BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-09-10
sAu]UAN, EPTEMBER 10
A Black Lie.

aThe thing that now prevents many
people from coming to Porto kico TO
invest their money is a fear that condl-
t;ons are not enough settled, that the
turbas are too active and rloting too
General. They fear that their lives and
property will not receive adequate pro-
tec'iion.' (San Juan Newsl
There would be no sense or accuracy
IN declaring the above statement to be
wr,no. or tosay that it is a nisstate-
1nent Of facts, when it is in reality moth
ing more nor less than plain, urvar-
she'd, inexcusable, black lie.
The most unwarranted and unJustlfl.
able insult which has yet been uttered
AGAINST the fair name of the people OF
Porto Rico, by that horde of dlsap.
1,ointed favor seeker and their allies
who are still fighting the Spanish
American war although peace has
some four years since brought Its boun-
teous blessings to this island.
There are two most important things
s to be taken into consideration IN the
contemplation of this most outrageous
slander. the first, IS; that the Boletlils
sailing day theory IS borne out tor
the Caracas is leaving at this very mi
nute1 and the second is the difference be-
tween this, method of helping the islands
interests and reputation, and the met.
hods employed by Governor Hunt and
The insular officials. Even admitting,
and one must make an immense stretch
Of truth to do SO, that affairs are such
as pictured by the Scandahser, does
his work o give the island the Best
possible recommendation before the
people of the Union.
William H. Hunt goes to the United
States and there his every effect is in
the direction of aiding the island and
It's people. He tries to make the nation
understand that Porto Rico is getting
on in the wourld and is trying to be
WORTHY of association with the best states
in the Union.
On the other hand we take Mr. Hobart
S. Bird ''public-spirited citizen, .unselflsh
Journalist, herald of public opinion
Collecting venom and spleen during all
tnc week for insertion in his paper on
sailing day 50 that the passengers and
crews may be sare to give glowing
accounts Of murder done, of raplne, and
Of official incapacity. Virtually telling
capitalists not TO come, waning oft
aid, yelling to the men in the boats.
do not come ashore there are snakes
in the grass.
But casting aside all questions of
lnSular expediencys and attacking the
outrageous statements from the stand
point Of their inaceuracy and untruthful-
ness, no one can for a moment under
stand how the Scandalizsr conld have
formed the belief that the people Of the
island are so stupid as not TO see the
motives which prompt him and the
crowd that is behind him.
There is not ons single word of truth
ii the utterance that properly in Porto
Rico is not well guarded, nomore truth
than there was in the statement that
Senator Foraker is not a friend Of
this island
Americans and all foreigners,
who have come, from whatever place
have always found ample protection in
the island of Porto Rico Property
interests are safeguarde5 Some people
claim. and with reason, in a much
better way than in the populistic states
of the northwest.
That this sort of lying is doing
damnable injury to this island is already
apparent These papers fall into hands
IN the states, which are unacquainted
with the real state Of affairs here, and
Porto Rico is com pared with 1ayti and
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