The morning call., 1892-01-14
Is IT A REVOLUTION?

General Cara, the frontier leader, has
published a pronunciamento, in which he
states that his movement is revolutionary in
its character, and that its aim is the over
throw Of Diaz and the inauguration of a
new Government for the United States of
Mexico. He does not very clearly explain
why he seeks to upset Diaz. He charges
him vaguely with corruption and with hos
tility to the church, but he neither
furnishes specifications nor gives reasons
why new Government would be less
corrupt or less hostile to the cleri-
Gals than his. One of his cOnfederates,
Flores of Monterey, likewise publishes an
appeal 10 the people Of Tamaulipas, calling
upon them to join Cara. But he. also,
fails to furnish reasons why they should do
SO. In the meantime the insurgent leader
appears to be corralled in the chaperral
either in Starr or DuyaI County, Tex,
about hundred miles from the Rio Grande.
A party Of American troops. chiefly re-
cruited from the Third Cavalry and the
Eighteenth Infantry, is trying to catch him,
thus far without much prospect of success.
If CARA is mere border ruffian on plum
der bent it is right that American troops
should capture and hold him If he can be
H. AIu on i american oUils 4ilNAl ~ tAoiA anu
revolution are the normal condition Of
Mexico, and though that distracted country
has enjoyed Il long period Of peace under
DiaZ, it is hardly to De supposed that the
old turbulent instincts have been wholly
eradicated from Mexican breasts. 1t takes
a long time to teach an ignorant people that
political controversies must be adjusted
with the ballot and not the bullet. If any
bs-r In,
are tired Of Diaz and want to get rid Of him
and put some one else in his place by force
Of arms it is not easy 10 see how we can in
tervene in the dispute.
For thirty years, first as commanding
General and then as President, PoTfri0 DIaz
has ruled Mexico with an iron hand. The
Government Of which be has been first the
leading spirit and then the head has pur-
ported to be a popular Government, main
tanned in power by the votes Of the people
But in fact. the representative system has
always been a farce in Mexico; Diaz has
always kept power By the logic of the
bayOnet. He has been the head Of a mill
tary despotsm His regime has answered
on the whole, very well, indeed; he has re-
deemed Mexican credit, scared the build
ing Of railroads. put stop to brlEandage,
established schools, equalized taxation and
aided in the development or the material
interests Of bis country. But, after all, the
inherent vice Of his system always exposed
him to revolutionary movements. Ii he
could hold power by the sword, any rival
could appeal to the sword to upset him.
That, according to Cara, is precisely what
is happening just now
His weakness is due to the large extent OF
territory which he is obliged to protect. If
the northern boundary of Mexico CORE
spOnded with the northern State line of ia
liscO, Zacatecas, San Luis PotOsi and Vera
Cruz, the republic would constitute a com
pact territory, which could be defended
against the foreigner, and in which a COM
paratiyely small force could maintain order
and suppress rebellion. But north of that
line Mexico has now to provide for the de-
Tense OF the States Of Sonora, SinalOa,
Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Ia
maulipa5. Durango and the territory of
Lower CalifOInia-an area Of $4,000 square
miles, with population Of about a million
and quarter, four-Gfths Of whom are In
dams or persons OF mixed blood. In such
a vast country 1t is almost impossible to
maintain the authority Of the central Gov
eminent without an army which Mexico
cannot afford TO keep on foot Whenever
an adycnturer like Cara raises the stand
ard Of revolt he can set the Government at
defiance, and, when pursued, can take
refuge in the inaccessible gorges Of the
Sierra Madre, or In the Chaparral on the
American side OF the Rio Grande.
Sooner or later, if Mexico IS lucky enough
to secure cool-headed and iudcous citizens
for President 1t will occur to them that
their republic would be stronger, richer
and more free from turbulence II the north
ern tier Of States, with Lower California,
were sold to the United States. They
would not be much Of an acquisition for
this country. but it would be a relief to
Mexico to get rid of them.