The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29
Thrice Disappointed, the Islanders
Begin to Show Their
Ill-Feeling.
At NO PAINS TO HIDE HATRED
Old Spanish Laws. Under Which
They Are Compelled Still to
Live, Are Used to Tor
ment Americans.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
San Juan, Porto Rico. July c3-The Porto
Rfcan takes no pains To hide his ill-feeling
for the American. and the cry that the AL
caldes the police magistrates are perse-
cutting the Americans is not without cause.
The Alcaldes declare that they are only
carrying out the laws. and. to a certain ex-
tent. that. too. is true. There is no appeal
from the decision Of the A!calde He may
fine or iInpri-pn. The Alcalde could interpret
the law In an American spirit but he DOES
not. He says to himself: You Americans
have given US the old Spanish laws which
we resented under Spanish rule. and now
we will let you how they work" The
same moy be said OF the District Judges.
In the last fortnight Americans have been
fined and imprisoned in the most unjust
way. One man was fined for being n wit
ness and testifying against a native police
man, and another was fined for being unable
to supply information asked for by the
Judge. Yet. the hest American lawyers IN
the city will tell you there is no redress
under the existing laws. At present an
American has no protection either in the
magistrates courts or the district courts
against the prejudice or ignorance of the
Porto Rican Judges. II he be arrested and
detained n prison there Is no Judge before
W'lorl ne Is iReiy 10 ohtain n writ or naoTaS
corpus. The question Of rearranging the
courts and amending the laws is one Of the
most pressing necessities Of the hour. and
yet the commission appointed for that pur-
pose dallies in the United States
This persecution In the courts is only enc
Illustration OF the ill-feeln2 that exists.
Any sort OF function organized by Arert-
cans is tabooed by the native population. A
woman dying in the streets the other night
was refused admission to the Municipal
Hospital because she was an alien II an
American is robbef-and this happens
oftou-the stolen property IL never recov-
cred. and The police seldom succeed IN
capturing the thief. And yet the Alcaldes.
who just now seem TO hold the supreme
power SO far as the average citizen IS con-
cerned, are. as a rule, gentlemen of stand
ing In the community. The Mayor of San
Juan. Senior Don Manuel Goscus. for ex-
ample. is the principal Of one Of the leading
firms in the city. lie absolutely refuses 10
accept cent Of the salary IN connection
with his office. and he spends large sums
in charity. The AIcades are hardly the
class of men to stoJp To petty tyranny for
Its own sake. This goes to prove thar the
laws are being enforced as they are. simply
To express resentment against the Ameri-
cans
The Porto Rican members Of the Exec
u.fye Council are all gentlemen OF the
highest culture and standing in the island
and viii. no doubt. do all in their power
To further the islands interests. but they
are by no means enthusiastic over the form
OF civil government that has been granted
them
whole island are indignant because they
have been refused three things tha, they
confidently hoped foT-an extension OF the
Constitution OF the United States to Por-
to Rico. free trade and territorial Govern
ment. From their point OF view they are
"a H.apa yaI Il-ty tod rs.A flor all
his promises. they maintain President Mo
kinney has given them a form OF Govern
ment that is no better than the autonomy
granted under Spanish rule. They have
received power TO advise. and nothing more.
They (can apply the brake to the Govern
ment wheels. but they cannot set them in
motion.
They show this feeling plainly by their
indifference. As an example of this may
be mentioned that al the first and Only
session held of The newly appointed En-
eciJve Council the Porto Rican members
passed the budget for the ensuing year
the only business brought before the meet
ing. with the exception of formulating rules
of procedure-withOut even looking at It,
without inqairiHG into even one single item
OF expenditure. Not one citizen, except re-
porters and a photographer, was present
There has a. yet been ~ mention in the
local press. nor have | heard any talk.
Of the approaching election or Representa-
tivcs Ia the House of Delegates. No date
for the elections has as yet been fixed.
There are other than political reasons for
this IN feeling and Indifference on the part
of the Porto R!cans. At the time OF the
American occupation AL Americans were
welcomed with open arms. There was not 4
ing that the Porto Rican would not do for
Eel Americana" HIS home and his goods
and his chsttels were at the disposal OF the
liberating stranger. This open hospitality
was ab-sed. The adventurers wEo came
here from the United States borrowed
money bought on credit. even wrecked
families. In November following the occu-
patton an Americans word was equal to
his bona ia tn opinion OF the natives. In
March oS the following year shopnen re-
fused to rent furniture unless paid three
months in advance.
TningS have gone on from bad 10 worse.
Business deprs ssion. nigh taxes and the an
ti-American feeling have combined 10 de-
prive Porto Rico of its former attractive
ness and all Americans who can do 30
are leaving for home. This situation is due
wholly 20 the rae faith Of the American
Government and TO the depredations of the
parasites woo drifIed here under Govern
m.nt auspices TO faStau themselves upon
"A Gpluip1 people.