The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-08-09
MEXICAN PRESS
is NOW FREE
Newspapers and Magazines
Print What They Like.
MAOERO PROMISE REALIZED.

Some of the Comment Adverse to Ma.
dero, but This Makes No Difference
People Share In the Liberty-Nt
Abuses Followed Change.
The Mexican press is free" That
1t should be was one of the many
things promised by Madero, and local
publishers did not wait for him to be
formally elected before beginning tc
exercise their newly acquired right.
Their assumption, however, was jus.
titled. Emilio Vasquez Gomez, minis
ter of the department of interior, was
not slow in publicly assuring the
newspaper owners that they could
publish whatever they liked.
'"The government is sure that the
liberty of the press is the best way
to obtain the efficient help of all news.
papers so as to realize completely the
ideas of the present government" he
said in q public statement on the sub.
ject.
That this unrestricted expression is
stimulating has already been demon
strated. Whether it will prove intoxi
eating remains to be seen. Since the
advent of Madero dozen new periodi
Gals have been born, and as many
more are said to be projected. Lack
of advertising doubtless will force
many Of these youngsters into their
graves. for the only reason apparent
for their being in some instances is
that some one wishes a medium of
public expression.
No One Spared by Writers.
Most of the new periodicals are
small magazines, the majority devoted
to the publication of satirical verse
and prose, illustrated with caricatures.
No one Is spared by the writers and
artists, but, as is natural, the most
stinging-and sometimes vicious-work
relates to those individuals who were
connected with the old regime. Among
the weekly periodicals is FL Ahuizote,
publication resurrected. This maga-
zine first appeared years ago, but be-
cause of its cartoons of Limantour and
other public men was suppressed.
The daily newspapers give the most
lively evidence of this freedom" El
Impartial, paper which has always
been progovernment, has inserted un
der its head the word "Diario Indepen
diente," and Independent it is. 1t pub
fishes news and comment regardless
of how it will be relished by Madero
and his friends, for whom it pretends
no love.
The public also has caught the spirit
of free speech, and almost all the pa.
pers publish columns of comment fur.
nished by readers. Most of it is sign.
ed by the writer's own names. In this
comment and in the editorial columns
the political questions are freely dis
cussed. Madero is criticised as we'll as
praised, and those who would like to
see another chosen for the presidency
do not hesitate to say so.
Capital Has "YeIIow Press"
News which never would have beer
reported during the days of Diaz is
now published under seven column
heads and in ten point type. The cap
ital now, too, has its yellow press"
Were free" appears to be the un
spoken idea in the minds of thousands
G the poorer people of the capital and
perhaps furnishes the explanation OF
scores of curious sights to which the
old resident has not become accustom
ed. 1t is not uncommon to see hun
dreds of men, women and children
and not all of them peons-wanderins
about on the grass of the Alameda
during a band concert. In the days OF
Diaz none ever trod that grass with
impunity.
Notwithstanding signs that warn thu
public not to ascend the platform Of
the famous monument to Jaurez, the
snowy marble columns are not infre
quently black with hundreds of ragged
men and children gathered there t.
hear band or to witness a parade II
the street For a time taking a pris
oner away from a policeman was 6
favorite amusement, but this diversion
has been checked almost altogether
but not yet does an officer of the law
insist upon doing his duty without see
ing an expression of surprise on thu
faces of the ragged populace. They
are free" and to learn that there arr
yet restrictions is disconcerting.