The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-09-29


stitutional government, Mexi'
III co is today a political anomaly
among republics, if measured
by the standard which prevails in the
United States or even in some OF the
Latin countries in Central and South
America. We are told that its consti-
tuition is modelled after that of the
United States, that its president is
elected by universal suffrage, that its
legislative power is vested in a con-
gress, consisting of two houses like
our own, and that its people have full
political and civil rights. But study
of conditions as they are shows that
whatever may be the appearances OF
things Mexico is as much despotism
today as Russia; that its ruler. who
Is styled its president, is as much an
autocrat as Car Nicholas, and that he
holds power little short of unlimited
over the lives and property of Next
cans.
The recent presidential election In
Mexico shows the absurdity of the
claim which that country makes to be-
ing a republic and emphasizes the ar
bitrary power exercised by President
Diaz. The latter, with the exception
lent of Mexico since 1876, wien he
seized the reins of power as the lead
er Of a successful revolution and was
subsequently elected chief executive,
If the process of selection could really
be called an election. DiaZ from the
hand, and to his ability, which even
bis enemies recognize, is due the sta
bility with which the government has
maintained itself since. That his
strong hand checked revolution and
that he was polite enough to foster
the investment of foreign capital are
factors to his credit. But at the same
time the political aspirations of the
people to a fuller share in govern
ment were trampled upon. Freedom
Of speech and freedom Of the press. in
so far as they confiicted with Diaz and
MS policies. were empty sounds. Diaz
was not only the president of the re-
public; he was it's dictator. and his
strong arm reached to every corner
Of the land to reward and punish.
A Promise and Its Breaking.
Naturally such a condition produced
some political unrest, and when in
March, 1908, Diaz announced that he
would not be candidate for president
again, but would aid in the establish
ment of a democratic form of govern
ment, for which he said the country
was ripe, there was great rejoicing.
But the exercise of power is sweet,
and soon afterward the word went out
from official sources that Diaz would
be a candidate again. Those striving
for fuller political rights were even
satisfied with this and started an agi-
tation favoring Bernardo Reyes. gov
ernor of the state of Neuvo Leon, for
vice-president Reyes was one of the
most popular men in Mexico and his
supporters felt that in the event of
the death of Diaz, who is now eighty
years old, the government would be
safe in the hands of Reyes, and the
wave of reform would go on I'M
checked.
AS soon as the Democrats placed
Reyes in nomination. the followers of
Diaz renominated for the same Office
Ramon Corral, the most unpopular
man in Mexico and a reactionary. And
then began a bitter persecution ) of
the Democrats and the Reyes support
ers on the part of Diaz, which shat
ters the fiction that there exists polit-
lcal freedom in Mexico.
Army officers friendly to Reyes were
removed to undesirable posts. Con-
gresham Barron, who was chiefly in
strumental in naming Reyes for vice
president. was banished from the
country; several other congressman
we're deposed; students who favored
Reyes were expelled from state
schools; public meetings were sup
pressed by the police or soldiers, and
In various states Reyes supporters
were thrown into Jail, most of them
charged with sedition. In every cor
ner of the country the despotic power
of Diaz was felt and neither life nor
liberty was secure. Newspapers on
every side were subsidized by the gov
eminent or suppressed and their edi-
tors thrown into Jail. No criticism of
Dlaz. or advocacy of the popular move
ment, was allowed and the editor
who INDUCED in either was eithey
expelled or jailed.
During this period of political tur.
noil Bernardo Reyes had kept clear OF
the entire situation and on several oc
casions mad emphatically declined to
be candidate for vice-presideni. But
this did not save him from the wrath
Of Diaz. He was treated for time as
4 prisoner by the military governor OIL