BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1904-09-06
CRITICISMS

Is coastwise trade declared between
the United States and Porto Rico2
We know that it does not exist,
therefore ask if it is declared; not be-
cause we are ignorant, but to prove to
our North American compeer that he
cannot have, in this case, the view
point of the colony and that of the
metropolis, distinct and remote, when
he tries to avoid crisis brought on
the colony by the metropolis.
On this account we are going to
prescind all that impresses us in this
proposition.
Do we not owe our ruin, Our misera-
bic and anguished condition, to the
metropolis Is not North America re-
Sponsible for the loss of our coffee mar
ket?
We have denounced the coastwise
trade because it is illustrative, PERM
cious, traitorous! The market that has
been imposed upon US is worthless.
The Dirgley tariff obliges US to
consume American products only. but
does not give us an equivalent mar
ket on the continent for our coffee. Is
that c0astwise trader
We lament Our changed condition.
Such markell We cannot understand
how anyone acquainted with our situa-
tion, can approve of it. Our point of
view is moral one, involving prlnc1-
pies of justice and equity
We concede much to The Sun with
reference to Our folly in pretending
that Our coffee. an Americana coffee,
was included among other products
also American; but our colleague S
view of this business is at fault, for
he accepted Immediately the justice
of our right to protection, which we
shall soon justify. ID is the duty Of
the American people to buy our coffee
in preference to that imported from
Brazil and other foreign countries
which produce inferior grades.
The difference that our contempo-
rary pretends to establish is neither
moral nor just. If the metropolis has
caused the damage it should indem-
Nifty us; it is obliged to furnish the
remedy.
He sees this; it is perfectly clear to
everybody However bad our coffee
might be-even though inferior to
that imported from Brazil and Mica
ragua-the United States Government
is under the same obligation to pro-
tect it against all foreign coffees as to
protect the products of the states of
tie Union, guarding it with the pro-
tective tariff. But, being superior, it
is the limit of commercial crime to
contribute to its annihilation, because
it is the principal source of our
wealth.
We do not see that The New York
Sun answered the arguments of s'El
Aguila nor that it presented either
new arguments or as strong ones, for
the protective tariff of the U. S. can
be modified, as have been many things
in this country; and it is not just that
it be done for 80 900, 900 inhabitants
in the States and not for the 1000 ,ooo1
in Porto Rico!
So we ask: What do you intend to
do with us2
No one can doubt our deplorable
condition! 1t is plain enough. The
Sun recognizes this fact. We have
forced upon us an infamous coastwise
trade.
We claim that our coffee needs
American protection, and our claim is
answered with grimace. "El Agui- !
la has already said this, and so have
we, politely to our arrogant continen-
tai daily.
We are asking, claiming right,
demanding the payment of debt, not
begging aims!
We are entitled to protection, a
right so respectable, that, considering
our diminutive size and the great area
of the United States, no one can deny
to us without resorting to criminal
violence, which is repugnant to the
human conscience.
Eighty millions of inhabitants not
able to grant even a mite to a million
who pay Is per cent additional tax on
products from the continent by virtue
Of the coastwise trade, for which the
effects of the metropolis has all imag-
inable formalities nor leaves helpless
he insufferable rice from Louisiana.
And yet we are asked if we have
MANY arguments such as Our coffee has
hree or four times the yearly product
21cca> than SUn non r1ra |