The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-12-07
SIDELIGHTS ON MEXICAN RE-
VOLUTIONS.

/ WIZ uOVe IeOI AuVW4euSe VI SOe tyPe
of Mexican that represents the great
mass of the Mexican nation, the pres.
ent uprising against the Diaz govern.
ment is not surprising. The surprise
IL that such manifestation has been so
long in coming and that the minor
manifestations of similar interest and
purpose has been so few and far be-
tween during the more than thirty
years Of Diaz supremacy. The man
who knows Mexicans knows we'll that
there has not been q single year in all
the years since Diaz, as . revolution
list himself, overturned the govern
ment headed by Lerdo de Tejada in
1876, when an element just as numer.
GUS, strong and eager as backed him
in that enterprise has been awaiting
the chance to overthrow him and his
government in turn. That he has
been strong enough to prevent the
change and to place q veneer of mod.
ern civilization over the Mexico of to.
day, that has impressed the world with
the belief that the day of revolutions
is over in Mexico forever is proef of
how great a man he is, but to accom-
plish such reality as he is generally
credited with, he would have had to
change the character, instincts and
habits of the Mexican race, and that
he has not done. The Mexican of TO.
day is the same who has revolted and
overthrow every ruler since Mexico
became Independent with but three
exceptions, Victoria, the first presi-
dent; Juarez and Porfirio Diaz, and
who rebelled often and at last success
fully against the rule ofSpain.
The great bulwark, the middle clase,
that prevents in the United States
such movements as Mexican revolu.
tions is practically nonexistent in Mexi.
co. There is but the upper and lower
class in the Mexican republic and the
latter comprise the great majority Of
the people and are pure Indian in
blood. Out of the IL million of Mexi-
cans less than million are in any part
of Spanish or other foreign descent.
1t is the humble "hombre' of the
masses, the Indian, who supplies the
material for Mexican revolutions, who
by instinct and character is always
against authority and existing govern.
ment and ready to take part in its
overthrow and just ready to in turn
overthrow the power he has establish.
ed. The common, every day Mexican,
such as one can see every day along
the Rio Grande border working as
laborer, is type of the masses all thro.
ugh the republic. Indian, as he is, he
loves to raid, plumber and loot, and
opportunity for these always comes
with such uprisings. 1t is this kind
of people which the Diaz govern
ment has kept under restraint for so
long q time.
But the average Mexican is not of
himself inclined to take the initiative
in revolution or anything else, but his
instinct is to follow anyone Who leads,
and there are plenty of these as the
present uprising shows. The leaders
are almost entirely of the upper class,
who have disappointments. unrealized
ambitions and grievances against gov.
eminent. 1t is easy for any of these
to collect q following. The owner of
great hacienda of thousands and hun.
dreds and thousands Of poems on his
land who hold allegiance to the master
the same as vassals to feudal chief,
and will follow him in any enterprise
the same as Highland cateran of old
times followed the head of his clan. |
1t seems strange in this age that this
should be true anywhere, but it is true
in Mexico. Let that master be in ex.
lie for years and his temperance in |
revolt against the government is hail.
ed with welcome, and in turn the sue
cessful leader finds that the outs have |
the same disposition to overthrow and
the same elements to assist. 1t is all |
because of the Mexican character, so
different from that of the American of
the United States, that the one furnish.
Is no standard for estimating and
judg ing the other.
This writer has mingled much and
for years with the common Mexicans
along the Rio Grande, has worked
with them and over them, has eaten
their frijoles and their tortillas with
them in their jacals and slept there