Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-23
The Mexican People Incapable Of Self
Government.
MUST BE RULED BY 4 STRONG NAN
Progress Of the Nation Has De-
pended Upon Diaz.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

| Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
| CITY OF MEXICO, March IA. 1901.
| Mexico presents to day to the people OF
half dozen great nations interested in her
| internal economies most dramatic and in
| tense political situation. That such a sit
uation exists does not necessarily mean dis
order, nor is it any discredit to her leaders
| or their following. The government of this
| Spanish-American republic is one of
| beneficent absolutism and Imperialism At
| It's head is a great man, old In years, but
| young in spirit and hope for his people.
| He stands forth from the group of those
/ who have led Spanish-Americans as does
j a giant among pygmies. From the people
! he rules, he is one of them. He Is more
| than this, however, for while retaining his
| identity of interest he has grown beyond
| them in his knowledge Of the worlds at
| fairs and in his skill in statecraft.
| Unable to Go Alone.
! His government has not been cursed
| with parIiamentarism A will. strong
| enough to rise in opposition to his has
| promptly been subordinated either by force
or the absolute weight of power. In twen-
| ty-five years of rule he has brought ma
| ton forward two centuries in the arts and
| sciences, but he has failed to teach them
! how to do without his guiding hand 1t
may be admitted that one man. no matter
| how great his power or great his talents,
cannot do everything in the building mp OF
| a nation to perfection, but perhaps it would
| have been possible for General Porfirio Diaz
| to have inculeated among the millfoIs OF
| people under his care at least the hrst
| principles of seif-government This ne
! has not done, notwithstan ding the fact that
his position and power have rested during
| all his time upon constitutional govern
| ment in theory. There have been no eEll
results from this omission, and possibly
| fI,a hay less
supplied it, for a newly awakened bouy
polite is apt to be restless, as we nave
| seen in Cuba
When Strong Man Is Needed.
There can be but one result, however,
| when one strong man constitutes himseif
| the government and reserves to himself ao-
| solute power in general and In detail.
When this man is taken away there is
necessarily doubt as to what may come
| next If by chance there be another
| ready to take his place, ready to assume
| the reins and drive the wild horses OF I'M
! periai government with equal skill, then
| there should be no period of chaos between
| the laying down of one rule and the taking
| on of another. country is indeed fortu-
nate however, which finds such men ready
| to hand when the need presents itself
With all his great personal vfgor, his iron
| constitution and his care for his own life,
| the time is rapidly drawing near when
| General Diaz will either be called to join
|
now passed from earth. or else will find
! the duties of state falling so heavily upon
| him that he must perforce lay the burden
| upon more vigorous shoulders.
| If the foreigners who have found their
| homes and opportunity in Mexico were to
| have their say the Diaz administration
would continue forever. They would be
| Suported In this desire by every Mexican
| who has benefited or who takes a pride in
| the present peace and prosperity which
prevails throughout this country. 1t is
| fully recognized however, that no matter
how much the event is to be dreaded or
! the discussion thereof evaded at the pres
| ent time. the question of the succession
| is matter Of immediate concern.
Constitutional Methods Ignored.
| II the people of Mexico had placed Cen
| eral Dfaz at the head of the government by
their utrainmeled vote and had continued
| him in each succeeding four years in the
same position by the same voluntary ex-
| preston of opinion as provided for in their
constitution the situation would not be so
| serious. 1t is a we'll understood fact, how
ever that General Diaz made himself pres
ident by his military skill, kept himself in
| power by that same course until it was
so strengthened by his commercial al
| liances, individual and collective. that his
| position became impregnable. The leaders
| of the Mexican people are ambitious vol
| canic in temperament and have not entire
| ly forgotten the art of revolution. The
| removal of one leader invariably suggests
| to more than one other the thought of sue
| cession. The politicians Of this country
| are men of leisure and wealth. The affairs
| of commerce and industry do not absorb
| their attention. Political position is their
only legitimate ambition and political &C
>tivity the only possible outlet for their
| energies.
Only the Politicians Interested.
With the mass of the people not only in
different to what changes may take place
|
BILE, through custom and education, Of ex-
| ercfsing any voice in the same. the strug-
| gle narrows itself down to group of ac-
| tive schemers, whose Importance is reia-
| tive to the size of their following and their
control of dominant forces. The introduc-
| ton of modern business methods and the
| quoting effect of many years of peace has
| brought about semblance of regularity
| and organization among the few thousands
| who control the wealth and the material
| military and political resources of the en-
| tire country. One element of safety in the
| situation is the hestancy which would re-
suit from this condition to disturb the
present regime with violent controversy
| and it may be taken for granted that a
majority of the controlling element in Mex
| lean life desires a continuation of condi-
tons as they now exist.
Two Phases of the Situation.
In the very general discussion which is
now prevalent III OElclal ana political cir
cles to the impending political changes
| in Mexico, there is an entire absence of
reference to that course of procedure which
is provided in the constitution of this re-
public for all such emergencies. The stu
alton presents two phases. One of these is
involved in the sudden taking off Of Presi-
dent Diaz. leaving matters to be adjusted
by others; another phase is the power
which he possesses in case his life should
be spared to nominafly retire from his of
flee and place some one else in authority
supporting that authority by the same
forces with which he now holds control. 1t
is not necessary to speculate upon what
| might happen in case General Diaz should
suddenly be called away. 1t is enough to
say that it would be an appalling calamity
not only for the Mexican people, but for
every foreigner who has dollar at stake
in their country. No human power could
prevent a greater or less disintegration of
the political structure which has been built
up by General Diaz and supported by
well-equipped and formidable army com
manded by a loyal friend.
Capital would become the scene of a dis