BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1905-06-22
EDITORIAL


to hold a meeting on the Fourth of
July.
They have dee med it necessary to
associate themselves in order to de
fend their rights. They do not unite
for the purpose of celebrating the an
niverssry of american independence,
but to ask in a body for necessary
guarantees; and their selection of the
Fourth of July for the assembly. gives
the occasion all the character of pro-
test.
Because it is lamentable that on a
festival of liberty. when the indepen-
dence of a people is being celebrated,
that is to say. the rights of citizens and
general principles of liberty and JUS
tice are being procla lined. the Porto
rican teachers have to unite, procla
inning. perhaps unconsciously. but ne
verthclcss obeyirg an inevitable ne
cessity. the protest of the oppre
and seriously afflicted colonists.
The assembly signifies nothing
more, neither can it be other than q
protest: it is necessary to have heard
not only the voice of the teaching
body, but also the claims of the peo-
pie on this solemn occasion those who
demand the recognition of their rights
and guarantee Of their personality.
Protests are in the air. Without
preparation or organisation, they arise
from all quarters and On all occasions.
The colonial regimen has been a
total failure, coloniza ton has had for
its aim and object the displacement
of the natives and it has fallen under
the censure of opinion and unanimous
condemnation.
1t is useless to repeat. as Mr. Post
has done. touching the municipal con
fict in Ponce, that the Porto Rican
people are unified for self govern
ment.
The measure of the qualifications
and abilities which people must
posses in order to govern them
selves has not been given by Provid-
ence into the hands of anyone, nor is
it the patrimony Of any nation and
much less of modest functionarieS of
expectation.
Studying super rficial!y the municipal
conflict in Ponce. ii becomes immedla-
tely apparent that the trouble is caused
by he differences between the council
and the mayor.
1t is nothing else than the munich
pal law Ii is the exotic law inspired
by mesocratic coloujzers and voted by
too condescending house.
And if it is the fault of the law; of
the ancient municipal regimen which
has been revived by the proviGentials
with the nefarious purpose of Gen.
tralizing all the powers. submit
ting everything to the despotism Of
a government whose powers know no
limitations, without responsibilities for
its acts; it is absurd and cruel to keep
on repeating the statement which
serves as mogrebipo commentary on
all matters and questions which arise
in the country.
May there not arise anywhere else,
differences Of opinion and Of proce
edings between the different officials,
or the representatives of COLLECTIVELY?
Is it the first time in the history of
the world that there has been seen
the case of Mayor not iu accord with
the municipality
And even if it were, even if never
before had such a case been presen-
ted. are there many peoples, are there
any people in the world. who can show
the same exceptional circumstances
and conditions as those of Porto Rico1 |
Is not the municipal system TO blame
for what is happening in Ponce'
In our opinion 1t Is. Because the
Mayor is the executor of the acts of
the council in which he does not in-
tervene nor take part; be approves or
of the acts of the city fat
hers al his pleasure. and is the pre-
sent law confers on the Secretary of
Porto Rico the absurd power of being
the arbiter of municipal destinies, it
does rot require very profound in
TO determine where the
fault rests, and too see instantly that
the cause of the disturbance lies in the
absurd powers and perogatatives con.
ferred in Porto Rico upon the functio
naries of expectation. who certainly
are not fitted to legislate and to deci-
de questions regarding the welfare of
a people.
Here they have demoralized every
thing. Their influence has been in
furious their c ntapion epidemic.