BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1904-07-14
Mr.. Hunt takes leave

1t would have been Our pleasure to-
to bid good bye to Governor Hunt
with an article full of enthusiastic
eulogy, because that would have
meant that his labor in Porto Rico,
had been favorable to the country
If not possible eulogies, Our silence
at least would have been signltlcatlve,
but kis speech, which we printed in
full, compels us to contradict his
words, which otherwise would appear
as if they had expressed the truth.
Any stranger who had never vi
sited the island before, or who had
never had the opportunity to become
acquainted with its advancement, cul-
ture, and opulent wealth under the
Spanish rule, by the hearing of Mr..
Hunts discourse at the theater, would
have simrly believed that all that had
been the work of Mr. Hunt, and that
he, himself alone, had brought it all
to the island.
Ex-Governor Hunt has without scru
pie given himself the credit of the
reforms which have been introduced
in the island, giving no thought to the
deep disturbance and insurmountable
difficulties which are felt in all the
manifestations of life, brought about
without consulting the will of the
people and bringing desperate resis
tance, as has been shown by the re
sofute stand Of the House of Delega-
tes, in the matter of the loan.
Even the Insular Republican party
has protested against the actual regi
men. Who is then siding with Mr..
Hunt. when he proclaims such regi
men as convenient to- the country?
the result is that it is the country in
"masse" that is refuting the Ex-
Governor.
Ex-Governor Hunt ought to have
taken is leave without saying word.
1t is for the people to judge about the
conduct of the men in power and the
people have heard the words of Mr..
Hunt in utter silence. He convinced
no one and could not cause a favorable
impression in the public.
How he dared to say as If he was
addressing the Chinese, that the Hou-
Sc of Delegates was the genuine re
presentation of the will Of the people;
that actual sistem of taxation is scien
tifcally better than the old and PERM
cious one that we had; that attention
is paid to the preservation of public
works, while the 'peones camineros' y
are dispensed with, and the roads are
left to waste and decay? It is surpri-
sing that for the first time in his life
he alluded to the serious nature of the
crisis in coffee, which is consuming
the country and still even stranger that
he mention this matter in connection
with his leaving the country, when
his passage ticket, is already in his
pocket. How could then the people
feel any satisfaction from his words,
and make it visible?
The new governor is young; young
men are generous, apt to chilvarous
impulses and surprising resolutions,
and this is why side by side with the
conventional and cool words of the
official discourseS, he should hear Our
frank, perhaps rude voice, but supre-
me in its honesty and truthfulness.
Between the words of Ex Governor
Hunt and the opinion of the country
is great discrepancy an abyss.
The reception accorded to Governor
Winthrop has been cool. He, used to
American practices has perhaps not
noticed it, but if he has let him know,
that there has been no slight to his
person. 1t is the consequence of the
adverse side of life. which exists and |
is undermining and determine feeling
Of intense DeSimiStn in the people