Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-28
REPUBLIC, IN NAME
Queer Anomaly Presented i in the
Mexico Of Today.
cuRIousL7 TEMPERED DICTATORSHIP
The Government, However, is
Strong and Satisfactory.
CONDITIONS DESCRIBED
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

political and social economies of Mexico 1t
Is first necessary for him to absolutely and
forever dismiss from his mind IN connection
| herewith the modern conception Of re-
public. In Mexico a certain faction of the
people may exercise its strength and place
leader In control, but unless this faction
was able subsequently to separate the crea-
ture of its power from the physical forces
| placed at his command when he was in
| stalled the following in which he originated
cannot reverse it's action and tear him
down. The government of Mexico Is not a
monarchy, for it is not hereditary. Twenty
| TOUR years ago, when Gen. Porfirio DiaZ
came into power. his position was purely
that Of military dictator Today he still
| holds military dictatorship, but one which
| Is most curiousy tempered and controlled
py commercial interests, both domestic and
| foreign.
with constitution providing In sounding
| phrases for civil liberty, there is no such
thing In Mexico. With a fundamental law
declaring that al government rests in the
people, the people of Mexico have nothing
10 say as TO who shall rule them or by
what methods or form the government shall
De carried on. With all the machinery of
an election provided for in the statutes Of
the country, an election has never been
held in Mexico in which the popular will
was actually registered by ballots. The gov
eminent OF this country rests on the mill
tary power primarily, but of late this pow
er mas been greatly strengthened by a
strong community of interest between it's
beneficiaries and the powerful representa-
tlves OF the foreign capital which owns
everything in Mexico pertaining to the
nineteenth or the twentieth centuries.
Alter all this has been said it is equally
important to emphasize the fact that these
statements do not imply in the least that
Mexico has not good government a gov
eminent under which its citizens enjoy Sc
curity of Life, liberty and the pursuit of
human happiness: government best suit
ed to the development of a wonderful
country and the people native to it. In
short, Mexico has today the best govern
ment that has ever fallen to the lot of
spanish american people, and which
could hardly be improved upon by the most
skiliful builder of nations when the ma
tional characteristics and peculiarities of its
citizens are fully considered
The Constitution a Title Peg.
1t must always be borne in mind, how
ever in thinking of Mexico and in attempt
ing any political or social comparison that !
the constitution of that country is merely |
a peg upon which to hang the title Of |
republic. Its limitations are disregarded in |
the laws, its provisions violated constantly |
by the governing power and it is seldom re- |
ferred to except in oratorical flights or In |
theoriZing essays. The Mexican constitu-
ton declares Itself to be inviolable The |
form of government in Mexico and the &C |
tons of the governing power are not only |
a refutation of this statement but they |
constitute all the proof which Is necessary |
to the effect that Mexico in reality Is a con-
st!tutionless political organization. From |
this fact arises any uneasiness which may |
be felt in regard to possible changes of |
power in Mexico or the extent to which |
disturbance may go should any political !
crisis face that people. Notwithstanding |
the methods provided for in the fundamen- |
tai law for dealing with political emergen-
c:es, it is thoroughly understood by those
yr-I1F l. ttnir Tho
nature of things there IS no constitutional |
suggestion which would be followed by the |
people in case Of serious political disturb
ance The political life of Mexico is held |
together by the hand of the one man who
ever he may happen to be who represents |
not only the executive head, but the entire
government of the country in the power
which he yields.
The law-making power of the Mexican
government is nominally vested in the con-
gress. This congress is supposedly elected
by the direct vote of the people, each men,
Der representing district, as In the United
States. In reality, however, the members
of this congress are practically appointed
by the president of the republic. Some of
the members have never seen the districts
which they represent, notwithstanding the
fact that the constitution requires them to
be residents therein. Each state has a
separate government of its own, the peo-
pie supposedly electing a governor, but In
reality accepting the appointee of the Pres
ident The Mexican congress passes no
laws except those desired by the admins
tration. Free speech in congress Is an I'M
known privilege. One of the most signifi-
cant signs of the times is disclosed in a
declarat ion recently made by a Mexican
senator to the effect that General Porfirio
Diaz is the last president of that republic
who will be able to suppress congressional
debate of government measures.
10 chosen words in he
constitution Of Mexico that the rights of
man are the foundation and end of social
Institutions. But the Interpreters Of this
document are discriminating as to whose
rights constitute this foundation and as TO
which social institutions are supreme. 1t is
declared in Mexico's fundamental law that
the people have at any time the inalienable
right of altering or modifying their form of
government This declaration should be
qualified to read to the effect that If those
people who desire a change are sufficiently
numerous and well-organized to start and
maintain revolution to successful end
this constitutional clause becomes active
but In all other cases it is to be considered |
imperative.
Strong and Satisfactory.
This description of Mexico's form of gov
eminent sounds worse than 1t really Is, for
while it is perfectly true and fully under
stood it still detracts in no way from the
excellent qualities of this political organi-
cation, its adaptabillty TO the country In
which it prevails and the people who live I'M
der it, nor does it detract from the high
character, admirable craftsmanship and I'M
sullied patriotism Of the man in whose per-
sonality lies the secret Of the peace, pros
DC rity and happiness now enjoyed by four
teen million people in Spanish America
The government In Mexico is strong
personally conducted, centralized organiza-
ton Its power is maintained by an eff
cient military and police force. by suprem-
acy in all political positions and by wise
fragment and friendiiness toward the
capital Invested in enterprises which bring
occupation to the people and wealth to the
investors. Twenty four Years ago the pres
ent president of MEXICO placed himself in
power by revolutionary methods. At that
time he and his followers represented a
purely military element- Fortunately for
Mexico there was anotherTsde to the char
acter of this soldier of fortune which has
developed marveously in the latter years
of his life From a man who was known |
only as a soldier he has become more dis
tirguished for his craftsmanship and for
his commercial acumen. Never relaxing his
political or military vigilance for a mo-
ment he has retained In all its plentitude
his absolute sway as dictator. and yet at the