New-York tribune., 1901-05-27
POLITICS IN PORTO RICO
FEDERALs OBsTRUCT, REPUBLICANS
AID, UNITED STATES AID
NIINISTRATION.
NIINISTRATION.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]


bosses platforms convenient Of Interpretation and
all the paraphernaa of the polls. is perhaps one
Of the most promising indications that annexation
IS going to lead TO complete assimilation in the
near future, and that the islanders will be indis-
tinguishable from other citizens of the United
States by the time they learn the English Ian
81 ege. The first adequate account of Porto Rican
politics is given in the interesting chapter Of
Governor Aliens report to the President this
month, in the course of which he says:
Since the advent Of American occupation there
have been two political parties in Porto Rico They
Federal. There have been ever since the Gays o.
the Spanish republic under Castelar, aI leaSt. II
NOT longer TWO or more and sometimes half a dozen
parties or factions among these people, generaiIy
a Spanish and native party, ana SUBDIVISIONS or
moofcat tions OF these. But since the treaty OF
Paris nearly II not quite & al ahs nnW of
it is believed that the Federal claims TO be the
legitimate successor OF the Old Liberal party put
the Republican claims TO be an entreIy ne" n p
based the new conditions, following ~moderh ~
However, a careful examination of the two plat
forms. willie ii develops difference in phraseooSy.
which may be noted the following:
BOTH PARTIES DECLARE LOYALTY.
Both announce their unqualified loyalty TO the
United States of America, and both desire terri
ally fun statehood in the American Union; eoth
favor universal suffrage, free schools, American
money and tree trade With the United States, and
both admire and commend the American JudGiai
system. In all these points there is no Sreat oli-
ference between them. as far as appears III 'iAeiI
The Federals. however. advocate local autonomy,
the granting OF large powers to the ayuntamiento
ing an average territorial Jurisdiction of about
ffty-sx square miles each; also the chartering OF
Champion they calm 10 be- The Republicans an
nounce themselves the advocates of free speech
and free press; are opposed the admission of
foreign contract labor. and advocate the American
system Of taxation and the teaching OF the Ehelsh
language in the PUBLIC schools. .,-, .oi.,,-
In the points OF difference mentioned neither
party assails Genounces the position OF the otner
but the respective platforms are silent on the points
While Iney P9nt BST m W[a 6f to 20
with alarm" the policies advocated by their oppo-
neared to be that one was in and the other was
out However there can be no denying the fact
lean control of The island in good faith and gives a
hearty support 10 the administration. the same
cannot be candidy said Of their political opponents
BITTER FEELINGS DISPLAYED
notwithstanding the lack os clear cut issues be-
manifested se in degree unheard Of on the CONT
nent. 1t is common thing for towns TO be diNlGeu
to have any Rnd Of communicaton with members
of the other. And the violence OF me iang ] lasF
used in Some OF the newspapers would III SOM %
the States Of the Union produce such scenes, o.
blOodshed would ripen into feuds lasting NJ
time However. actual deeds of violence arising
from political differences have been remarkably
During the registration OF voters ',4a' t1 - ~
islands both parties were active, althouSh me p9I-
licans who more alert. and had lists OF Their
prepared TO hand to the registers IN ordeT 10
facilitate their labors, whereas the Federas "hle
prodigal Of oratory and printers ink. had not in
many instances made a close canvass OF thelr No'-
At the close of the preliminary registration the
Renublicans claimed a clear ma jority of over four
tboussnd Roth parties continued active. and at
the close of final registration. showing l2lO voters
in the island. the Republicans stiu claimed ma
When election day the Federals& & did n not 60
TO the polls but notwithstanding this the hepunII
lcans cast 5S.367 votes. Allowing for natural
and for a further element Of apathy always ac-
companying election when II is known tliat
denenstrabIe thai the Republcans were
in their belief that the nal registration gave lhe
a majority in the island
FEDERALs RULED BY ONE MAN.
The Federal party as a whole. is subservient 10
the discipline OF ITS one leader on The other & % 6amd
nSon nSf feg recofnzne St III ha it IS not sch
izes with American notions Of individual iTeedom,
favor Of the policy of not going the polls. in
order that the power of their leader might be
Thee up Wa n very Jrihf e trouble or about
the & MANA bSFt9 The laPse n
jorty of complaints of anticipated trouble on cleo
certain Federal municipal authorities were arrest
ing Republicans without cause beating mem ne h OF
or groundless; for eesiion day proved that where
ever men had the moral and physical courage TO
go quietly to the polls and vote. they did SO with
edly directed the two Federal members Of the Ex
eeutive Council TO resign. they being believers in
for their party in November they pursued a like
The Americans residing in the island regret the
course pursued by the Federals, because il showed
a subserviency to individual political control in
compatible with true American government, yet II
is felt that great progress was made by the conduct
of the natives at the election which very fair,
people a free electoral system and the disposition
OF a majority of them to draw close 10 American
ways and 70 adopt American ideas OF the duties
Without regard TO their platforms. and weighed
exclusively in the scales Of action, the two parties
can be easily classed.
THE TWO PARTIES DEFINED.
The Federal party is so subservient TO a leader
who is malcontent that II has followed him to
large extent in his policy or obstruction. and as
natural sequence has persistently opposed the
American policy toward the island. On the other
hand. ii should be said that there a good many
in the Federal party. who would naturally be
found upon the side of good order and regular
ship. confidently be relied upon, II is thought,
to be upon the side OF such administration of
affairs in the island tend TO its permanent ad-
yancement.
The Republican party is firmly in favor of Amer
lean methods and renders an honest and inte!h-
The Federal party has lately allied itself with
the malcontent elements of every kind in endeavor-
ing 10 procure the annulrrent OF the revenue laws
infame the public mind in opposition TO the policy
pursued by the local administration in endeavorns
suar upon ali the inhabitants of the island
according the ability Of each 10 pay them These
obstructionists have also grown more vrulent in
their newspaper attacks on the members of the
executive government, and have extended the field
of their operations 10 New-YoTk and other cities
Of the United States. They have very
Anglo-Saxon nature and the sound judgment OF the
American people. who are generally indifferent to
The outcome is awaited with confidence.