BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1904-09-28
EDITORIAL

break up the state of Indifference and
1ndecision which seems to have taken
hold of the public mind. A definite
plan of action has been decided upon
"a scheme of government formulated,
which once and for all time, solves
the political, as well as social and
economical problems, and provides
system to replace the present rulnous
and deSpotic autOcracy.
For long time lack of fixed pur-
pose and aim has been patent in the
Porto Rican political field, and the
different party platforms have SEEM
ingly been made elastic and flexible
to suit anything from territorial form
of government to statehood, anything
from autonomy to complete indepen-
dence. In short, there has been a
disposition to cast everything into the
arms of fate.
Ia political party must have its course
sharply outlined; for any organiza-
ton which aspires to power must have
decided upon a remedy for the exist
ing ills and the solution of such ques
tions must not be as variable as
weather-vane, but rather should be
pointed toward a definite aim as inva
riably as the magnetic needle toward
the pole star.
Shall it be autonomy? Indepen-
dence? Or Territorial government?
These are the questions which must
be answered. This is what must be
decided, and once decided a course
laid which will lead to our salvation
and bring order out of chaos 1t is
very certain that the scheme of auto
nomy seems unavailable after what
MIR. Parker, as exponent of the doc
trines of Adams & Jefferson, has said
but possible Puerto Rico. on account
of its unique geograp phical location, on
account of its unfortunate insular iso
1atior, an isolation more complete than
many an other island, since it does not
form part of an archipelago peopled
by brave and energetic race, must
forever remain colony, but on the
other hand, it is therefore more i'm
perative that means should be found
to make the colonial system IS little
despotic and arbitrary as possible, and
to build up a democratic form of
government, whose officers should be
restrained, not by supplication, but
by curtajlment of their powers by
law; and it is just as Indispensable
that the principle, SO beautiful i'll
theory, that peoples which cannot
come under the protection of American
laws, should not on the other hand
become slaves to the tyranny of Amer.
ican colonization, should be abided by.
That part of the Democratic plat
form which treats of autonomy is even
vet deficient. The scope of its pur-
pose is net made clear from the three
Standpoints of administrative, political
and economical features in which it
must be considered, but what is of
most interest to us is that the growth
of the colony shall continue unlmped-
ed along the lines of its resources and
its needs. in the different phases of
public life. Under the present system,
the effects of an unfortunate policy,
an extravagant administration and
legislative body at cross purposes,
are keenly felt; and the Puerto Rican
personality has becoms a thing silent,
inert, trampled and dead.
With the vacillations, the uncertain
tiles and besitation of our parties in
their political creeds, we give an open
ing for some Foraker, backed by a
working majority of demagogues, toI
again legislate political system for us
and incur the risk of being made a
territory, against the teachings of
logic and the precepts of political
economy, for the delectation of inquis-
tive reporters and the swarm of fol-I
lowers upon the train of Cfticialdom.
The result of the establishment of
territorial government in Hawaii isl
we'll known. At what price are the
deluded inlanders paying for empty
honor of I citizenship For us the
danger is growing less One of the ma
tional parties has declared for an aut-
onomous form of government for the
colony. This in reply to those who
held that it was useless to ask for this
form of government, as it was TN
known to the American people, and
looked upon as humilliating, opens .
new field for those timid and obedient
souls, who now need not fear that they
will be considered insubordinate and
rebellisus in offering scheme of
.royern N emf which the home admins