BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1905-06-07
EDITORIAL

aEne - sanii4f NshsaA.N tafuus& a.
tAs ssssne usissrg rpun ~ fsassosacss
f.casslx - esscagAs. sAs sN.ssN~l - 10
iasrsh ii susv. m AsrssxsS.fF -
An~sacsn inaepsnocace.
The serw@.ghs * car MEsof = AT
shN Il { csssuendSiion.
TIE FESTIVITIES q the Fourth -
iusv ouchs 10 be prvp~fed iaT IN sine
;hex reensse month fST the proper
orssnaxzsson.
PzTziSsns IS We are ourselves oi -sa
that these grand festivals celebrate.
svsapa;hiEerS with all those solemn
cornmemorsiiors. from now W arpls ID
the zeal o. the municipal ar;houiy
wao has sase into his charge an e. :
scn;ial par OF those festivities.
But II IL necessary - airec; the
enthusiasm. that the feelings and
strength of people be not wasted IN
useless explosions, neither expended
In unnecessary applause
lie; the patriotic sons OF the conu
nent celebrate their festival. for them
there NAV be abundant reason: they
may have carses for an excess of Joy
and rejoicing. But the coLonists. the
Inhabitants OF this exploited island
who live in the sadness and humillia-
tion Of daily insult, of constant and
suffocating tutelage, who are weary OF
the forced Intervention and hostility
of incapable men in the destinies OF
the colony: the eolonists who love II
berty as dearly as any people IN the
earth, who dream of independence,
cannot consistently and with pleasure
take part in this august festival IN the
way desired By some bureaucrats
and their favored acolyteS.
Those who are not free themselves
cannot sing praises TO the god Less of
liberty.
There is a way. however, in which
Porto Rico can take part in the cele-
bration of the Fourth of July.
1t can on that day, sacred to the
american people, ask that the present
tyrannical, despotic and ursurplng
from Of government which is engen-
derine such feeling Of disaffectlon
towards the nation. come to an cnd
that the unreal, situation, the lntolera-
bic feudalisin. filled with opprobrium
and aggressions towards the natives
terminate. Porto Rico can and should
ask on that day. which is glorious to
the people who now control our des
TIMES, that it be given Immediate relief
from all the nullities which have in
vaded the island since the sonbre days
of expansionlsm.
1t can ask that the promises OF
General Miles be fulfilled, tn the
principles of the constitution be res
pected, that the rights which the
natives had prior to the american
invasion be recognized.
All that, the colonists can ask on
that day which is sacred TO liberty
and the imprescriptible rights OF man,
the day on which the glories of indep-
endence, the joys of liberty, the happ-
mess Of Justice and redemption are
spoken Of and praised.
Close to the platforms raised Il
each CITY, each town, on every corner,
for the alteration of exDansionl> m IN
patriotic songs in honor of that beaut-
iful chimera. should be raised the pop
ular voice Of the people demanding
in the lofty attitude Of those who are
conscious of the fact that what they
ask are not mercles or tavorS, but
simple justice.
Close to the official platform, or
even on that platform, must resound
in tones vibrant, potent, clear cut,
without anger, but with energy, with
out invective, but with calmness, The
voice Of the colony, affirming on that
day OF liberty that there are slaves on
the earth, and in the apotheosis OF
independence, that there Is still serv-
itude.
And this, far from disturbing the
harmony of the festival, would be acc
ep,ed as frank and necessary expres'
sion of conviction; nor would It be con
sidered by the people OF the nation IS
an indication OF unC lu- rable disable
ctiun but as an ACT # friendly counsel
and which was inspired b. the highest
and loftiest motives.
The Fourth Of July is fitting day |
for the people of Rico to elevate a
memorial to the nation. And that
document. which should lie subscribed |
10 by all the Inhabitants Of Porto
Rico, should ask for nothing less
than autonomy, IN oider to free the
colony from the aquilline and glide
,rLn the hqfp !