BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-06-18
SANUUAN,' JUNE is, 1901.
Editorial COmjnent.

The drift of comment in the American
press on the supreme court decision IN the
inSular cases appears TO be largely gov
erned by political bias; as q rule the re-
publican papers approve 1t and the demo-
cratic journals take issue with it. AS a
matter of course the anti-imierialists differ
with the courts conclusions and this ee-
ment is represented by somet strong repu-
blicsu organs.
The trend of the criticism indicates that
the question OF national IMPERIALISM will
taae leading place in the next campaign
as it did in the last, as far as present signs
point, indeed, there appears 70 be 10 other
dividing issue of sufficient import 70 afford
basis for distinct party alignment.
Under new and rather satisfactory c0nd-
ti0ns the old contentious are for the pres
ent at least settled, the mqney question
has been set at rest for some time, and as
to the protective policy the nsw era Of ma
nufacturing industry in the southern states
has caused so great revolution In opinion
there as to lead to an out and out depar-
iure from the traditional free trade theory.
of that section, change that foreshsdows
the imminent dissolution of the solid
so1th."
Whatever nay he the differing point Of
view from which the courts action is re
garded It stands unalterable except Sd far
as lies within the authority of that high
tribunal itself, and the only appeal can be
taken, as w. j. Brysn says, in his new
paper, "The CommOner,n TO the people.
Should the coming national campaign be
fought upon this question, and an over.
'Chelming sense of public opposition be
then recorded against the new constitutio.
Lal Interpretation involved in the decision,
the cases might be reconSide.ed and a re-
verse verdict obtained. This at the present
writing does not seem likely.
The latest adyices present the condition
of affairs In China In pltiabie light.
Along tue Pel-hO valley. which was the
pathway OF the march of the allied iOIces
against Pekin, the devastation is complete,
cities, towns, farms, every vestige Of human
OCCUPANCY is wholly wiped cut Here be.
fore the uprising was large and fairly
prosperous, certainly a self sustaining, po-
pulatioD. A line OF Villages and planta-
tlons made a continuous scene Of active
and busy life where, in the still rude and
ancient way, the teeming population CARR.
ed on the various affairs OF industry, in
tercOurse and exchange.
Now all is changed and desert street
ches all the way with only gloomy and
tenantleSs ruins making the site of a once
cOntented community. Here 1cas enacted
the greatest crime against Christian civil
izatiOn of record in history. 1t will stand
as a shameful blot on the escutcheon Of
every nation aChich engaged in the brutal
part Of it and the spolIation. 1t was one
thing to give China lesson, another to
keep faith with tie decencieS OF modern
warfare III a campaign 'caged, as was the
case along the Pei-hO, against helpless
and almost wholly non -combatiye people
and al under the banner of tie cross and
IN the name of peace seeking nations.
AS a result of the complete destruction
of the Pei-ho district famine is inevitable
aud it is feared that 100000 Chinese
will perish.
The weather during the past two or three
months has been exceedingly bad in The
states. Ia many places "Winter fingered
in the lap OF Spring" wlen sunshine and
flowers were overdue and heavy and cold
rains and SHOWS have prevailed seidely.
So unfavorable have been these conditions
that the main exercises attending the open
ing of tn Pan American exposition were
postponed and in consequence of rain snow
and wind the attendance has been small.
We who live in Porto Rico are exempt
from these troubles, the climate is as nearly
perfect as may be. Thousands of Americans
will in time seek it during the winter and
early spring months; only good hotel acco.
modations are now lacking to induce large
infuI Of visitors annually.