BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-07-23
SAN JUAN, JULY %, 1901.
Editorial Comment.

After repeated efforts on the part of their
friends, sided by some would be philan-
thropic people, the Younger brothers have
been released from the Minnesota state
penetentiary. 1t is a question if this is
not a case of mistaken clemeney. The
Youngers committed a most atroclous crime,
a quarter of a century ago, which involved
both robbery and murder, a bank was loot
ed by them in broad day light and they
killed the cashier who sought TO defend IT,
besides firing upon the citizens OF the town;
there was not at their trial nor has there
been at any time since doubt as to their
guilt, the evidence upon which they were
condemned was unimpeacbable and in fact
i never has been alleged that the convict
ed men ever discla:med it after sentence
was passed upon them.
The efforts that appear to have been
made during several years to secure the
release of these famous bandits has been
upon the ground that their conduct during
the whole term OF their imprisonment has
been entirely exemplary, and through this
sentiment of false pity has been arous-
ed.
Why should red handed murderers be
made to pose as martyrs in the public eye
as has been the case with the YOungers
ever since the agitation in their behalf
began?
1t is not in this way that acholesome
respect for the lao g ..ncu.cated. Rather
10 the career Of the savage old freebooterS
now drawing to its close in this incident,
wherein they have been made semi heroes,
lies an inspiration to weak minded readers
of yellow covered fiction to folloao in their
footsteps.
The reports from all sources show that
a remarkable series of disasters has alrea-
dy destroyed, seriously injured or put in
imminent peril the crops of the leading
countries OF Europe.
In many parts droughts have occurred,
as notably in Russia, the torrid heat has
drank up the life of all Vegetation, or heavy
rains have deluged the fields, while recently
fierce hail storms have come in sections to
supplement the damage which has occurred
from various causes combined
An American wheat speculator has just
returned to Nep York from bicycle tour
through sections of Germany, France, Bel.
gium and other countries and his reports
are most pessimistic as to the outlook.
1t is stated that this man while in Lon
d0n cabled his associates to buy up all the
grain in sight in anticipation Of an advan-
ce sure to come soon.
" bile such are the conditions in Europe
the outlook In the United States except
upon limited area is good for bounteous
yields of all the products of tie soil
This is a reversal of the conditions that
have been frequent enough in the past.
The claims to United States citizenship
which Mr.. Degetau is reported to have
presented at Washington appear to be found
cd on logical and cog Mt Interpretation
of constitutional law.
Our commissioner it is said states that
American citizens living in Porto Rice
were among bis constituents and that one
American is a member of the legislative |
body of the island This may be reasona.
bly, assumed to establish his own status, but
the fact that the supreme court has admit
ted him to practice before its bar seems
to settle the question Ct citizenship SO con.
vinciDgly that it may be said to have pass.
ed beyond the limits of controversy.
1t is of course to be conceded that the
most puissant of all tribunals has the inner
ent judicial power to so construe the cons
tituti0n IS to admit an alien to the right
to practice before it but such has Got been
the courts construction and procedure nor
is it likely that it ever will be.
Mr.. Degeta's recognition by the court
ought to rut at resi- the question OF his
full citizenship as it should settle also that
of the Porto Rican people.