Political Parties in Porto Rico

It has long been one of the accepted principles of political science that the growth of political parties reflects the constantly changing relations of class and industrial inter- ests.In England, for instance, we trace the growth of the liberal party to the rise of the middle-classes, consequent upon the industrial development of the early decades of the nineteenth century; in Prussia the strength of the conserva- tive party is directly traceable to the power of the landed proprietors of the northern provinces.In a word; the relation between the industrial and social development of a people and the principles of its political parties, seems so direct as to be almost self-evident.The formulation of political doctrines in party platforms becomes, therefore, the concrete expression of economic interests and political ideals.While this organic relation can readily be established under normal conditions, it is subject to important limita- tions when normal development is broken.The old lines of demarcation then disappear; new interests, new aspirations and ne.w ideals break down party divisions.The sudden disappearance of traditional antagonisms takes from existing parties much of their reason for existence, and in the confu- sion and uncertainty which results the new political parties, rising from the ruins of the old, fail to give accurate expres- sion to class and sectional demands.It would be difficult to find a more striking illustration of these principles than is offered by the history of political parties in Porto Rico.The sudden break with Spanish tra- ditions, together with the new political and industrial oppor- tunities afforded under American rule, served to undermine the accepted and unquestioned standards of the people, and to obscure, for a time at least, the real community of interests of the more progressive elements.It is not surprising

Political science · Politics · Cuban History and Society · Law

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