THE ACTS CELEBRATED BY THE NATIONALIST PARTY IN THE CITY OF LARES ON THE TWENTY-THIRD DAY OF SEPTEMBER IN COURSE
ALBIZU CAMPOS SPEAKS When the President of the Nationalist Party was announced to take the floor, the music played La Borinqueña while the public, standing, paid delirious applause that lasted for several minutes. “The human tendency is to be parasitic. Only a spiritual conception of life elevates us to the offering of what we possess for a just cause. Our people in their moral decadence are a parasitic people. But this apotheosis is not a parasitic act. We do not come here to raise a myth, nor to live a past glory. It is very easy to talk about the glories of others, but that does not make the speaker glorious. We come here as an act of consecration to the principles that informed the men of ‘68. “We love and adore the Homeland as a goddess. The last particle of our soil is sacred and we will not allow foreign hands to profane it. But higher than that cult is the cult of our progenitors and we will not allow foreign hands to profane it. They represent the symbolism of the life we possess and of our greatness before Eternity. Peoples who do not know their progenitors are buried peoples, they are dead peoples. By remembering their memory today, we are unworthy successors of their memory. Peoples are ungrateful because men are ungrateful; thus our people do not know the descendants of those great men. And we have to honor their memory in their very flesh.” The speaker then went on to make an analysis of the transcendence of personality. “The problem of Puerto Rico,” he said, “is the problem of its personality. There is no responsibility where there is no exercise of powers. A people governed by a foreign power is an irresponsible people.” He said that Puerto Rico was in the condition of a madman who has no personality before the law because he is an irresponsible entity and a guardian is appointed to administer his property. “The empire says to the colony: “I exercise power because you are incapacitated.” And it disposes of all the lands and goods as a guardian. Puerto Rico currently appears before the world as a people of imbeciles who have no capacity to resolve their own affairs. To enjoy rights one must have personality and speak with the other powers as equals.” The speaker analyzed the consequences of the denial of personality in all orders, especially in the educational order. He said that the empire established the educational system that suited its purposes and therefore made sure that the truth was not told in schools. The speaker also addressed the religious problem. He said that no religion in our country could be an enemy of our Independence; that no one as a Catholic or Protestant could combat the cause of our freedom. He stated that Puerto Rico before the Holy See was an independent nation that enjoyed ecclesiastical sovereignty. That in its day the Nationalist Party would send a commission to the Vatican to raise the case of Puerto Rico. He stated that all religious institutions had to be nationalized. As this year the mass celebrated last year in honor of the heroes of ‘68 was not on the program, Mr. Albizu Campos personally addressed the Rev. Martínez, of that parish. “Last year,” he said, “a Te Deum was sung in the church of this town and the Rev. Martínez delivered the most eloquent speech in the assembly we gave in this same theater. Reverend Martínez revealed himself that afternoon as a true Puerto Rican. Reverend Martínez owes his people an explanation as to why that mass has not been celebrated. He must explain what secret coercions have prevented the perfume of a prayer from being raised today to the martyrs of our Independence.” The speaker concluded by saying that that pilgrimage was an act of atonement to the heroes of ‘68. Mr. Albizu Campos was carried on the shoulders of the crowd, closing the assembly in the midst of delirious enthusiasm.
THE NATIONALIST PARTY PROCLAIMS NINE DAYS OF MOURNING ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEATH OF DON PEDRO ANGLERO, SURVIVOR OF THE GRITO DE LARES69 Every time a free man disappears, the Homeland trembles and the future clouds over: the one, feeling in its most intimate essences the painful onslaught of Destiny and the other, suffering the orphanhood of the virtues constitutive of hope. Hence, when manhood descends from its august pedestal obeying iron and eternal laws, it is necessary to staunch the wound with a vision of eternity, because otherwise the sense of spiritual harmony will succumb to the weight of misfortune. The heroes of the great odyssey of Lares made the heart of their Homeland throb for the same reason that those venerable trunks had taken root in the depths of the Puerto Rican Spirit. From then to this part, the Homeland, reviled in hours of jubilation by the detractors of the Ideal, kept the ashes of its glorious dead very deep in its entrails, sure that the enemies of Liberty, for lacking the vision of the eternal, are not in the disposition to respect the sacred ashes of the dead. But today, the very essence of the Homeland shaken by the death of the survivor of the odyssey of Lares, Don Pedro Angleró, at the age of one hundred and ten years, it seems to us that the eminent figures of the Revolution of ‘68 make their appearance on the proscenium of their people and impose silence, with the moral authority that induced them to defend, on a not distant day, the reason of the ideals and the transcendence of libertarian thought. Today, in Barrio Obrero, of this city of San Juan Bautista, Don Pedro Angleró has died for physical life, at the moment in which the Homeland, grieved and bleeding, mourns the absence of its true children and sinks into the desperation of historical fatalism. A centennial hero has died, in whose veins beat the redemption of a people subjugated by the power of force and by the denial of some of its children. The sublime banner of the Borincan epic has fallen, and, as it falls, with the sadness of the great and the happiness of the beautiful of the soul, it has risen with the elegance of the martyrs who always rise above the tabernacle, being in communion with the perfume of sacrifice. Above the tabernacle of disillusionment has jumped this noble defender of morality and this priest of justice; above the tabernacle that indifference raises in hours of negative potentiality, to impose the beheading of faith and decree that the vital force of Law resides in the imposition of inequality and not in the conscience of men. Don Pedro Angleró has died for physical life; but as in every action of freedom two vital currents converge, the physical and the moral, Don Pedro Angleró, in losing the vibration of matter, has seized the sources of morality, the plant of faith that he sowed in the living furrow of the Homeland, will be cultivated with zeal and affection by the noble hand of the present generation. And it will never die because the dream crystallized in the heat of Eternity cannot die. Faced with the pain that grips the consciences of free Puerto Rican men before the disappearance of this gentleman of the Ideal, the Nationalism of Puerto Rico, is moved in its depths of purity and patriotic love and pays the noble champion of sentiment, the tears that perhaps all of Puerto Rico will shed before the venerable ashes of its dead. The nationalism of Puerto Rico, through this message of mourning and in accordance with the illustrious lineage of Don Pedro Angleró, AESTHETIC MAN of the Borincan dream, proclaims nine days of national mourning and orders the Nationalist Boards and sub-Boards of Puerto Rico that during these nine days dedicated to paying religious homage to the memory of the noble man, the Flag of the Homeland be placed at half-mast and that they impose themselves of the Pain that produces us the fall of a Man who had the merit of being a true Man. Given in San Juan de Puerto Rico, today, the sixteen days of October of 1931, and year 64 of the Proclamation of the Republic.
THE NATIONAL BOARD
P. ALBIZU CAMPOS President
M. RIVERA MATOS General Secretary
THE UNITED STATES HAS A DUTY TO FULFILL WITH US AND IT IS TO WITHDRAW FROM OUR COUNTRY - IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO SHOW RESPECT TO THE RIGHT OF NATIONS - ALBIZU CAMPOS On Monday morning we visited the supreme chief Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos in his office at the central offices of the Nationalist Party, who at that time was extremely busy, answering the numerous correspondence from the interior and from abroad from countless organizations, co-religionists and friends inside and outside the nation. Noticing our presence in his office he immediately extended his firm right hand and with his proverbial smile inquired: “What news is there?” “None, Don Pedro,” we replied, “outside of those that you can supply us. Do not forget that the readers of LA NACION await with anxiety your announced declarations.” -Ask, then - he replied. -What do you tell us about the current political moment? -“I already had the opportunity to officially expose from the Nationalist tribune in Guayama our attitude in relation to the present political panorama of the country. -“As in another part of this edition we publish the review of the act of Guayama we immediately formulate another question. -How will the United States Congress consider the project of the elective governor of Mr. La Guardia, Democratic Representative for New York in that legislative body? -The nationalist movement is not interested in the consideration that the United States Congress gives to any project that is submitted to that legislative body. We maintain that the Puerto Rican nation is the absolute arbiter of its destiny, that the Treaty of Paris imposed by the United States on Spain is null, as far as Puerto Rico is concerned, because our country was not a contracting party in that treaty; nor did Spain have the powers to cede Puerto Rico nor the United States to accept it in cession. By virtue of the Autonomic Charter, which constituted a treaty between the Mother Homeland and the island of Puerto Rico, our sovereignty was internationally recognized and it was the duty of every nation to respect it, starting with the United States. When Nationalism rises energetically for the vindication of its sovereignty, the invading power pretends to disorient public opinion, to protect its usurpation and its dispossession by imposing concessions on the oppressed country that perpetuate the foreign oppressor regime.
Liberalism has its insolences. Let us not forget, the pretended liberals of all empires; they have always been imperialists who have suggested the subtlest means to complete foreign absorption. It is preferable for a nationality, victim of a military occupation, a frank and decisive despotism that serves as a spur and that awakens the indigenous resistance, to a veiled and liberal despotism that anesthetizes the national conscience.
The United States has a duty to fulfill with us. And it is to withdraw immediately from our country. It is the only way to show respect to the right of nations.
Immense damage has been caused by that invading nation to our nationality, by depriving it of the exercise of its sovereignty and submitting it to the most barbaric and inhumane economic exploitation known to history. If any North American legislator wants to do some good to his Homeland he must propose respect for the rights of others. If Representative La Guardia wants us to take care of his projects, he should propose to his country the immediate withdrawal of the North American armed forces from our land, and the payment of reparations that they owe us for the immense damages caused in our country during 33 years of North American military occupation.
“The apparently liberal manifestations of Mr. La Guardia are directed especially to the Puerto Rican colony of New York to obtain from it the votes that Mr. La Guardia needs to sustain himself in power.
“The National Board has given instructions to the New York Board to illustrate to our compatriots in that modern Babel that they refrain from the internal struggles in that country so that they do not let their feelings be exploited by any North American politician; that their only duty is to organize to restore the Republic of their Homeland. -What significance do you attribute to the revolutionary movement of the Philippines? Fearing the Philippine revolution, the North American government by Law of 1917 undertook to recognize the Independence of the Philippine Islands (as soon as there was a stable government) and in the opinion of the government of the United States, there has not yet been “a stable government” in the Philippines nor will there ever be despite the fact that the Philippine government is of North American manufacture.
“The Filipinos have been waiting for this promise for fourteen years.”
“In that period, North American interests have been consolidating. The conservative sentiment has been stimulated in important nationalist sectors of that archipelago to such a point that the eminent statesman Roxas has raised the flag of non-cooperation more or less ten months ago, adopting tactics very similar to those of Puerto Rican nationalism. “The Filipinos see clearly that the moment is most opportune for the immediate suppression of the North American military occupation. The United States does not have a friendly nation in the entire Universe today, because its policy of absorption has been unmasked. The North American power is going through an internal crisis of revolutionary characters produced by the economic crisis, a consequence of the loss of markets. “I firmly believe that the Filipinos will act to impose their independence. “The opportunity that the Puerto Rican nation has is identical to the one that the Philippine nation has. Our duty is to act immediately.
LA RADIO CORPORATION OF PORTO RICO’ SUBSIDIARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CO., REFUSES TO TRANSMIT POLITICAL SPEECHES
CENSORSHIP ON NATIONALISM PROPAGANDA. STATEMENTS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PARTY DON PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS “For some time now influence has been exerted on the company “Radio Corporation of Porto Rico” subsidiary of the “International Telegraph and Telephone Co.” so that the transmission by radio of nationalist speeches be suspended. It is absolutely certain that the North American government wanted to suppress our propaganda by air and it is also absolutely certain that the yancófilos elements desired the same purpose.
We must call attention to the fact that in the United States there is no freedom of speech by air. What has been called indirect censorship prevails there, which is a formal admission that there is no freedom of speech, nor of thought, in that country. In the Yankee Congress a bill is being considered to suppress those restrictions of thought and right.
Under a regime of force like the one that prevails in Puerto Rico, under this North American military occupation, there is no right and yes a mere tolerance in the emission of thought, because the North American power trusts in its strength and in the dominion of the press.
The propaganda by wireless had national and international effects and has forced the invader to unmask itself, imposing a censorship.
The excuse given by the “Radio Corporation of Porto Rico”, subsidiary of the “International Telegraph and Telephone Co.” is trivial. To allege that an emission of thought so vital for Puerto Rico is suppressed, to dedicate its apparatus to commercial announcements and to news of the races of the Hippodrome, is to confess that they are acting under the coercion of the North American government and in intelligence with the oppressive policy of that government, especially when those radio transmissions represented a very substantial income for the company.
They intend to besiege us by air since we are by sea and land.
Here are published the cables that do not harm the North American imperialist policy and the Associated Press and United Press information agencies transmit news that interests that government. The “International Telegraph and Telephone Co.” has incurred a very serious responsibility by lending itself to this maneuver of the North American government and we must demand the corresponding responsibility. The same haste that the head of the North American occupation, Colonel Roosevelt, has had to deny affirmations not made until the moment, about the interference of the North American government in this serious matter, confirms that interference. The country can raise a transmitting station if it so desires. And it must do so immediately, to end the monopoly enjoyed by the foreign company “International Telegraph and Telephone Co.”
It is true that the permission to transmit is needed, which could be denied by the North American occupying power. It is worth, however, forcing the invader to take off the mask completely. If that permission is denied, it must be dispensed with. The Puerto Rican nation must not tolerate being besieged by air. The “Radio Corporation of Porto Rico”, subsidiary of the “International Telegraph and Telephone Co.” and called Station W.K.A.Q., has declared itself an enemy of our sacred rights. The entire nation has to demand responsibilities from this local corporation and from the “International Telegraph and Telephone Co.,” of which it is a subsidiary and which has undoubtedly sanctioned this attack against our sovereignty.
LETTER TO MR. LUIS SANCHEZ MORALES
July 1, 1932.
Hon. Luis Sánchez Morales, President of the Senate and to the Gentlemen Senators.
Gentlemen: In our memorial filed before the legislature at the opening of the present extraordinary session, by virtue of a mandate of the National Board of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico, we claim for our patriotic organization equality before the electoral law. The Press of today informs us that that body has approved in the third reading the electoral bill submitted to its consideration. Nationalism was not granted the opportunity to be heard despite the terms of its memorial already cited. The project has been approved unanimously although it does not take into consideration the situation of the Nationalist Party. This action of the Senate is simultaneous with the letter of the Executive Secretary communicating to us the suspension of the registration of the new candidacies that we have filed in his secretariat, feigning the expectation of a new opinion of the attorney general that illustrates him on the right to register candidacies by convention, when by right already recognized, the Nationalist Party has filed general candidacies. We see in all that machinations of the intervening governor to prevent Nationalism from being able to go to the polls. What happened in 1924 is repeated. It is hard for us to believe that that body without distinction of parties has entered into an antipatriotic intelligence with the North American power, to prevent the nationalist will of the country from manifesting itself peacefully in the electoral contests. Given the gravity of the situation that that policy could bring if it proves to be true, it is our duty to demand again, equality before the electoral law, and, to that effect, we request that we be granted to be heard.
With all consideration P. ALBIZU CAMPOS President of the Nationalist Party
Albizu Campos is acclaimed upon making his entrance to the theater of the town of Lares on September 23, 1931.
NATIONALISM AND THE ELECTORAL SITUATION
Messrs. D. Luis Sánchez Morales and D. Manuel F. Rossy, presidents of the Senate and the Chamber respectively.
Gentlemen:
In compliance with the mandate that has been imposed on me by resolution the National Board of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico, I have the honor to address to you this communication to claim equality before the electoral law to which our patriotic organization has the right.
Nationalism has systematically refrained from entering into the bitter controversy over the electoral law because that fratricidal struggle exclusively benefits the North American intervener who contemplates it smiling and with approval. Nationalism will always compromise with its Puerto Rican countrymen before favoring in any way, the policy of Yankee foreign intervention that pretends to annihilate Puerto Rico.
We do not believe in the tactics of the parties with whom painfully we have to face, because those tactics are condemned by the own experience of those same groupings, which have exhausted their patience in a sterile diplomacy so that the Government of the United States respect our sovereignty.
Our country is in ruins. It has lost in thirty-two years more than seventy percent of its wealth that has passed to Yankee interests by virtue of the monopoly that they have of our market, which obliges us to buy theirs in the conditions that they want to impose on us. And to sell them ours in the terms that are pleasing to them.
We call attention to the fact that the high purchasing power that Puerto Rico accuses and that allows it to occupy the position of the fifth market for the United States in the world, and the first in Latin America, is not based on real revenues, but on the displacement of our farmers, industrialists and merchants, who are buying