BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1905-12-11

What grave offence to the country
is contained in those expressions of
the President and 10 what fears and
dangers do they give rise!
1t is equivalent to saying that an
Executive Council composed of nat
ives would be body Of demagogues
and dangerously anarchistic.
1t is saying, in effect. that only men
appointed by Mr.. Roosevelt are capa-
BILE of enjoying and winning the con-
fidence of capitalists. And it is, wi
thout doubt, to protect them, to shield
them from the threatened anarchy,
that it is deemed wise to retain the
Executive Council in its present form.
What a hideous mistake, and what
assertion more glaringly false!
The colony then has rivals, the ad-
vantages for capitalists. 10 land owners,
to manufacturers, ought to be placed
before the welfare of the country,
against all opinion, in conflict with
popular aspirations, because in the
judgment Of the President they are
the ones who should be guaranteed
and protected, and who are, according
to Mr.. 2oosevelt's opinion. safeguar-
ded by the present constitution of the
public powers.
HIS it come to one being pitted aga
inst the other7
The people against capital9
1t is necessary for the country to re-
alize that the regime is maintained in
its present archaeological state of pc
trefaction because it is advantageous
for capitalists!
We cannot admit so ridiculous
pretext, so absurd an excuse.
The regime is to be retained as it is,
because advantageous Cor the congre-
cation.
The composition of the Executive
Council is to remain unchanged becau.
Sc the President does not wish to be
deprived of refuge for 6reken do70n
politicians, for the survivors from the
Ship wrecks of continental politics.
But if he does not wish to lose one
of the characteristics Of his omnipot-
ence, let him state frankly and fear
lessly the reasons for MS attitude
The time has come to have done
with all farces and illusions. 1t is
necessary tor everone to see things as
they are, to stand face to face with
..ity.
We are already tired and weary.
We have suffered enough. We are
hungry for justice and thirsty for the
truth.
We long to know the true facts as
to why the wishes and rights the CO.
lony are ignored, why its demands
are rejected and it is refused that
which it asks.
/ 1t is now time to speas clearly and
frankly.
Citizenship, which no ons asks nor
wants, is offered us in exchange for a
new political regime which was asked
for and which has been refused; we
asked for reform of the tariff, which
has bee refused, we asked for protec-
ton for our coffee, and that likewise
has been denied US.
The President does not even mention
these things in his message, appear
ing to have given them not the Sigh
test thought, and it seems as if Mr..
Roosevelt had believed the infamous
calumnies which accuse us of being
complaining and petulant children.
The message of President Roose-
welt has descended upon us like pail
and filled us with unutterable sadness.
1t would have been better had we
not been referred to at all, that we
had continued to be the forgotten is
land, as we have been called so many
times. Then, at least, we might have
looked forward with hope 10 the da-
wning of day of justice, but now,
after the words in the message of the
President, even that grain of comfort
has departed.
What dark and gloomy days are
those to which we must look forward!
And how many cataclysms thre-
aten us!