BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-12-07
SAN JUAN, DECEMBER 7
Editorial Comment.

. NinAIQcH n
nd ,ocTininatiops. vituperation and With
cafion. denials built upon den'als, ana
fearIess and uublushing contradictions OF
.uorn - STATEMENTS has marked the beglnn'
inc and the closing Of one OF the most
important criminal prosecutions wlicn mas Tss
ever been instituted on TINS lslana' lug
dignity and the sanctity OF Justlce nas
been entirely ignored, and Wnat snou'u
ordinarily have been the ialr pI0sec9'lon
of a public official tor crimes alegeu ~
have been committed ny MN, mas pe
come by the admixture OF poIucS auu
personal interest an insult to justice ana an
absolute negation OF the idea lor WHICH oil
courts of law we're instituted -.
To the disinterested citizen whose JUG
meut is not warped by political afhliatlons
or partisan spirit, this matter can present
itself in only one light and that Is tnat tne
1istrict Court OF Ponce has long since
ontl,ved its usefulness, that it no crimes
have beep proven against any OF its members
II has been demonstrated by public trial IN
the highest tribunal on tnis island, that there
o-a man in that Court who are incompetent
and incapable by reason of their partisansnlp
from acting as impartial justices Of ngnl
and wrong, of law and order
Without entering into the question OF
Moreno OaIderon's guilt on the change Vi
bribery or attempting to eXtors Dilpe'
This much is certain that Moreno Calderon,
whether acquitted or guilty Of the charge
now againsI MIN, IS absolutely incompetent
and nnfit to act as public official, especially
in the seat of the most hallowed institution
in our governmental Organization. Wllnons
~ 80 O.. h. q fss.yss'-
ment made by him under oath was untrue,
was made without any regard whatever paid
to the truth, or respect for the intelligence
of the community which he represented as
the defender OF justice and the prosecutor
OF crime and injustice. Without any regard
whatever to the innocence or guilt OF
Moreno Ualderon on the present charge
against him, all people are of the one opinion
that Moreno Oslderon Is unfit to be Fiscal
of the District Court of Ponce.
What originally should have been q
plain, simple legal prosecution OF charge
against public Official, whose guilt or in.
nocence should have been the only consider
ations became by jugglery with facts and
figures and with the process OF the Courts
instrusted into the hands of political par.
tlsans, tangled web If lies and denials, of
such an intricate nature that citizens are
dumiounded, there Is grave danger of q
miscarriage of justice, and our worthy officials
are actually beWlldeied at the state of affairs
which exist on this island.
That the District Court of Ponce has
ceased to be what 1t was organized to be Is
admitted publicly and privately by all, and
that it has TrOven in this instance its incap.
ability has also been proven without a
question of doubt. When justices, fscals
and other public officials make the confess
sions and statements made by the members
of that Court on the stand and in affidavits,
even their staunchest supporters and defend
ers must admit that they have ceased to |
be of any use to the People of Porto R:co In |
the effort to organize tslr Judicial system
and judiciary on thIs island.
IL is cause for n0 surprise whatever that
the Supreme Court of Porto Rico has decid-
ed to lake time for the proper cOnsldera.
ton of this case. With a most bewlideringl
and conflicting mass of testimony before il,
with the many charges and countercharges
made by everybody against everybody, and
with the men whom they looked 70 as their
aids in supporting an impartial judIciar Of
the commission OF perjury, with no attemptl
to hide political jobbery and pettifogging,
the case indeed presents condition OF
affairs and an array of facts that would re- K
quire q very Solon to use his best efforts to
determine the issue.
But no matter what the decision of the {
Supreme Court may be all people are agreed s
upon the one point and tnat is that the r
District Court at Ponce has ceased to have |
ths respect of the people, aud tnat for this
rsason it is time that It should be removed u
ia body and new one instituted in It's Il
place.
There are plenty of menin Porto Rico, O
who although they may have party and a.
political preferences, would not permit those 81
to interiere with them ia the y
performance OF duties which they have taken Il
solemn oath to properly perform. There d
ire men who have no political affiliations, II
md who would make good jusnces, and 50
,rudent public servants. From among 10
hem new District Court of Ponce should X
70 formed, and party leaders should be on
,sven TO understand that the only parties OF
Vhloh will be permitted TO enter those sa-- Ia
red halls are the parties Of law and justice, i'll
i order and impartiaIity, Of punishment
Or the wror gdoer and vlndcatIon for the
,nocent accused. wa