New-York tribune., 1921-05-29

nearly a. century, or from 1910 UP to the cont
ing of the Americans in 1898, Porto Ricans
had the electorate suffrage; that in 1873 the.
islanders abolished slavery without bloodshed;
that in 1897, the year before the American
conquest the government progressed from
centralized form to a radical system with
out riot or struggle that in 1898 the island
was shifted from Spanish sovereignty to the
military rule under the United States with
out revolt and that two years later the
people accepted its governor, sent to rule over
them, and, with perfect confidence and trust,
gave him hearty cooperation wherever coopera-
tion was permitted and acquiesced in the die
tates of their ruler where cooperation was de-
MED and where submission was required.
In olden times Porto Rico gave to Spain
presidents of Parliament generals, governors
senator's, prelates-in short, energetic and In
tellectual rulers in many lines Of endeavor.
Since the coming of American governors,
Porto Rican juries have conscientiously full
filled their duties, Porto Rican judges have
applied the. law with learning and impartiality,
Porto Rican municipalities have administered
the public wealth with caution and economy
The two political parties in Porto Rico are
called Republican and Unonista. Governor
lican-that is, he belonged to the Republican
party in the United States He was appointed
by Republican Administration and took with
him and had about him Republican Cabinet
or upper house." Under his regime the Porto
Rican Republican party, which had been or
ganized in San Juan the year before speedily
became SO strong factor in the government
that it was bequeathed to his successor as the
cod, ;r,c ctrot a
weak minority suddenly sprang into universal,
or wellnigh universal favor. Local branches
were formed in many other centers. Republi-
canism was the popular "ism' for the moment.
Both Governors Allen and Hunt were strong
partsans and took no pains to conceal the
fact. And So taking their cue from their
chief executives and from their advisers the
young Republicans grew SO bold that sharp
discrimination was made between those "for"
and those against" the ruling faction.
Years before, during the strenuous days of
Spanish administration, secret society was
formed by the islanders, called the "Drys' as
contradistinguished from the "Wets,' the lat
ter term designating the Spaniards-m
those who had crossed the seas. And be-
tween these two were fought the great polit-
cal battles. But never in those early days o.
struggle for insular recognition was politics
carried to greater heat than in the first days
of Republican rule There were at the time
possibly $500 Americans on the island, some
of whom had been left by the original invad-
ing army, others who had come in quest of
fortune, and still others who were serving
in minor capacities in the various government
tai branches of the new "civl order" The
majority of these Americans were prominent
,1,t tha hon1 1aH $o
gether, proclaiming themselves the sole pro
tectors Of the "poor" (?) natives, and, promis
ing much, induced many to join their "Ameri-
can" party with the alluring hopes of state
hood as an immediate reward. Those who did