Evening star., 1902-03-17
PORTO R|CQ'S FUTURE
View Of a Former Island
Official.
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
EFFECT OF THE CHICKERING'S OF
THE PARTIES.
People Have Less Voice in the Gov
ernment Than Formerly-Strug-
gle for Existence.

gle for Existence.
Senor Manuel Fernandez Juncos. ex-sec-
retary Of the treasury of the Porto Rican
colonial government gives his impressions
Of what the Americans have done Tor the
island in >an interesting article which ap-
peared in the January issue OF Nuestro
TEMPO, magazine published in Madrid or
which the following is a partial transla-
tion.
With the change OF nationality and as a
consequence thereof, a complete transIor-
ma ton in the political parties OF Porto
Rico took place. The Spanish element f1g-
urinK therein preserved its Spanish nation
ality, and. therefore. is not included In the
active orbit OF the dominant politics Inc
natives, and some few foreigners VINO
adopted the American nationality, formed
two political parties somewhat similar TO
the two principal parties in the United
States calling themselves the republican
and federal parties.
Party Aims Differ but Little.
Essentially the aims OF these two parties
differ but little. Both desire that the coun-
try as soon as possible shall attain all the
rights Of national citizenship and that It
become Incorporated into the federation as
a state thereof; but they differ somewhat
in the method to be adopted to attain this
end. The republican party OF Porto hlco
desires the speediest assimilation OF the
country to the United States by means OF
that system which the United States en-
ploys for the preparation OF this asslmlla-
tion in the territories which 1t mas ac
Quired on the continent, and the fedefai
party prefers an autonomous regime 1aVor-
ing the preservation and development or
the Porto Rican personality to attain Ine
same end. Each party is convinced that
the native population must be ABSORBED anu
transformed by the new owners or the
country one desiring that 1t be rapid, ana
the other gradual. This Is a mere question
Of time and form and does not call for
discussion Of the fundamental political
ideas, and for this reason, probably, the
contest between the two parties has de-
generated frequently to most passionate
and violent quarrel of personal character:
But this unfortunate campaign OF mutuai
recriminations gave moral force to the IN
vading power, which saw or desired to see
therein the grounds necessary to assert that
the Porto Ricans were not prepared for
trative cabinet was established In the cap
ital Of the island, composed exclusively OF
Americans.
The Present Government.
With regard to political and administra-
tive legislation Porto Rico has retrogressed
with the change of sovereignty. The Con-
stitution Of the United States is not yet in
force in the island. and Its present form OF
government is very much inferior to the
autonomous government which Spain had
provided The country at the present time
enjoys only a secondary voice in the acts
Of the government. The governor and his
cabinet are appointed by the President or
the United States and constitute the execu-
tive power. These seven officials, together
y,,,sft nf "a
try and also appointed by the President
| constitute the council. which, in so far as
parliamentary functions are concerned. Is
| similar to the Senate. Thus the executive
power forms the main part of the legislative
| power In the higher chamber, dualsm
| which does not conform to modern ideas
| of the representative system. There is In
| addition chamber of delegates. elected by
| the people but it's resolutions have no eff
| feet until approved by the council, where.
/ as l have said, there is always a majority
| of Americans. The decisions OF the legis-
| lative assembly require the sanction of the
governor, who may veto them, and, even
| after his approval. are subject to revision
| by the United States Congress, which re-
serves to itself the power Of annulling them
| If 1t sees fit. The American element pre-
dominates in the most important offices,
| and this, too, is resented by the natives.
who consider themselves suited to fill the
same.
The Military Regime.
4
lasted two years. was most disastrous to
| the administration Of Porto Rico. The
| ayuntamentos were disorganized to a great
| extent; means Of communication dete-
| riorated: the telegraph became little less
than unserviceable in the hands Of telegra-
pliers who did not understand Spanish:
some laws OF great Importance were ca
| priciously amended such as the mortgage
| and marriage laws and such an extraordi-
| nary number OF general orders were issued,
on such a variety of subjects, that q la
| mentable confusion reigned. Only two SER
| vices can be said to have improyed-the
| post office and health departments.
| The forces Of the country would have
| been able to successfully weather this
! transitory period and without serious loss
have reached the civil government stage.
| had it not been for the terrible cyclone OF
| 1889, which destroyed more than half the
| coffee plantations on the island. Further
more, another evil overlook Porto Rico By
the passage OF the bill providing for free
/ trade between the United Stats and Porto
Rico. and the application Of the Dingley Law
| to the island. coffee from any country could
| be imported free Of duty. Thus Brazilian
| coffee has begun to enter the island, which
coffee can be bought abroad for half the
| price of Porto Rican coffee. AS it resem-
bles the latter very much there are good
| grounds to fear that interruptions specula-
| tors will export 1t as Porto Rican coffee,
| and thus destroy the universal prestige
| which 1t has acquired.
Municipal Powers Restricted.
The powers Of municipalities are at pres
ent more restricted than under the Spanish
| sovereignty and many are about to be abol-
| ished on account Of the proposed new divi-
sion Of the island into counties, a division
which is not very suitable for small towns
| Notwithstanding what has been SAID as
surance may be given that Porto Rico will
prosper but that the benefit will not re-
dound to the Porto Ricans Dreamers.
those who give their all in order to please
their guests and live for the day only, let
| ting the future take care of itself, depend
| ing upon what may grow out OF or fall
upon the ground, these are destined to
succumb The fight for life. which already
! Is beginning to become fatiguing and hard
| will acquire the strenuous and tenacious
character which are It's characteristics at
present in the United States. and only the
brave gladiators Of the almighty dollar,
AOk% ~r,lx1