The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-03
MEXICO AS A REPUBLIC
More So i'm Name Than in Its Ac-
tual Government.
An OliGarchy Rather THIN Nation
of Free PcOpie-ReRIIy Ruled by n
Dictntor-Its Stability Dependent
Upon One Man-Its Military Power.

| Whether our nearest sister republic
the Mexican Republic. deserves to he con-
sidered as similar nation with that OF
the American CONSOLIDATION of States is
Il matter that some people think may adj
| nit of question. A recent letter from the
| capital of that country takes the ground
that whife the national constitution
| prates largely of civil liberty, that bless
| ing is not known i'm Mexico. The author
| of the letter declares that while MeXic"
has today the best Government that has
| ever fallen to the lot of the Spanish
| American people. it rests primarily on
military power. which of late has been
greatly strengthened by a strong commu-
Eitv of interest between its beneliciaries
and the powerful representatives of the
| foreign capital which owns everything in
| Mexico pertaining to the nineteenth or
| the twentieth century.
| Mexico has not "A good government. a
government under which its citizens en-
| joy security Of life. liberty, aud the pur-
| suit of human happiness government
| best suited to the development of Won
| derful country and the people native to ii.
1t must always he borne in mind, how
| ever. in thinking of Mexico and in at
tempting any political social compari-
| son, that the constitution of that country
/ is merely peg upon which to hang the
! title of republic Its limitations are
| disregarded in the laws, its provisions
violated constantly 10y the governing pow
| er. and il is seldom referred to except in
| oratorical flights or in theorizing essays.
| The Mexican constitution declares itself
| to be inviolable.
The form Of government in Mexico and
| not only a refutation of this statement
| but they constitute all the proof which
| Is necessary to the effect that Mexico in
| reality is Constituencies political or
Eanization. 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 fundamental law for
ce1iing with political emergencies. it is
,horoughly understood by those who
| know their Mexico that in the very ma
| ture of things there is no constitutional
suggestion which would be followed by
| the people in case of serious political dis
| turbance. The political life of Mexico is
| held together by the hand of the one
ran. whoever 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 lawmakIng power of the Mexican
| Government is nominaily vested in the
! MS congress is supposedly
elected by the direct vote of the people,
| each member repre- sentingsa district as in
| the United States. In reality, hOweVt.-. the
members of this Congress are practically
| appointed by the President of the repub-
| lie. Some of the members have never seen
| the districts which they represent. not-
| withstanding the fact that the constitu-
| ton requires them to be residents there
| of. Each State has a separate gov
eminent of its own, the people supposedly
| electing a Governor, but in reality ac-
cepting the appointment of the Preside mt.
The Mexican Congress passes no laws ex-
cept those desired by the Administration.
| Free speech in Congress is an unknown
privilege.
one Of the most significant signs of the
| times is disclosed in a declaration recent
| y made by Mexican Senator to the eff
| feet that General porforio DiaZ is the
| last President of that Republic who will
| be able to suppress Congressional debate
| of Government measures.
1t is stated in well-chosen words in the
Constitution of Mexico that the rights Of
mar are the foundation and end of social
institutions. But the Interpreters Of this
document are discriminating as to wlose
rights constitute this foundation and
to which social Institutions are supreme.
II 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 declara-
ton should be qualified to read to the ef-
feet that If those people who desire
change are sufficiently numerous and
weli-organtzeo to start and matltain
revolution to successful end this consti-
| tutional clause becomes active, but in all
| other cases it is to be considered il opera
tive.
This description OF Mexico's form Of
government sounds worse than il really
is. for while 1t is perfectly true AMI fully
understood, ii still detracts in one way
from the excellent qualities of this po-
litical organization. its adaptability to the
country in which IT prevails, the people
who live under 1t, nor does IL detrdct
| from the high character, admirable
craftsmanship and unsuliied patriotism of
the man in whose personality lies the
secret of the peace, prosperity. and hap
piness now enjoyed by fs,OJJ,0D people in
Spanish-America.
Inc Government In Mexico is a strong
personally conducted, centralized organl-
cation. Its power is maintain by an eff
Gent military ana police force, by SUI
prcmacS in all political positions and by
= wise announcement and friendlincss
toward the capital invest ed in enter
prises which bring occupation to the PEG
pie and wealth to the investors. Twenty
four years ago the present President OF
Mexico placed himself In power by reNo-
iutionary methods At that time NJ ana
his followers represented urely mlllta-
~ element. Fortunately lor Mexico tnere
was mother side to the character OF this
soldier of fortune which has developed
marvelously in the latter years OF his
life.
From man who was known only
as a soldier he has become more distin-
guished for has craftsmanship and for his
commercial acumen. Never relaxing his
political or military vigilance for a mo
ment, he has retained in all its plenitude
his absolute sway as dictator and yet II
the same time he has drawn to himself
the admiration and friendship OF those
to whom commerce and industry are more
inspiring motives than political OF mil
tary leadership.
The development of the military arm of
| the Government has kept pace with the
increase in the Industrial army. Educd-
tiun has been made compulsory among
the people and at the same time the press
OF the country has been efrectuaily gag
tzed in the domain of partisan contention.
Political leaders refer in elegant diCtion
to the Constitution of Mexico and its be-
politician opposed to the administration in
power is allowed TO draw d political
breath. The people with a suffrage guar
anteed to them by those who freed their
country from the Spanish yoke have no
knowledge of their political privileges Eor
do they attempt to exercise them.
There are but two classes of people in
the country-thoSe who rule and those
who obey. The rulers are few in num-
Der, but in their hands lies the wealth of
Of centuries demand subserviency of the
many to the few, and it is granted with
out question.
The same contributor on points noted
above, observes that:
ITO an American who has enjoyed all
OF the political and civil liberty granted to
those born in the United States the pulit-
zeal condition Of Mexico is almost shock
ing. But more complete understand
ing of the people of that country ard the
conditions which prevail among them yill
inevitably lead to the conclusion that APP
parently slow progress in political edu-
cation has been wisdom of the most pro-
found description in that it has gently