BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1904-10-04
EDITORIAL

stereotyped phrase which has always
accom- panied accounts of political
gatherings Yesterday was dethroned
from its place in the descriptions Of
political assemblages in Puerto R1co.
There were no disordersi was the
breathless announcement, as II 1t were
something startling and onderful that
a political meeting should be conduct
ed with absolute order and complete
harmony; as if a political reunion
were a field of battle, instead of a
place where clear and cool exposi-
ton of the principles and ideas and
platforms of a political organization
could be placed before the public.
There were no fights-continues the
account, after describing the features
of the meeting, and it really looks as
if some good mas finally come from a
political meeting, when the whole
affair can be carried off without the
breaking of the peace. Nor was there
any alarm felt in Rio Piedras yester-
day. Thanks to the laudable efforts
of the police, who promptly checked
any disposition on the part of the fire.
eaters to arouse the passions and ami
mosities Of the audience by ill-chosen
and hot-hesd ded denunciations.
The police yerterday were on their
mettle and are deserving of every
praise. Instead of having to hurry up
to control full grown riot, they pre-
served order from the very first, and
used their authority to prevent trouble
before it started instead of having to
subdue it after it had gained headway
as has mostly been the case hereto
fore; and the people, the Puerto Rican
people, law abiding, amenable to
proper authority, recognized that the
law was to be enforced and governed
themselves with the calmess and good
sense necessary to revent the much
dreaded conflict between opposing
political factions.
Yesterdays occurrence was all the
more gratifying from the fact that it
shows that officials charged with the
command of the agents of public order
have not taken the Governors recon
mendationS in vain, and proves that
there can be a gem of sincerity in the
public expressions of the islands chief
magistrate, which has immediate and
pralseworihy effect.
Our people, who are quiet and law
abiding, do not need any further
supplications to keep the peace. 1t
will not be the people who will break
the law, or give rise to any public
disorder and while the police follow
up line of conduct SO worthy of CON-
mendation as was instanced in Rio
Piedras yesterday, while the promises
of the Governor and the acts of his
subordinates are SO consistent as they
were yesterday, there is no reason to
fear that our people will do anything
that will cast discredit on the fair
name of Puerto Rico.
The arrival of the police on the
scene where their presence was badly
needed at places somewhat further
distant than Rio PiedraS, has not
always been so opportune, even in
this same campaign, and without wish
ing to impute any part in the affair
as having been due to negligence on
the part of the government, it is of
moment to refer to it here in cOnnec-
ton with Our remarks on yesterdays
splendid exhibition. and because the
peace and feeling of security through
out the island is usually reflection of
the conditions in the Capital.
Here where the authority of The
government is so quickly and strongly
felt, disorders are not tolerated, and
as these disturbances of the peace are
the outgrowths of irritations, unrest
and violence; as these disturbances are
outcroppings of anarchy, and since our
people are not inclinedtoward anarchy
in the slightest sense, nothing more
than decisive indication. made in a
way that will carry the right effect,
firm stand taken by the authorities
within the limits of strict impartiality,
that the right of all shall be maintain
ed, is needed to secure the peaceful
continuance of law and order and the
prevention of disorders of allsorts.
The example shown by the govern
ment is of the utmost importance at the
present time not be cause our people who
are of as high an order of intelligence
and training as any, need course out
lined for them, but because the misuse
and abuse of power which has been
shown here once has overthrown the
ordar1x, o,,d 1,eacef111 habits of the DeO-