The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-29
PORTO RIco,s NEW GOVERNOR.

There is a note of hope and good
cheer running through the inaugural
address of Hon. William H. Hunt, now
governor of the Island of Porto Rico.
Mr.. Hunt is a man whose character
lends weight to his words and gives
currency to his promises and he has
outlined for himself a policy of inter
4 nal improvement that, If followed,
will bring to Porto Rico a measure of
prosperity such as it has never known
before.
What for the present at least may
be regarded as a degree of self-govern-
ment quite commensurate with their
probable ability to use 1t rightly has
been conferred upon the people OF the
island. Their laws are made by a
legislature composed of their own citi-
zens and elected by their own votes.
The executive council includes five ma
tive born citizens, chosen by the gov
ernor.
"Henceforth," says Gov. Hunt in his
inaugural. "if the laws you live under
are good, self-government will be re-
affirmed success; If they are bad it
will only be because you yourselves
retrograde or elect those unworthy or
unfit to represent you"
Gov. Hunt reviews the achievements
of the government of the island since
IT passed under the rule of the United
States. Free schools, the active en-
couragement of agriculture, road con-
stFuction on a broad and increasing
scale, the inception of work for the es-
tablishment of a naval station. induce
ments to the investment of capital in
large enterprises-to all of these the
island government has given ready
encouragement and in all of them has
taken an active part. In road build
ing alone half as much has been ac-
complished in three years as had been
accomplished by the Spanish govern
ment in the four hundred years of it's
domination. In these three years there
have been built 100 kilometers of roads,
at an average cost of $1,000 per kilo-
meter and an aggregate cost of $780,
900.
The governor exhorts the people of
the island to forget past differences,
to occupy themselves in their material
improvement. to yield respect to law
and order and constantly and patriot
ically to labor for the public welfare.
1.-THE truest patriot in Porto Rico"
he concludes, "is the man who looks
to the future with abiding hope, who
never falters in his respect for the law,
who raises his voice to counsel quiet
obedience to it, and who has the cour-
age to disavow opposition to it. no
matter by whom suggested. In this
way peace and tranquility shall pre-
vail, commerce shall thrive, labor shall
be demanded, capital shall find perfect
safety in investment, citizenship shall
be elevated and that much sooner will
the nation hail the rising star of the
sea-"
When Gov. Hunt was inaugurated,
on Sept. 16 last, the nation stood in
the presence of great sorrow. Presi-
dent Mckinley had just passed away
and the address was not delivered, the
ceremonies being confined to taking the
oath by the governor in the Executive
Mansion. The address has recently
| been published.
The new governor of the island was
it's treasurer during the administration
of his predecessor and he has a thor
ough acquaintance with it's needs and
with the character and aspirations of
its people. AS long as he keeps in SYM
pathy with the latter and seeks stead
lastly to advance the former will Porto
Rico prosper and thrive.