BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1905-08-05

The government and the represen-
|tatives of the american people will
make a mistake if they attempt to
maintain regime which ought no Ion
ger to exist.
The New York Evening Post" in
1 its issue of July twenty sixth, COM
men,ing on the resolutions of the AS
sembly of Municipalities, makes some
sarcastic remarks regarding the pre-
sent regimen.
In an article written in delight
full vein Of irony and criticism, it RI
dicules the pretensions of those who
fancy they are successful colonizers.
Speaking of the Insular officials, it
sarcastically asks: "Why should they
not, twenty four hours after their ar
rival, take their seats in the Executi-
We Council and determine the fate Of
the Island7 Are not all Americans
born colonizers7 And why should in
|feriors like Porto Ricans be allowed
Ito govern themselves
It is an article which is a credit to
journalism in the metropolis, and one
that should teach the torpid fnnctio-
|naries that are in the island to dif-
ferentiate between necessary criticism
which is inspired by legitimateness and
right, criticism that it is founded on
respect and justice. from that which
springs from selfish motives, the va
riety they delight in. They would not
then, perhaps, characterize as anti
american such criticism as OURS
The papers received by the last
mail contain vehement, able and just
criticisms of the present condition OF
things in the colony.
The naughty functionaries. who
Notwithstanding the evil they are
doing, live in contumacious vanity.
will have to suffer an immense disil
lusion when they find in their hands
the papers of the metropolis in which
they hoped to find undeserved praise
to offset the just criticism of the coun-
try.
But what they will fnd should oc
casion no surprise. Conditions have
reached point in which they only
and this because their incompetency
is on par with their sel6shness, are
in sympathy and accord with the colo
nial exploitation manifested in form
50 cruel and harsh.
At last sense of justice animates
public spirit in the mother country. Its
voice is not raised in our defence as
loudly as it should be. but nation
ruled as republic admires and res
poets and views without surprise and .
astonishment portoricans asking for
self government when they are being
made the victims Of harassing tyranny.
The false prudence in which the
egoists take refuge, those who would
keep the colony in state of servitude
and desperate ruin think. perch |
ance, that Porto Rico SHOULD first
reach the Philadelphia or St. Louis
standard of civilized government befo'
re it is worthy of governing itself"
One of the causes of complaint cited
in the memorial Of the Assembly OF
and which has impress
sed public opinion in the mother coun,
try, is that the Heads of Departments
arrive here without knowledge of the
language. customs and needs of the
country, and Immediately proceed to|
the fate of the island pri
vilege they enjoy by virtue of tbs
Foraker Act
Such a thing is unhcsrd of; it is
and has naturally produced
unesiness and wave Of protest.
No ma tier how much superiority
the people Of North America may
arrogate to themselves, it is not possi-