BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1904-06-17
Justice not charity

discuss is 50 clear. SO plain thst 10
deny the truth Of our words would be
the height Of folly.
1t is fact that the people Of Porto
Rico are in a state of ruin through no
fault on their part, and our resources
which so often have given stimulus IN
the worlds commerce have disappear
'Aed as by magic, so quick the loss 1t
is lust as true that we are entitled to
recover that which VIC held by right.
the restoration of which we now de
mand. And we fail to see what so
phistry can deny our right in seeking
indemnity for the incalculable losses
which we have suffered.
Yet it seems thas this proposition
does not receive united support. that
tkose are to be found who favor the
plan of asking for aims before seek
ifip that at least-all questions OF con-
cessions apart, we be again IN posses
sion of what was our own and what
we had without any obligation what
koever.
We have no sympbathy with the
resignation of those who cannot under
stand how we are to be saved except
s-.hrough pity, pity inspired by the sad
condition of this island accursed by
the weight of an organic law which is
sapping its very life.
And our condition is we'll known in
Washington for we have described it
!. to the Senator's, to the Congressman,
to the President himself and to the
departmental heads of the Capital; all
these are cognizant of the real situa
ton which we have described in all
truth and sincerity reiterating day IN
and day out-thus far without result
the words that mean our salvation.
In the propagation of this crusade
which we are compelled to undertake.
in behalf of our endangered economi-
cal existence we are helping, as our
readers konw by sending the BoLE
TIN MKRcANTIL to all those who
should be en- rapport with what is
taking place in Porto Rico, to the end
that the disparagement OF North Anne
rican methods of colonization, which
are so deScredited, may be without
Justification. And so all the high of
fcials of the Republic are on our free
list. Moreover, to save them any
trouble, and what is more important,
that they may be fully informed of
allthat affects our interests. the edi-
-toria1 of this sheet is daily translated
into English
1t is commendable kind of propa-
cation and our desire to employ it is
devoid of all interested motives.
Iii this way these gentlemen can
know they do know now that the
aspirations and ambitions of our peo-
pie viii never be satisfied witg the
more pittance of premium on the
coffee exported from here or by the
impoSt of half dollar on every quin-
tz1 of coffee that enters the United
States from foreign market. What
we all desire, it is not the first time
that we make the statement nor will
81 it be the last, is that for the sake OF
rotection our coffee be included
among the products Of the United
States. That which we all seek which
therefore is popular demand, de-
snand that should be sovereign is that
id all fairness--since we arc actually
forced to be consumers of North Ame-
r7can products for which we must
s pay the inflated prices resultant from
The heavy duties levied on foreign
imports Of similar claSses-the people
8 Of .the United States in like manner
be compelled to consume our coffee
purchased at the same high protection
prices.
Try as we may we fail to see how
nyone can doubt the impossibility of
obtaining this concession. We do not
dmit that its attainment is impossible
VIXEN right and justice are on our
ide.
Nothing can stand in the way of
demand SO legitimate, and there is
reason in the world why we should
Z sacrificed in favor of a country that
marvellously rich; if any sacrifice
L required we are in duty found TO
refer the inmolation of the people of
he United States. They would suffer
ss than us, for the life of rich
5untry cannot be seriously affected
raising the price Of an article
hich is almost a luxury.
Il may be that as result the con-
aption of coffee in the United