INTERVIEW WITH LCDO. PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS
The manifesto of Messrs. Barceló and Tous Soto is impressive, and for that reason requires a cold and equitable analysis.
The proposition of reaching a definitive understanding on the political basis on which the policy of the country should revolve is a reason for satisfaction for the country. If it is self-government, as stated in the Manifesto, it will surely be welcomed among all the liberal elements of Puerto Rico. A government responsible only to us is imposed. This is a truth that we have been discussing for some time, but an agreement had not yet been reached among people with sufficient authority in the electorate. It seems incredible that until now there has not been that unanimous consensus. The greatest obstacle until now to reach that extreme was the policy of intransigent unconditionalism of the Republican party which, advocating statehood, refused to preach to its people to demand the rights it has to govern itself. This policy showed a lack of understanding of what statehood is, which is only government by and with the consent of the governed. And although statehood limited the personality of our country in extremes essential for its existence as a people defined in the civilized world, it required, in order to reach it, that our people get used to exercising all the rights in Puerto Rico. The idea of statehood has been relegated to the remote and inconceivable, clear and conclusive have been the official declarations such as those of Mr. Tous Soto. Within the proposed program the complete development of our political personality is in no way limited, being able to reach within it complete sovereignty, to which it has an indisputable right. The declarations regarding the preservation of our language, our culture, our material interests, and our distinctive civilization are not empty. Mr. Tous Soto has made a great sacrifice to reach this conviction that he frankly and honestly puts before his compatriots, unconcerned with the personal results, favorable or unfavorable to him. We admire the patriotic gesture.
We must distinguish the indisputable constitution of the country from the means to realize what that constitution determines. I understand that our future constitution establishes a government responsible to us in certain important extremes. To develop the aspirations that this Constitution entails, the depreciation of any of the existing parties is not required. And this would be convenient because then there could be greater harmony between all. It seems clear to me that the proposition of Messrs. Tous Soto and Barceló that the Unionist and Republican Party reach a partisan understanding between themselves, or dissolve to constitute a new party, is not feasible and is out of place in Puerto Rico. I fear that Mr. Tous Soto is alone within his party on that important extreme. His Party and the Socialist Party, having been until now allies of adversity, feel an affinity between themselves of such a nature that it distances them as a group from the Unionist Party. The immediate effect of the declarations made in the Manifesto will be to precipitate the General Tie-Up between the republicans and socialists, despite the official hostility with which the coalition would be met. There is no doubt that in the United States there is currently no room for tolerance towards socialist parties or coalitions with socialist parties. The Unionist party is then presented with a situation that requires immense internal organization to prepare for the electoral struggle that will be extremely passionate.
The moment is one of expectation, especially for the socialists who have been disauthorized as a political party in the manifesto. This has been the cause of protests among all the socialists. We sincerely believe that it would have had a better effect to invite them also to a general understanding since they are a party constituted in Puerto Rico representing living forces in the country.
Our duty is clear, whatever the result of the assemblies that the militant parties celebrate, we will be within the liberals, defenders of each and every one of the rights of our people to enjoy their civilization in its entirety without restrictions that arise from their will.
PEDRO ALBIZU CAMPOS