The National tribune., 1909-04-15
A DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN MEXICO.

A DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN MEAlCO.
Mexico has taken an important step
in forming a Democratic Party. This
has been with the concurrence and ac-
tive sympathy of President Diaz. Diaz
recognizes, as do all men who have
studied politics and government, that
party government is the best invention
of man for satisfactory administra-
tion of the affairs of Nation. The
world has tried all other plans of gov
ernment. 1t has had despotisms, men
claiming to govern by divine right. and
1t has had families and factions striv-
| ing for supremacy. The best results
have been attained all the time by par
ties such as exist in the United States
and England, and to which the Ger
mans are now rapidly approaching;
that is, having the people divided on
great questions. subordinating every
thing else to these and making con-
test as to which of two policies shall
prevail. In this way great principles
are brought to the front and made
dominant. Government by individuals,
by houses and factions are, on the 9TH
er hand, largely selfish and narrow, and
cannot attain to the highest good
Where there are two parties struggling
with one another each il sharply crit
ical of the other not only of its policies,
but of the way in which it executes
them and the character of the officials
selected. The trouble with the Democ-
racy of the United States Of late years
is that it has not represented the op-
position properly, and attacked the exc
cution Of policy upon which substan-
TALLY all Americans were agreed. 1t
has gone off after vagaries which |
seemed captivating, but against which |
the better sense OF a large portion of
the party reyolted. For instance, there |
is no doubt that the great mass Of the |
American people earnestly favor a pol |
Icy which will properly protect Ameri-
can manufacturers, workingmen and
farmers. The question is naturally as
to the extent Of this protection upon
every interest, and it is here that the |
Democracy should have exerted its en-
ergies in questioning the protection CIV
en- this or that feature and offering an
alternative tariff to the people. Instead |
of this it has gone off on such repug-
nant vagaries as free silver. The regu-
lation of greet corporations, including
railroads ,ansportation, is anoth-
er proper 8 before the American
people, and the Democrats opportunity
was in recognizing that great combina-
tons are inevitable in manufacturing
and in transportation, and these should
be intelligently studied and regulated
Instead of this the Democracy confined
and combinations, Government owner
ship of railroads and similar impossible
heresies. Our possessions beyond the
sea have come to us naturally and
and they are going to always
remain our possessions. They are nee
essary to our commercial progress and
the development of a trade which will
give employment and wages to millionsI
Of Americans. The proper question
then was as to our policy toward these
possessions, how we should govern them
wisely and well, with enligh- con-
'ideration for the people in Use pos
essions and their interests as well as for
he interests of the United States. We
want nothing but exact equal justice In
hese relations, and the establishment
II this was well worth the study of
very man claiming to be a politician
md statesman. Instead of doing this
he Democracy wanted to either scut-
lie out of those possessions or make
uch conditions as would prevent any
roper control of them and develop
nent of the people who were thrown
pom our care.
The Government of Mexico has here
ofore been an enlightened despotism
yhich has done world of good work
'r that distracted country. President
'iaz, the aforesaid enlightened despot,
Understands that rule of that charac-
sr must necessarily be temporary, and
e is now wisely trying to educate his
eople into governing themselves, and
he formation of a great opposition
arty Is one Of the necessary steps in
nat direction. Let us hope that the
emocratic Party to be formed in Mex
% will be comprehensive of its duties
nd responsibilities and be worthy of
nama