BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1904-07-01
Trade between the United States
and Porto Rico Falling Of

Before "Dunn's Review could confirm
with figures the recognition of thefact
that the trade between the United
States and Porto Rico was falling Oft,
we had already warned the Govern
ment and we took care that The
News had the information that mea-
SureS must be taken to revive not deca-
dent but business almost suspendent
between the ruined colony and the
rich nation
Unusual faculties for investigating
facts and causes were not required to
foresee o!dr sad plightwhich is now
recognized by American trade re-
-w;lcWs.
The state of ruin in which our is
land lies can mean only an end that is
appalling, hardly visible now because
of the shadows surrounding it, but as
certain, unfor tunately, as is the fact
that nothing has been done even to
avert the fatal disaster.
An impoverished and ruined colony
can be of no benefit whatever to the
home Government; cannot even serve
it as strategical point for its defense,
for the reason that in economical cri-
ses great aversions and desperate re-
be1lions are engendered.
Solely by trusting to time could the
cruel mission of depopulating a coun-
Try obtain here the sad and silent Sc
curity of a tomb. Only in this way,
only by such a damnable policy, Or
doing just the contrary, by persuing
course totally different from that fol-
lowed until now by the Government
In Porto Rico.
The reliable trade review says that
the commerce between the island and
the United States continues falling off
Well, does it not know the cause of
thiS2 We can tell it the cause which
we have told many times already, and
and which we shall not cease repeat
ing until it be generally known. The
scales of commerce do not dip in our
favor, that commerce SO little to our
advanta ge, so injurious, in fact, which
already shows decreas sc in the i'm
portaticn of American products for the
enforced consumption III this island.
Is that ditninution proof that other
markets, those of Europe for example,
in gaining the ground lost by the
United States? No, that is not The
case; it is because, Porto Rico consul
mes less, the consumption diminishing
with the population is decreasing. The
consumption is less because of the
privations which the families have to
endure, for in this island nearly every
body is onhalf rations save in the case
of those Government officials having a
twofold citizenship.
Naturally, commerce with the Uni
ted States must continue to decline.
We are consuming our capital. Of
our former income not penny is lett,
all has gone into the safes of the
American merchants as the result of
that special free trade for Porto Rico.
We are consuming the capital. In
the six years as yankee colony we
have lost in coffee exports alone
$50 900 900. And as for our credit
with the American merchants - the
same as if we had none. If we do
not pay cash, not bag of beans is
sent to us; if we have not money. thee
indeed we can die of hunger as we
shall not eat on credit.
Under these circumstances how could
it be otherwise than that the business
those merchants were transaCting with
us and at our expense continue to dl-
mInish2
And we can only hope for improve
ment now that it strikes home and
wounds them the effects of the pros
tration which has lasted six years.
What they have failed to do for us,
despite constant demands and the
campaigns we have sustained in the
face of general Indifference, much of
the time; what we have not succeeded
in winningthey, the favored sons OF
great country, will now obtain.
We copy a paragraph taken from
e review already mentioned most
opropriate under the present cir-
instances:
THE success Of the Mexican Gov
tnment under the wise administra-
1ion of President Dlaz in inducing
foreign capitalists to invest immense
sums in that Republic suggests that If
Ne Governments Of Porto Rico and
Philippines will give the matter
ua1 attention American capital Will