OF BRIG. GEN. GEO. W. DAVIS, U. S. V., ON CIVIL AFFAIRS OF PUERTO RICO. 1899. WASHUTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1900. LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF PUERTO RICO, CIVIL DIVISION, San Juan, October 13, 1899. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the Department dated August 3, 1899, directing me to submit an annual report on the civil government of Puerto Rico that has been administered by the commanding general of the troops in this island since the transfer of sovereignty of the same to the United States. The work has just been completed and has proven to be one of very great magnitude. I greatly regret that I could not sooner complete it, but the importance of this subject was so momentous that I felt I would be justified in exceeding somewhat the time limit fixed in letter of instructions above referred to. I hope that the presentation which I now have the honor to submit may be found of some value. I am sensible that there are many other subjects that deserve consideration, and phases of considered subjects that might well be further elaborated, but I do not feel warranted in appropriating more time for such broader treatment. In this report I have referred to apposite historical incidents and precedents, but these references are necessarily brief, and perhaps inaccuracies of citation of dates have crept in, for the books of reference at my command are very few. I wish to bear testimony to the universal kindness and deference that has been extended to me by the native Puerto Ricans. Nothing could be more cordial than their reception of the military representative of the Executive branch of the United States Government. I have found it to be necessary, as I believed, in the discussion of civil affairs, past and present, to advert in strong terms to the general unfitness of the great mass of the people for self-government, and unfortunately the number of the intelligent, learned, and responsible natives bears a very small ratio to the illiterate and irresponsible. If the percentage of those who are not able to read and write was as small as that of those who can, I would have the greatest pleasure in recommending the immediate endowment of the island with full autonomy. Under such conditions I would gladly deliver over the reins of territorial government to men who would be the choice of such a clientèle. The report has been arranged into convenient titles or captions. In the appendix will be found a very large mass of data not heretofore published or compiled. The report is submitted as containing the results of my best efforts applied in a limited time to a most important subject. Very respectfully, GEO. W. DAVIS, Brigadier-General, U. S. V., Commanding. The ADJUTANT-GENERAL, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. |