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

1t is very gratifying to us that one
of Our propositions in regard to the
coffee question is considered indiSput-
able bS the New York Sun. This
important New York daily recognizes
the strict justice and relentless logic
of the claim that foreign coffees Of the
same grade Or quality as that from
Porto Rico should not be admitted
free of duty in American ports, or,
which is the same, that foreign cof-
fees should pay an import duty that
would place ours On an equal footing.
1t does not matter that the Sun in
terprets in its own way our argu-
ments in this particular, manifesting
and favoring its ideas relative to the
injustice of a general duty on all for
eign coffee, and SO do we, 50 it pre-
sents promise solution; therefore
we feel that the protective tariffs of the
United States should protect by alb
solutely certain methods, without dis
fiction, Porto Rican coffee.
We will not insist upon the demon
Stration that an American product
should be protected by American ia
riffs, nor that the management OF the
coastwise trade consists essentially IN
reciprocal protection of the products
or Leople between which it has solemn
ly been proclaimed such exists, nor
will we repeat our charges of inJus-
tice; for, as stated by the Sum- is bet
ter that a million of inhabitants OF
Porto Rico, who gay approximately
$4,000, 10000 to American industries
in the form of IS per cent tax or duty
it is better that these should suffer
than that the cities of the United States
should have cause to complain OF the
cost of Our coffee when protected by
the tariff.
We have compared statistics, and
the New York Sun knows that for
such articles as we pay two dollars
costs them approximately seventy five
cents.
What concerns us today IS that pub
liCopinion in America will be inclln-
ed, after what has been said in the
Sun (Which is the newspaper IN the
States that expresses the sentiments OF
the weather. classes), to regard with
attention the economical problems OF
Porto Rico, and, as a result, protect
our coffee against the superior grades
from Brazil and other countrles-s1nce
full and complete protection legally
and morally follows-lf not, it seems
that we have not succeeded.
But some is better than none, and
from the great inequality which the
coastwise trade Gin name only has
brought about, and which this unhap-
py island has consented to, we can
pass to a limited degree OF protection
that will give opportunity for the sale
of the better class of Our coffee which
will regain it's former high prices. ltI
is very proba bic that from the restrict
ed protection that has been conceded
us, we gain ample protection and all
that accompanys 1t.
In our view, then, we have advanc-
ed step in Importance, and have
received an echo of our just demands
IN the conscience of the American
people, represented by that powerful
and fruitful organization, the Press.
We have much for which to thank
he New York Sun; for its decided
purpose to raise Our poor country from
IS miserable and unfortunate condl-
ion of today, Notwithstanding the fact
hat the interests of the continent and
his island conflict. So we prescind
he elemental considerations of justice
which assist us in deciding questions
rom the viewpoint of convenience or
he selfshness of $4,000 900 of people
the States. And from this point OF
view it is clear, apparently at least, in
he present state of things that Porto
2ican coffee can secure only limited
protection.
But the experiments that the New
York Sun requested be made by the