BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-10-01
SAN JUAN, OCTOBER !
Editorial Comment.

The only comment that the BOLETIN has
to make upon the following extracts from
Governor Hunt's Inaugural Address is thar
every citizen of this island should read then
over and over. and if he thinks there is dan
ger of forgetting them, to Iearu them word
for word o. cut them out paste them in bis
hatefar frequent reference
''Never was there a more interesting
struggle Than that, everywhere apparent iu
our Island, FIR education. II IS a daily
evidence of the earnest wish of both parents
and children fer mental improvement. When
men, women, boys audgirls, have as grew
ance that there are not enough schools,
then we know that Porto Rice must prosper.
pledge YOU that we shall never relax our
energies until every child of proper age has
q good school within easy reach OF his home.
Be little pstent-the first years record IS
excellent, showing as it DOES 81 600 children
enrolled, and an average attendance OF 20
per cent. Mechanical and industrial schools
will be insugurated at an early time, so that
boys may learn trades and other useful oc-
cupatons fitting them for practical pursuits
in life There have also been constructed
twenty nl1e school houses, which means ten
thousand more children to be educated, nine
more are already projected, while but few
miles away, the clink of the trowel means
the early completion of an Insular Normal
school. We fully eIpect TO have $4,000
children enrolled by November next.
Good citizenship, patriotic inspirations,
spring from the American school house, and
instead of Porte Rico's affording an unfor
tpnate example of illteracy, let US here
record our determination TO show the highest
percentage of gain in literacy Of any land
under the sun.
It Is in the school house too the boy is
taught that under our government rela-
tionship of the citizen is reciprocal one, and
that his support and loyal encourage -nent
are indispensable to complete success. No
government Of the people can accomplish ITS
objects without eXertion by its citizens and
their keen interest IN its life-indeed, the
very foundation of the American republic
rests in the equal share that every citizen
has in it, and the performance of duty which
the citizen owes to the government which
protects him AID faithfully administers the
laws"
"Hunger should never be the accompani.
nent of poverty in Porto R %. Given a
small piece of ground. a few cents worth of
garden seeds, with slight energy. no family
should De without the means of subsistence.
The agricultural experimental station to be
established by the United States, and the
rural agricultural schools already assured 0y
the Insular Government, will be of inrstim
able advantage in demonstrating the poten
tialities of the soil, and the best methods for
the gardener to work It, The policy Of the
government must be to diftuse knowledge
Of farming far ard wide among the people,
old and young. This is Of paramount i'm.
poTtapce. Where land is so fertile. iotelg
ent toll alone is net ded to make its rewards
c0pious"
"Public philantl ropy may we'll be directed
toward the establishment of an asylum for
the INDECENT, helpless cripples and for the
blind. Those who are we'll, can and should
exert themselves, but civilized humanity
demands that as soon as the government is
able, it provide refuge for persons who are
dependent and helpessly afllcted.v
Let me earnestly beg you to remember
that political differences ought to be based
upon measures, rather than upon personal
prejudlces; that it is the duty ofevery citizen
to practice tolerance toward his neighbor,
and to respect his opinions though differenL
from his own. / therefore impore you to
forsske the bitternesses Of bygone days, to
look forward and to cooperate in promoting
general contentment Of the people"
ssThe truest patriot in Porto Rico is the
man who looks to the future with abiding
hope, who never faIters in his respect for
the law, who raises his voice to counsel
quiet obedience to it, end who has the cour.
age to disayow opposition to it, no matter
by whomsoeyer suggested. In this way,
peace and tranquility shall prevail, commerce
shall thrive, labor shall be demanded,
capital shall find perfect safety in investment.
citizenship shall be elevated and that mush
sooner will the Nation hail the rising star
Of the sea.