The San Francisco call., 1910-11-27
.Diaz Rules With Strong Army
Mexican Strife SINNERS Long
By ROY FELLoM

The disturbances reported from
various points in Mexico are the
natural ebullitions of simmering
, disaffection of years standing. That
; a great and bloody war is not un-
likely must be admitted by Presi
dent Diazs stanchest friends. 1t is
apparent to all who have lived in
Mexico and noted the signs of a
restless people fretting for a change.
A revolution in Mexico Will not be
of the variety served up with break
fast by the peppery Central Amer
lean states. When the Mexican
takes up arms against his country
it VIII be for the first time in so
years.
This must stamp Mexicans as Of a
cooler temperament than the hot
headed peoples of the other south
ern republics. Perhaps their greater
distance from the equator dampens
their combativeness or perhaps, as
many say, DiaZ has ushered in an
era of progressiveness that has left
no time to think of war and ambi-
tions.
However this may be, Mexicans
are now ripe for a civil struggle.
They have been surfeited with peace
and laden with legislation. The spirit
Of the people has become sluggish
through inanition, and the desire to
be part of the country's life has
started a spark of wakefulness
which is sweeping the people.
Whole generations have wallowed
in peace and actually pine for the
thrills of war.
An editor of one of the big
Mexico City dailies said to me one
year ago in the great concrete am
phitheater bullring in the capital:
'This multitude reflects the senti-
ment Of the republic
He meant particularly the sunny"
side. where the Mexican lower class
disported itself by acts of brutality
and unconcern for the law that were
astounding to one accustomed to
see the abject humility of these
same people in the streets of the
city. Nowhere do citizens have
greater respect for the law and its
agents than in Mexico. The gen
darme's uniform and not his beef"
is respected. Yet in the bullring the
police are powerless. I have seen
men and women who disputed a seat
on an upper tier suddenly seized and
by means of hundred helping
hands virtually manhandled over
the heads of the crowd the length
and breadth of the sunny section.
1t is the custom with many on the
shady side of the bullring to go
early to witness the first of the
days amusements-the reckless acts
of highhandedness of the patrons OF
the sunny side. Their conduct has
long been regarded as one of the
indications of the way the Mexican
passive spirit will find surcease and
vent At the bullring they dare as
sert their collective strength and
defy the authorities. A battalion of
armed soldiers attends, but is never
used to curb the excesses.
Mexico has a population of up
ward of 1e,O0D,0 900. The great mass
of the people are in pitifully poor
circumstances and burdened by So
cial and caste system that leaves
them without opportunity or hope of
advancement. They live a stoIid ex-
1stence and nurture deep love for
ia patria.'
They have shown that they can
be peace loving, and they have won
the fruit of peace-education. 1t is
an Indictment of the Mexican gov
ernment that the school system has
not progressed at a ratio COM
mensurate with the number of
years of undisturbed administrative
possession and progress. The bet
ter Mexican classes are highly cul-
tured, but the education of the lower
classes is neglected to an equal ex-
tent The result is a people who,
when they move on the government
and make their demand for suffrage,
will add a crimson chapter to Amer
lean histories.
Diaz has been wise ruler. His
precaution to prevent uprisings are
complete and long established.
whether or not he has been a pa
triot is a debatable question. While
he has maintained peace he has es-
tablished himself firmly as a dicta-
tor. While he may have made Mex
leo prosperous by securing foreign
confidence. he has ignored the con-
stitution of state and nation in the
matter of representative govern
ment-