BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1904-11-14
EDITORIAL \


much at variance which each other.
One is that of violence while the
other that of resignation. The first
policy is the one pursued by the most
characteristic of the organs of the
party, while the several papers in
Ponce and Maya giiez which are party
mouth pieces urge the advantages Of
fered in being the opposition party az
means of reorganizingthe forces which
havebeen split asunde1 during the par
tvs accession to power.We do not care
to 60 into deep analysis of the stran-
ge situa tion which impelS party organs
of the same party to hold such widely
different views, but, nevertheless, we
cannot but believe that the papers
which take their defeat calmly and do
not give themselves up to a frenzied
rage over their downfall, which has
many elements of comedy in spite of
the efforts to make it appear martyr
dom, are in the right. A calm accept
ance of the inevitable is the better
course.
When the blame for ones own
errors cannot be thrown on ones
nejghbor without the injustice being
known, it Is much better to restrain
oneself within the limits of prudence,
and not to give way to frantic des'
pair, which is more likely to raise rid
icule than respect and consideration.
The course adopted by the Ponce and
Mayagiiez Republicans is especially
praisewcrthy, in contrast to the atti-
tude of the Sun. One would believe
from the distressful wailings of this
sheet, that the government and all
the resources of the country, all the
agencies combined, both heavenly and
terrestrial, had united to injure them
and theirs; that everybody had lea
gued together to betray them and
knife them in the back. This is scar
cely the tone which we are accusto.n-I
ed to hear from one who formerly
US d to address the executive
with it's peculiar honeyed style,
while always bold and steadfast when
it replied to those who are now no
nearer than ever to the seat of power.
For this reason the change of tone is
so much more eXaSperat1ng.
The reason for it is very clearly to
be seen, but if it's fellow -partisanssof
the two important cities we have just
mentioned, have not been impelled to
follow the procedure which the Sun"
each succeeding day carries to a
preat ter extreme; If the public which
forms it's opinion from the editorial
comment of these papers, decides that
the calm, sane acceptance OF facts on
their part is the correct policy, and
condemns the course of violent denun
citation and unbridled rage, word of
warning would surely not be amiss,
since the Sun is wise enough to know
the fate which claims the paper that
refuses to be governed by public
opinion.
Political parties should aim to
strengthen and fortify themselves
while they are On the side of the
opposition. 1t is then that political
organizations gather to themselves the
platforms and doctrines which unite
the whole body into compact party.
This was what was lacking in the
party that is to assume the side of the
opposition now.
And it should be a matter of con
graduation on the part of those who
put patriotism above personal inte-
rests, that public opinion never fails
to give a telling rebuke, as it has done
in the present case, to the straying|
from the path of rectitude, by its
decision in changing its public serv
ants.
The expression of popular will could
not be clearer. The desire of a party
to roll up strong majority compells it
to keep in line with the peoples will T..
And if this counts for anything, it su :
rely also means that it must stand as
an expression of disapproval of those
who cry out to high Heaven their IN
founded protests against the people
and against the government.
The press of the party we refer to
gives us an exact criterious of the ne
cesity which confronts the organization
of Strengthening itself in the contest
it must carry on in its enforced retire
ment from power. Let everyone agree
upon settled policy. Formulate a
platform which will be broad enough
forthe people to unite upon, and seek
in this way to secure the support of