La correspondencia de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 1890-1943, 1902-04-22
What cannot be
l0giSlateQ on.

While we are discussing politics,
those curious cones called etalacti-
tss ora being formed in the caves of
the Island; and on our coasts, the
$50, ca one side gains ground, and
ON the other loses it; and on the
mountains minerals are slowly
washed, communicating to the wa
ters their medicinal properties.
We suppose that no legislator
inside or outside the Island would
ever think of devising, for example,
8 Il. 3. No. Gprescribing rules
for the advance Of the sea on the
South, and it's recession on the
North Of the Islsndo; Or @. B. No.
et0 provide that the waters of the
Plata river shall start from their
source already mixed with sulphuric
acidS; or J. E No.
by the Congress of the United States,
srs f3rriDg to The m&nrer in which
st&Isctitea are to be formed in Porto
Rico, and for other purposes
NuW, then, while we are busy
discussing politics, th9 Spanish Ian
gueg9 and the English Ian guage
have begun here agreed to wrestle
be'waen themselves; for it so hap
penss that God and history have
ordained that they should wrastls
end eV0tutiOniae, for everything here
below ecobottio2oj&eS and moves.
Therefore, any II. B. or @. B.
orr. R., no matter where originated,
which proposes to legislate anent
the vicissitudes of English and
Spanish in the Island, would be no
less idle and int factual than legis-
l&ting about the advances of the Sea,
the naturalization Of waters or the
shape cf st&l&ctites.
1t would be wasting time, then,
were it proposed to give to either of
these languages preponderance
over the other; it would be wasting
time, if privileges in favor of the
possessOr Of either of them were
established in the Island; if one of
these languages strOve to dominate
the other; or if one party demanded
the 8aro71izGtjOn of the Porto Rican
tongue, while the other lamented,
because, Oh cruel fate! it WAS pro.
posed to snatch sway from US the
language Of our forefathers!
In point Of languages, matters
Will go on to th3lr appointed end,
without caring q continental what
action may be Uak9n by us in the
premises. And with US, and over
our heads, they will follow their
destiny. Tney are autonomous. Thank
God, Wa have autonomy in some
thing! Be it known that languages
If We mistake nOt,-are historical
formations which exert little or no
l1Huence on the hood, the tastes
and destlnies Of those who speak
them. Let it be known that Iangua-
gas can never succeed in restraining
b0mSn liberty, when it is o question
Cf determining the family with
which men desire to unite themselves
fer life and death.
We have an example of this in
Porto Rico. Porto RicAns aspire
Worthiiy to become part and parcel
II the United States, while they
speak 81 language different from
iGaJ of their neW allies, Here, too,
W have SpRnish"America and the
U 1itad States themselves, breaking
away 4rG7V9E AEQH tQ9lr prOg9nltOrs,
though speaking the same language.
Ano should o further proof be
needed, there We have Switzerland,
forming d sicgle nstion aud speaking
three languages.
vs. must not meddle with what
Is no concern Of OURS. Let US leave
TO Nature the solution Of the
problems W1icn she has reserved
for herself. Let US not und rta ke
tto mulh, and thereby expose
ourselves to cutting q Ridiculous f.
gure.
Let US abstain from legislating
ab3 3ut languages, be patient, and
consider thatit was to some purpose
Interpreters were created.