Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-10-13
Observations on POtO Rico
WRITTEN
Hon. Edward S. Wilson.

handbills over town calling upon the
! friends of the alcalde to assemble al
night and demolsh the Darlo and Ri.
vera, too. Sure enough, at dark a great
crowd gathered at the plaza and moved
! to Rivera's house where a throng OF
his friends had gathered to protect
him. They were on the roof, the bal
comics and at the windows. A regular
fusilade began. Several hundred shots
we're fired, but only one person was
hurt, and that woman on balcony
away up the street. The attack was
premedtated, but its execution spas
modic, for the tantrum wore itself off
in a little while and the crowd dis
persed. A side attack was made in
the Diario office, but that was rescued
by the police before much damage was
done. But few nights afterward, 1t
was resumed on the Diario office, and
that establishment was completely de-
molished.
1t was purely local affair. The
United States authority or the army
was in no sense related to it. The peo-
pie carry on the city government abso-
lutely, just as any city in the United
States does. The alcalde issued an ad-
dress strongly condemning the affair
and declaring no friend Of his will seek
such methods of retaliation; but it
seems to have had no influence, for
ario Office was destroyed. The trouble
is, the people seem to lack an appreci-
alton of the cardinal doctrine of self
government which Is submission to
law and an acquiesence in the will of
the majority. They are in school to
learn that now. l believe they will
learn 1t, and when they do this will
be happy and prosperous island.
There is no reason why it should not
be. 1t is fertile and beautiful land.
Let it once be graced with free insti-
tutions, and the hearts of the people
be attuned to the ideals and purposes
of our great republic, and Porto Rico
will be the gem of the islands.
l attended the Executive Council the
other day, when the dstricting of the
island for the election of delegates to
the insular legislature was considered.
The Executive Council is the Senate of
the legislature. Two plans were pro-
posed, one by the federals and one by
the independents, which the republic
ans endorsed. 1t was an important
issue, for each side had in view some
spoke for the federals. He is bright
young fellow and truly eloquent. He
spoke in Spanish, and as each ringing
sentence was uttered, it was translated
by the interpreter. DR.. Barboso, the re-
publican, spoke at great length. He is
negro, very able man, graduate at
Ann Arbor. He spoke in English, and
he was interpreted, sentence by SEN
tence. 1t was a personal combat, and
each side attacked the other bitterly.
The republicans won, to 2, whereup-
on Diago, in a solemn speech, appeal
ing to the Deity, and uttering rhapgo-
dies to Truth and Liberty, announced
that he would resign and abandon pol
itics forever. His colleague, Camunas,
said he would do the same. Another
phase of the unwillingness to abide by
the will Of the majority.
But truce to politics. We United
States people do not engage in these
local controversies. We only sit back,
looking on wit hinterest, and wishing
they would be conducted with less
malignancy, and, especially, without
and the introduction of American jur-
isprudence to the end that Porto Rican
life may be uplifted and human rights
maintained. The process toward these
ends has been formulated. Schools
have been established all over the ISL
and, and there is not civil right that
d ClllLtu vi OulO may CIdim lOl uIh
self that the poorest peon may not de-
mand and secure. 'Tis a long step
to habeas corpus and trial by jury
but that step has been made. The
march is onward. Expansion will find
in Porto Rico, some day, it's gloriou;
triumph.
This Sunday afternoon / went with
some company down to the ocear
beach. 1t was a pleasant walk through
cocoa groves and along shady path!
across fields of grass. The ocean sur
there breaks on great rocks ant
sweeps along sandy shadows. Ther'
| is no strand anywhere more romantic
or richer in shells or curious shapes o
ocean life. 1t was happy rollickint
there, racing with the surge, attacking
the swarthy-looking crabs on thu
rocks, and gathering bright shells il
the riffs of sea weed. We lingerert
till sunset, and that Wed with the rol
ling ocean in splendor. / could no
tell which filled my heart with deepe
feelings-the dark ocean hurting 1t
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