The Republican., 1897-04-08

blood Aztec types.
| Who are Mexicans? OF course anv
one born in Mexico, and yet these are
divided into four classes. In the first
class we have the idle rich-the estate
holders, lawyers, clergy and profes-
sional men. These are generally of
straight Spanish descent. In the
second class we have merchants, store
keepers, etc, largely composed of for
| elgners. In the third class are the
small shOpkeepers, artisans, mechan-
les, etc, being largely of light com
| plected meXicans, although many pure
Indians are skilled mechanics. In the
| fourth class the poems proper, day
labOrers, workers on farm and rail
road, from pure blooded Indians down
through all shades to very light and
composing two-thirds of the popula-
tion, the underpaid wealth producers
and whom every one seems interested
in keeping down and keeping cheap.
This class will probably average %
cents in wages per day in silver or 70
cents in gold.
This class distinction shows itself at
all times and places, at first, second
and third class in railroads, hacks,
street clrs, theaters, etc. Even in
laXity of morals the upper classes en-
joy a sweet distinction. To them all
is forgiven and heaven is reached on
wings of balm. Anupper classer does
honor in running q woman of the lower
class. The child is born, baptized and
received into the church and to the
father all is forgiven and forgotten
where known. A suit for support
was never heard of. 1t is wise peon
that knows its own father. | regret
to say that Americans and foreigners
lend themselves all too readily to the
country's customs, outdoing Romans
in Rome. 1t is a great thing to be
man in Mexico. Pure womanhood
cant well exist where there is class
slavery.
Ho for education and the power to
read among the poems. HO for a free
and cheap press, liberty of thought, "A
banishment Of superstition and the
wholesale unfettering Of the shacllles
Of an inherited church. God is free
and let his shrine be in the pure heart
and not on the mountain side, blazing
like sun in jeWeled splendOr. Next to
God comes a free man, strong in right
undaunted by fear of superstition,
ruler, party, wealth Or church. May
God speed the time when the paon Of
Mexico will be free
Mexico is not theoretically a Span
ish province nor has the Spaniards ac-
tual control of the country, although
q man might loose his life by shouting
"Cuba libre!" among the upper classes
The Spaniard is a foreigner there, al
though his blood flows in the veins of
millions. Indeed the Spaniards were
driven out of Mexico in 1929. In 1921
a coalition occurred between Mexican
and Spaniard, which the Spaniard
tried to run his own way. In this
coalition the Mexican colors, green,
red and white, were agreed on. Green
meant the uniting of two factions
Mexican and Spaniard. Red meant
liberty. White was an amendment
Of the Spaniards, Introducing the
church into the league, and meaning
purity. As the Spaniards were ban
ished in 1929, and the church was or
dered to follow suit with the advent
of the liberals and that grand man
BenitO Juarez, in 1861, of the original
colors one might say that nothing re
manned true to the test but Red-nOt
a bad color for every day wear
The study of the people, the laborers
the field workers and mechanics of
nation is much more satisfactory than
the study of the titled rich. Poverty
brings out the naturalness of the peo-
pie; they don't talk in stilted para
phrases or hide ugly sores behind
laces and ostrich plumes. Riches
bring a sameness to all people of
whatever nation. The poor are ever
with you in Mexico, you can not es-
cape the underpaid labOrers and the
army Of beggars. tits estimated that
it only takes from ) to 10 cents in sill
yer per day to feed a Mexican laborer.
If you pity the laborer, you are met
with u shruG Of the shoulders and the
reply: what more do they want;
they are happy, they viii not work
when they have money! The laborer
fares better in the city than he used
to, but in the country there is little
change in his condition. Corn cruel,
corn t0rtillas and corn tamales, beans
and red pepper form his main diet;
varied occasionally with dried meat,
fruits and coffee when they can be
had. He sleeps on the ground and
his clothing is white cotton ducking
generally very old and very much
irayed Every Mexican has a blanket