BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1904-06-24
Political Confusion III Porto Rico Autonomy
Should Be Demanded


dy except under abnormal clrcunstan
ceS, when, because the remedies re-
quired by circumstances fail to meet
the inequalities of the way, result
those natural deviations of the groups
that go seeking for the centre of gra-
witty in the resulting political confu
sion without a fixed direction or well
defined landmarks.
This is what is happening now in
Porto Rico.
Among the tendencies manifested
by the political parties, tendencies
which are being evolved with great
frequency without ever succeeding IN
identifying themselves with the aspl-
Tations and natural desires of the pu
bic, exists marked. an absolute dis
parity.
What do the Portoricans as whole
wish? what is best for them7 What can
they obtain
This is the great question.
The voice OF the Portorlcan people
is calling for party to come forward
with platform that in concrete, de-
finite, clear. Let us go there, it must
say, and as far as the goal we have
pointed out. Making way toward .
fixed point it is easier to approach, to
arrive.
There is but one single road that is
sure the shortest. Some paths there
can be, but we must abandon them the
mountain roads that lose themselves
and are entangled with brambles; they
are very picturesque, very pretty,
affording enchanting perspectives and
fine views; but they are very tortuouS
and beset with dangers for the most
part.
On the other hand. the real roads,
ways of iron, may not be most plea
SAINT, but can be followed with secu-
rity, their terminals bring indicated
and the turns clearly shown; one
knows how far they 60 and where
they bigin. 1t is true they may be
monotonous, but they are safe. firm.
Roads are made for transit not to
live in. People go from one place to
another and SO make use of the ways
of communication.
Now political platforms are nothing
more than ways provided for the
masses to take them from one politi-
cal situation to another more conve-
nient and useful for the public welfare
Are these platforms which are ample
and complete, which lead will, like
the highways7
There are other roads tortuous, full
of holes and stones and thornS, such
paths as the goats run over. For fear
of falling into deep chasn or pitch
ing over precipice we desire to leave
as quickly as possible the occursed
road for a more pleasant place of
repose. And so every one draws to
one side to get out as soon as he may
into the open way, and the most i'm
patiant are lost in the thickets.
This description is no exaggeration.
Let us fix one gaze now on the field
of politics and give our attention,
which has been consecrated to other
problems of greater importance, to
the study of causes productive of
political divisions; we find no others,
perhaps they do not exist, than those
indicated in the simile which we have
employed. WEAKNESS, turniDgs back,
poings forward-these are the result
of politics without a horizon or limitat-
ions; without concrete principles.
We accept this, that or the other
policy. But not in this way are po-
pular yesrnings realized which orgi-
nate in direst necessity.
This it not fhe most prudent and
effcacious way-by no manner OF
means.
The platform of political party
should be concise as it is possible to
make it.
Are we going to ask for admins
frative autonomy, economical autono-
nv in view Of the fact that every day
The phases of the problem that dar-
5xens our lives become more hopeless.
TO day the public desire inclines to
accept this definition Iof political eco
non1y.
parties are unsatisfactory; they iall to
Be sufficiently explicit within the limits
Of that CONCESSION which II is Imperative
to observe. What they say is very
conventional; they are oPportunistic,
nothing else.
49,, exuyf,eres ~ ONE