BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-10-04
Z, SAN JUAN, OCTOBER 4
Editorial Comment.

The vast Importance to Porto Pico and
air the, American colonies Of the proposed
reciprocity treaties, suggests the coping
word for word of tie following edlforal
from the New York Evening Post Of Sep
tefnber 23rd. Tae feeling of tie American
people on this important question, and es-
pecially Of our nearest kin the shoutern
Rico should be Key Key" iS6tds iH6ts o. a a5tcto Co. re
ciprocity to some degree has always been d
part of American policies, hutt he effort nov
being made to hasten treaties with that ob
ject in view gives promise of much fer the
colonies.
"According to Washington dispatches
the urgency Of reciprocity has hardly given
President Roosevelt time to settle dlwn to
his work. Apparently he is nearing the
time for decisive action in regard to that
part of Republican policy over watch ditier
ences of opinisn are most acaie The sui
den change from one President to another
he's made no break in the politica interest OF
tie question, and plainly there will be no less
ening of that interest unsil it becumes clear
whether and how Mr. McKmley's successor
will advance the cause which tragic circum-
stances have devolVed upon him. Already,
it is said, many sen tors have cai.ed upon
him asking delay or side-tracking fer ise
very matters which formed tue burden Of Dir
McK'nley'S farewell message a lite over
two weeks ago. This is a curious irony oil
events TO rebuke those whose predictions OIL
the futiity of discussing hs treaties We're
recent aud confident What hope have they
for the wish that is fataer to taeir though
Is President Roosevelt less strong thaA his
predecessor to take up the clial eage Of aide
bound protectionists? are tue party a0d
the country less williug to support h.nis
" think not for sevefai Fesso :.
uThere is not The slightess doubt that toe
public sentiment which Cannot bat associate
Mr.. McKinle,'s death with tue noble speech
which SO shortly preceded il viii strengthen
the hands Of President Roosevelt. Il is
useless to belIttle that fact. Tie hopes and
interests that centred on that great plea for
reciprocity will be transferred to ths man |
who wss quick TO respond 10 il and make It |
his own. Those who had strongly orposed |
tie late President in behalf Of specia
interests need not trouble themselves much |
about varying their tactics
''With the exception of ore or two south |
ern states, especially Texas, there are no
special interests in the south opposed to the
treaties. There is greater solidarity Of ia
terest there in favor of the treaties than |
there is in the union of the California aud /
New England and other senators against
them. The attitude ef the south, indeed,
in one of the most hopeful fscoTs OF t &
situation. In the hearty response which
President Rooserel's d elaraiion agaiass
sectionalism, made last S 4tnrday, hss evoked
fhor ia an huff IF
and gratitude from sou hern Sourc S.
"The President could MOI have made d
declaration more timely or better calculated
to further reciprocity IN tue favor Of sCnIhefn
public opinion. Southern IN is are being I
planned aud built b. huudreds because tbs
hope Of export trade is ihsir menstay.
Southern senator's, eager, for Ncarsgus
canal, are sure to view better treaties as
part of the policy which vii further the
industrial awakening Of the $ ates they
represent. Many OF them are, If course, Iu
favor of radical tariff revision, hut Iecpro
city is a principle that 10y atty to their own
political creed binds them to accent.
President Roosevelt viii not, it is safe
to say, view the commercially hostle attitude
Of some foreign news papers aud posslbl1 L
some foreign cabinets with slarm The las
speech OF his predecessor bas anticipated
much hostile foelgn criticism, and th
attitude Of the German geyernmeot itself IS
one Of suspense t. ste Witt pro
mise there is in The American mosement
for reciprocity. The latter has suddenly been
brought into International pTomipepce ~ a
possible reeonciIer between commercial Eu
rope and commercial America that note is
sounding stronger now lkau tie fears o.
special interests against foreign competition.
Oar manufacturers have themselves decaf
ed in their national association that this
larger phase Of the question is also ihsir osn
ylow and will hare tier practic8l support
Il is not he least Of the signs TINT President
Roosevelt will be vigorously suppored ~
contending for the policy which be has so
Loyalty accepted