The Sword of Libel: Jesús María Balsac and The Quest for Equality.

When Jesús María Balsac marched to Washington by means of his appeal, Puerto Rico was enduring one of the most convulsive periods in its history. The colonial government employed brute force to repress the outgrowing pro-workers and pro-statehood movement headed by leaders such as Santiago Iglesias Pantín, Esteban Padilla and Balsac himself. But brute force was not the only means utilized to subjugate the defiant socialistas. Freedom of speech was also impaired and even used as a means for retaliation. As anticipated by Padilla, the colonial administration of Governor Arthur Yager targeted the Partido Socialista's leadership in the city of Arecibo with criminal libel. And then, the Balzac legal affair got started. This paper is a reflection upon these events, how they still influence our lives, and why I chose to write about it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]