Evening star., 1901-07-04
P0RT0RICo'S FOURTH
f2- Ii
An 0ld-Fashioned Celebration Ex-
peoted There
LEGISLATURE TO MEET on THAT DAY
Jt
L ia
Educated Classes ! ! Acquiesce in
Will of Majority.
l..
A SALUTARY SURPRISE
SALUTARY SURPRISE

Written for The Evening Star
They expect to have an old-fashiored
Fourth OF July in Porto Rico. Perhaps 1t
would be better to say new-fashioned, for
they haven't had the chance to celebrate
very long. A bundle Of letters and news
papers which came up by the last mail tells
something about it.
The special session Of the legislature.
which Gov. Allen called to meet on July
4. Is one reason for the Porto Ricans cele-
bratfng Independence day This meeting
Of the legislature means a great deal to
the island. and it is, moreover significant
of much that Is important to the United
States 1t Is known that the chief purpose
of the special session Is to show that the
island is capable of raising sufficient reve-
entitled to free trade with this country un-
der the provisions OF the Foraker law. But
incidentally good deal more that is Of
Importance will be shown
For one thing, it will be demonstrated
that the educated classes in Porto Rico,
after a little experience, have grasped one
fundamental idea of American political in
stitutions. This is acquiescence in the will
or the majority without refusing to per-
form the ordinary functions of citizenship
In so far as relates to going to the polls
and voting for candidates. The federal
party, after nearly years sulking has
learned that this old Spanish way does not
work under the American system. The old
Spanish idea was for the party which felt
1t was going to be beaten to sulk and to
refuse to take part in the election or ac-
cept any of the responsibilities of govern
ment. The tendency had become ingrained
both In Cuba and in Porto Rico.
The Federal Party In Power.
When the American authority under Gen.
Brooke and his successor Gen. Henry was
first exerted in Porto Rico what came to
be known as the federal party was given
large measure Of power in the admins
tration Of civil affairs. 1t was the out
growth Of the former autonomist party.
It's leader was Munoz Rivera, a man of
talent and even of brilliancy, but thorough
ly Spanish in all his ideas. AS was per-
haps natural, the power given these former
autonomists was abused and the DISPOSE
tion was strong to build up personal or
ganization which would monopolize the Of
fees and relieve the members of 1t from
paying taxes, or at least their share of the
taxes. Something more than a year ago
when Gen. Geo. w. Davis was the military
governor found him greatly perplexed
over the intricaces of inherited Spanish
politics. He saw clearly that it would not
do to let a single political organization
dominate the island and perpetuate itself.
but he was in doubt as to the way to rem
edy this evil.
After civil government was established
the evil cured itself The natural reac-
ton from the domination of a few men
under the name of political party laid
the basis for a rival organization which
came to be known the republican. The
federals had entrenched themselves in the
municipalities and expected to control the
election of the civil functional aries provided
under the Foraker law When they found
that they could do this only by securing
majority Of the qualified electors their par
ty went into retirement. It was inevi-
table that fair election should displace
them, but rather than be defeated fairly
they followed the Spanish method Of with
drawing and leaving the field to their oppo-
nents. 1t is for this reason that all the
members of the assembly or lower house
of the Porto Rico legislature are republt-
cans.
A Salutary Surprise.
The surprises which the federals expe-
rienced when they found that the Ameri-
can administration was going right on and
was not going to be embarrassed by their
failure to cooperate a salutary one.
1t has taken them several months to learn
that II they chose to exclude themselves
from the public service they alone would
be the losers. After months of thinking on
the subject they came to the conclusion
that the old Spanish methods would not
answer under American sovereignty. The
federal party, therefore, reorganiZed and
formally gave us support TO Governor Al
len and his administration. The signifi-
canoe of all this is that when the Porto
Rico legislature meets In special session on
July there will be two political parties,
and both of them will be parties of the
government. The issues on which they
will differ will be Of a local character
rather than with respect to the American
administration. Probably in the future Of
time IN which any of the political parties
will try to enforce it's principles or it's poll
cies by withdrawing from all participation
in public affairs.
The meeting of the legislature is also q
lesson for the property owners, who are
mostly Spaniards. In April they sent a
delegation to Washington to complain of
what is known the Hollander tax law
Governor Allen. They were told that in
stead Of abusing the governor they should
present some practical suggestions for the
relief which they sought, but they per-
sisted that the only relief would be for the
President arbitrarily to set aside the work
of the legislature. They did not content
themselves with asking what was practical,
which was to call special session Of the
objections to the Hollander law. Never
theless, the session has been called, and II
they can make out case they may be sure
of remedial legislation.
Special Legislative Session.
I do not know whether the American
officials in Porto Rico think that the law
needs amending. One objection to it was
that it embodied the ideas Of college
theorist rather than of a practical legisla-
tor From the fact that the chief purpose
OF calling the legislature together Is to
demonstrate that the island can raise suffi-
cient revenues for its own support and
furthermore since these revenues are to be
raised chiefly undr the Holiaiader law it Is
likely that Governor Allen and his asso-
ciates do not believe that 1t needs amend
ment In any Of its materia provisions.