BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-07-16
SAN JUAN, JULY 16, 1901.
Editorial Comment.

Lii Hung Chang, the great Chinese pre-.
mier, is becoming so enfeebled by his great
age that it is necessary to employ the
most poacerful stimulants to arouse him
after he has slept through the night, and
it is only through the close and constant
attention of skilled American physician
that his suspended vitalities are then re-
called to activity.
After the administration Of these power
full restoratives, which Include electricity,
the decrepit old statesman is fed and then
seated at his desk. Here all his normal
energies return, and for many hours he
does an amazing amount of work, keeping
a succession of secretaries busy with the
important affairs Of the empire which are
mostly in his hands.
There is no doubt that Chang is very
remarkable man. He is one of the half
dozen foremost figures who have helped to
MAKE the worlds history in the past half
century and while his public acts have
often been distinguished by crattiness and
deception, bis services to his country as
we'll as to Western civilization have been
incalculable.
For many years he has been almost ths
sole mediator between his people and the
outer world, and the chief instrument fer
promoting the peaceful progress of inter.
course aid trade.
While it is but natural that the great
Ohinaman should sympathize with his race
because of the many great ipjustices they
have suffered at times at the lands of Other
nations, he is too acise to countenance
ANYTHING SO futile as the BQxer-nQ uprising,
though be probably dreams OF day to
come when through the adoption of western
methods, which he encourages the Celes-
tial empire shall rise in its might against
the Caucassisn world.
Ii Hung Chang is counted one of the
richest men in the world, his wealth run
ming into the hundreds of millions.
The leading men identified with the pol
itical conditions which are prevailing in the
state of Pennsylvania are at this moment
undergoing a most remarkable fire of crit
icism and condemnation from the indepen
dent press of the United States and it
certainly appears, if half of what is said is
true, that an unprecedented tide OF corrup.
tiOn has set in in the management of both
state and municipal affairs under the ope-
ration of the Quay machine.
According 10 the charges made the con
trolling organizations of both the political
parties appear to have joined forces for the
purpose of looting the people Of the yalua
BILE municipal franchises in the state, mainly
those of Philadelphia and Pittsburg.
John Wannamaker, formerly Post Mas.
ter General under Harrison, offered to the
city authorities of Philadelphia check for
$2,500,0O0 in pigment for the city fran
chises just before they were practically
given away to a syndicate, but the money
was not accepted by the mayor and the
deal with the company was consnmmated.
The loss to the people was not alone
represented by the money offered by Wan
namaker but in the reduction Of fares which
would have been made by the latter ID
he secured the motor line franchises. A
league of citizens has been formed and a
popular movement is on foot to remove
the present ring if possible from power.
Andrew Carnegie was the central figure
in the horrors paid to the visiting Ameri.
cans in London recently.
Mr.. OarIegie's vast wealth does not
alone make him an interesting character,
hut the lavish gifts he is constantly making
to educational institutions and for other pu-
bic causes draws tie attention Of the world
towards him as is the case with no other
man. In the person Of this aggressive, sue.
cessful, self made man, whose operations in
steel and iron have revolutionised the indus.
trial world, the English people saw the com.
meicial spirit OF the scestern continent incar.
mated and their interest in the man vas thus
peculiarly aroused, in the height Of the great
trade war now on among the nations.
Mr.. Carnegie is undoubtedly as remarka
bic man as the new world has produced