Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-26
Mexico as a Refuge.

The Mexican Herald, turning its eyes
Americanward, sees things. Listen:
"a Hearst campaign for the presidency
will make the Bryan campaigns seem al
most a conservative movement The time
is ripper for Hearst than 1t was for Bryan,
for the people are even more eager for re-
volt than In 1896 and 1900. And we will
venture the prediction that If socialism be-
comes formidable in the northern republic
between the present year and 1908 there
will be seen remarkable movement Of
American capital into Mexico. This country
will become refuge from the rising tide
of socialism. an asylum for the badly
frightened men of property. The silver
bugbear no longer exists here; monetary
reform has become a fixed fact: the tradi-
tionai respect for property is unchallenged
by any party or faction, and the govern
ment Is strong and thoroughly conserva-
tive. Bryan in 1896 frightened some people
into crossing the Rio Grande. socialistio
campaign up north in 1908 would send
hundreds of men of wealth across the Dor
der where one came ten years ago"
The Herald puts too low an appraisement
on the American spirit. That spirit does
not run away In a pinch, but has met and
conquered, greater perils than socialism.
When slavery brought on civil war the
great property interests of the country
stood their ground and helped to save the
-
improving an opportunity to play upon dis
content, carried the day in 1892 on a plat
form proclaiming death to protection. the
property interests. then as now socketed
in protection did not run away, but helped
with democratic assistance, to unmask and
defeat the movement In Congress. and later
at the polls And In 1895 and 1900. when
the public credit was menaced, no interests
were so active as the property interests.
They cast no weather eye In any direction
for a refuge.
It may be. as the Herald suggests. that
the campaign Of 1908 viii make the Bryan
campaigns appear tame and conservative
by comparison. The discomfort growing out
of our abundance Is new wrinkle with us,
and In certain sections and circles IS mus
tering votes. But the American people
Will meet that as they have met all other
forms of discontent-by argument, by or
ganization. and by numbers. Property is
safe in America-safer in fact than human
life-and socialism, properly so-called-will
dash Itself in vain against that solid rock
For property represents not alone the enor-
nous accumulations of the rich, but the
savings In modest homes and bank deposits
of great numbers of wage-earners. Those
who strike at individualism In our affairs
strike at the foundation of the government
1t Is good to hear from this representa-
tive newspaper that Mexico Is prosperous
and hospitable toward capital. May she
continue 50 for her own good. But she
should not count on having her prosperity
augmented by rich Americans fleeing from
danger at home. Men of such spirit are
few, and of too little force to count any
where The greatest of the governmental
problems are going TO be worked out in this
country, and by the people who have made
the country what 1t Is. We like Mexico
as a neighbor. but are not counting on her
as q refuge.