The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-05-04
OUR CuLONIAL ADMIEIsTRAI

/ OON6IuOI AAA6us Recently dpBO41Iou
by President Mckinley, has arrived in
Porto Rico and viii commence the
work Of organizing the colonial govern
ment. He has no easy task as the
people there, although peacable and
law. abiding, are very bitter IN their
feeling against the present administra-
ton. They expected, as they had a
right to expect, free trade and larger
liberty than under Spain, whereas, the
American tariff is more severe against
them than the Spanish, and their for
mer political rights are actually cur
tailed. The United States is less lber-
al than Spain
Other things have occurred under
the military regime to heighten this
feeling Of antipathy and deepen this
resentment, even to disgust, against
the American government. Not the
least among these things is the recent
garroting Of criminals, for instance.
For seven years they had immunity
/ from this barbaroUs old Spanish meth
cd, but it was revived under our mil
itary occupation. The old law stood
but the practice had been suspended.
Both the president and the secretary
of war was appealed to to suspend
the operation Of the law and to sUbsti-
tute some other mode of execution,
but they declined to act.
This was taken as an intended humil-
iatiOn. When it came to the day of
execution, no owner Of carriages would
let his conveyances to take the cuIprits
to the place Of execution No Porto
Rican could be found to turn the fatal
screw. Money could not hire them.
An American soldier, DOminick
Schweiger, Of troop I, Fifth cavalry,
who had committed murder and was
sentenced to IA years in the peniten-
tiary volunteered to execute them upon
the promise Of the Communication Of his
sentence. The officer in charge finally
succeeded in getting some rickety, old,
two-wheeIed carts and the ghostly pro-
cession proceed though the streets Of
San Juan Women sobbed and the
men regarded it with horror and dis
gust. There was a military and police
guard, and an American murderer
carries out American orders.
Now as to Cuba. Thank fortune, if
the viii of the American people is obey
ed-and it must be-our rule there
viii soon end, and the sooner the better.
Enough has come to light already to
make the American people ashamed.
Army officers, besides their fat salaries
from the paymaster, have been draw
ing thousands Of dollars extra pay out
Of the Cuban revenues. Maj. Cen
/ Brooke, military governor before Gen.
Wood, got $500, out Of Cuban reve-
nues, which, with his army allowance,
made his annual income $4,000. The
/ governOr-general's palace was not good
enough and was fixed up" at an ex
pense Of $4,000. He bought a set Of
harness for his carriage horses at the
fancy price Of s., 400. All these pretty
things out Of Cuban revenues.
Then there was Brig. Gen. Ludlow,
military governor Of Havana, got only
5000 extra. making his annual income
81 800. Then comes Col Bliss, col
leetor Of the port, who was happy on
5000 extra, making his total income
$500 a year. And Maj Davis, sanitary
officer who taught the Cubans how to
clean up, at $500 extra making his
income $500 a year OF course, these
high-tOned American gentlemen could
not afford to teach the art Of self gov
eminent for nothing. There are other
cases, All this and more came out IN
the secretly Of wars report in response
to congressional inquiry. The benign
Alger inaugurated the system and
the present incumbent has managed
to Root along ia Ayers rut. Ail this