BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1904-08-18
Mr.. Todd and Home Rule


own account, but for that of his sym
pathizers, has addressed to the repu-
blican party some declarations which
are worthy of coment.
1t is safe to say that Mr.. Todd has
given sufficient weight to his declara-
tions by taking counsel with some of
his friends sympathlzeIs, and they
heads together the declaration has CO.
me out as ratification of the policy of
his party. 2b!cs1
Mr. Todd speaks of Our culture, COM
potency and liability for the direction
of public affairs. We do not need he
says, that outsiders aco1ne to teach us
what we know Of old.
However when for sometime we
have been proclaiming the same that
Mr.. Todd proclains atpresent, the pa
pers belonging to Mr. Todd's party
the same papers that now give out Mr.
Todd's declarations would say that
ours was case of decay Of the race,
that nothlug that we possessed was
good for anything and that we needed
to bath in the pure waters of healthy
America.
After, we had some opportunity to
write about home rule and Selfgovern-
nents and horridl'' claimed the rep1-
blican papers, this is against all order
and morality, it is against American
principles this is not to be alluded to
nor mentioned, the system of COVER
nment of the metropolis will not con-
sent it.
Of course, we we're not heard, but
the Alcalde OF San Iuan, now offers
to our sight, and TO cur heart S content
rectifcation which bis imposed to his
party and is all that is right and reaso-
nable.
Our work is not the work of the pre-
sent, but the work Of the future, and
if we can discern things from afar, it is
not because we have finer sence than
others to define matters at a distance,
but to logical analyzing and weighing
OF circumstances.
Here is a good proof, Mr. Todd says
arrogantly that he is impelled this way
by his friends sympathizers and the
republican papers heartily give the
words to the public, what then can we
say in our side? Is this an evolution
looking to the armony of the aspira-
tions of the country.
1t looks SO, and that we will not be
mistaken in predicting as complete
transformation in politics as the coun-
try will admit.
Mr.. Todd says that he will not fall
back step until he gets for Porto
Rico before the status of a territory
or of an state, perfect and full Home
Rule, which is not more nor less than
self government and Autonomy.
The actual functicnaries of the CO.
lony if their ompensatiOns do not
feel their views, cannot do satisfactory
work, they care little for or financial
conditions and the least we can expect
of them, is that with sincere wishes
for the welfare of the country they 60
back to their homes, while it is our
part to suffer the. consequences of
their inexperience.
The portorican is on the other hand
interested in the material advance
ment of the interests OF the country,
as otherwise there is no prospect for
him but in emigration or dea.h.
We have said before different times
what Mr.. Todd calls Home Rule, is
the only salvation for the colony, for
it calls for and independent tariff
which will duly protect our products,
withour interfering, of course, with
our intercourse with the metropolis in
such products as sugar and tobacco.
And it will be not much to advance
that with the rent from importations
we can offer such inducements to the !
merchants and manufacturers that |
nowhere else in the world would ihey
find such a remuneration for their
work.
1t is some thin g for the serious con-
sideration of the political parties, and
we can readily recover our wealth and
opulence if the men leading now have
a master hand at the helm.
What we need must is not change
of men, but change of sy stems, as
the men, we trust are interesting in
obtaining for thu country as large a
sum of prosperity and happiness as
consistent with human aspirations