s with which
every Substantial reform H. received by the people.
the oppostion,where opposition Is ,,ho
are thoroughly saturated with Spanish IDEAS ana
are enjoying the fruits OF the bad system hereto
foro nroyailing If the methods which have been
wisely inaugurated are patiently ana pcrslStsnl-
Conrress 10 open American markets 10 Porto Rican
trade there can be no misgiving MS to me fHlure
development, prosperity ana happiness OF lhlS peHu-
differing in many respects from any territory
heretofore acquired by the United states believe
Porto Rico will also he bound TO differ IN her ca
pacity for absorbing and assmllating american
iv settled regions Of Mexico and Arizona over
which wd animals ana trs OF aayaFs " T@r
Rico has many alert, Intelligent people. who, though
bowed down by centuries OF oppression, stu retain
the spirit and capacity for higher and better condi-
This capacity and these conditions can he de-
volopod only under system which VII wisely con-
troll guide and support them until they attain SUI
ST. a system Is found IN the military government
now prevailing II This government Is premaiurely
Withdrawn and territorial form OF government
placed in control has been suggested IN some
quarters II would I'm my Judgment be tho most
reforms now under Consideration by the department
commander. every administrative department or
bureau will have the benefit Of American influence
Under a territorial system this leaven would be
wanting the Legislature would consist exclusively
and the Institutions and customs OF tho country
would remain for an indefinite period spanish and
uL-Amercan intimate dhlly associa,i ION loI s,NeIHi
months past with many OF the most cultured pro-
fessonal gentlemen ana pubic sprlied cluzehs 2i
/ opinion which ind is also entertained by many Of
/ the most intelligent and patriotic Porto Ricans
Continued military control therefore. Tor reason
fail to secure gradual but steady and ultimate as
smilation ~ ne people or our pest American
A FORWARD STEP
Confederation u these views Is also given by
Colonel W T. Hall one Of the best known
officers Of the Adiutant Generals Department.
who established the first contingent Of native
troops in the new possessions. He says:
The organization of the Porto Rico battalion
900 mem is most important and essential step
/ toward improving the condition Of tho inhabitants
/ OF Porto Rico for the following reasons;
The chsracteristlcs OF the Porto Ricans are that
they are timid and not self-reliant. and 1t is not
SURPRISING that this should be- the policy Of the
I Spanish Government has been 20 prevent them
from having arms and military training. and as a
/ result they have superstitious fear Of a. rifle
+ because they know nothing OF It's use. Their rec
/ ord for more than a century has been that they
! have offered no substantial resistance TO tho OPP
/ YressiOns of the Spanish Crown. there Is no Kind
of training equal to a military one for giving men
due respect for properly constituted and exercised
/ authority and making them brave and reliant upon
/ themselves As time goes IT Will probably Poe
found more economical and juliciOus for our Gov
eminent have an the military work for this island
performed by tho natives, these soldiers VIII grad
uallv pass out Of tho service and settle down 10
various civil occupations. and the benefits " the
| training they have received Will be disseminated
| among tho Younger generation. which viii he
| benefited accordingly All who are familiar with