BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-06-28
SAN JUAN, JUNE e, 1901.
Editorial Comment.

The results SO far of the acars prevailing
in South Africa and the Philippines lndl'
cate that guerilla bands operating ~
rough, mountainous and forrest clad region,
near to which is a large, productive, non
combltant population in sympathy with
them aud upon whom they can draw for
supplies, are practically unconquerable.
As the ancient tribes of Mongols, Cells
Of the Scottish hills and Scythians resisted
the Roman arms, the Burgheis opposing
the English and the Philippines the Amer
leans are holding It successfully with tiny
scattered and unorganized armies against
enormous resources Of hen, money ana
supplies
In South Africa the British army Is
well nigh whipped, in the philippines there
is desultory lighting still going on within
few miles Of The settlements. The money
COS. IF these two wars has already been
enormous to the two stronger nauolS en-
gagged, a Irce greater, il peacr VAS 70 be
declared tomorrow, than the terIitoIy IN
dispute is worth, but hoic infinitely greater
has been the loss Of precious life. cost
which in the English army In. partlcu'aT
has been paid from the very flower OF TIE
nat on'S young manhood
In the Philippines hundreds OF Americans
have not only lad down tbe'q lives but
thousands have accumulated disabilities III
the terrible campaigns that VIZ leave them
little better than physical wrecks.
A feic years ago steps were taken among
the civilized powers to inaualrate inter
national arbitration which seemfd to promise
much. but the twentieth century, never
theleSs, came in with baptism OF blood
in widely scattered parts * the world,
wherein scenes, as along the lIel-ho, have
been enacted scarcely less rev HOlting than
the unnamabie horrors Of the (wars OF the
crusades
What has become of thei doctrire OF
|Pesce on earth, good will towards men,"
President Mckinley made speech at
Memphis, Tenn, during his recent journey
across the continent in which!he gave tx-
preston to views which are taken by many
to indicate considerable Modification Ct
his tariff theories
For many years Mr. Nc Hnley's name
has been inseparably connect3l with the
protective policy, lie dcas lirst'carried into
his high Office upon popular acaye OF
protest against the low tariff: adminis.ra
ton Of Grover Cleveland, to Hhich, rightly
or wrongly, was generally attributed the
hard times lCbich overwhelmed the Amer
lean people at Tat period.
Perhaps Mr. Mckinley, under the wider
growth and responsibilities If the nation
that have followed upon recent events, an
expansion which his opponents characterize
under the name OF imperialism, is coming
around to the traditional Bdssh view as
to market seeking.
1t is a SOmwhat remarkably sign Of The
times aud Of the industrial char gcs which
are passing over tie world that while there
seems to be growing demand in Amer
lea for lower tariff rates as means of
putting limit upon the power and profits
of the trusts, in England the protective
policy is finding an increasing advocacy.
Twenty days of fiesta will close Oh Sun
day night with the MASKED ball at the
theatre. It has on the whole been well
conducted and peaceful period or merry
making In which considerable; sums have
been spent by those icho coula we'll afford
IL and from the disbursement iof which tbe
labOring classes have profted.
Business and the general codrSe nf affairs
in the city have not been much altered by
the public exercises, most Of (which have
taken place in the evening, apd there has
been much pride displayed by 1.-THE followers
of the various industries and trades in the
EXHIBITS and decorations Of the Various street
pageants wherein they have shared.
In the United States and the north of
Europe such prolonged seasons of public |
pleasure seeking are unknown, the Mardi-
Gras celebration Of the American southern |
states which sometimes holds a sveek OF so is |
the only Junction approaching the carnival
here or the San Juan fiesta noac c.osing.
1t is to be hoped that as an observance Of
the Fourth of July has been seriously under I
taken here, it will be made entirely SUCCESS
iu Tbs celebration should be in manner |
worthy of the day, but the long weeks jub-
ilation just passed have lett little to be done
to make the event especially attractive.
The committees in charge should strive as
far as possible to present somthing new in
popular spectacles and sports and tie fire
works display might easily be better than that
of two years ago.
FOR SALE Two desirable properties.
One near Cupey and the other at Hato
nuevo, suburbs of Rio Piedras. The first