New-York tribune., 1911-04-05
BISHOP OF MEXICO'S VIEWS
Causes of the Trouble-Sees
Ultimate Good from Revolt.

| Writing 10 "The Churchman," the
Right Rev Henry d. Aves. Bishop Of
Mexico discusses political and industrial
| conditions in the troubled republic and
expresses the belief that the present dis
content will result in large ultimate good
to the country. This will be accomplished.
Bishop AYES says, not only by accentuating
the necessity of needing certain growing
poltical grievances but by revealing more
conspicuously certain social and industrial
| conditions that must be remedied before
this government can ever hope to rest on
basis OF permanent stability" Describ-
ing the causes Of the rebellion, DR.. Aves
writes
II would be a grave mistake to sup
pose that the present uprising and wide
| spread spirit of unrest originate In the
ambition OF a few aspirants tor political
power. or that they emanate largely from
| feeling of dissatisfaction with the pres.
ent political administration. The roots or
the trouble lie deeper. and they reacch
| down into the general basic social condi-
| tions that have long existed and which
| have been as patiently endured as they
| have been strongly and s,ernly, con on
heritances from the old feuda system In
| troduced and developed under Spanish
rule is the present industrial condition; n ion.
pretty much all the tillable land In the
| republic q often ride from. thirty, to nifty
| miles through a single hacienda). ana
whose burden Of taxes Is merely nominal.
and the poems, who own little or nothing
and whose chief reminder of the dignity
Of citizenship Is q monthly poll tax %
| the b.Co9,e09 of people in Mexico n."oyo
| belong to this peon and Indian class. tho
great majority Of whom have no homes
| OF their own and only very. small per
cent Of whom can either read or write.
4 = -su Ti "a
| privileged class there Is naturally vide
! severance OF sympathy and interest: The
peon offers the haciendado cheap labor as
| he needs II. and the naciendado oners the
peon a chance 10 work from sunrise 10
| sundown). when he is needed, at wage
Of twelve and half cents or less day
pad eheay in ,bcv f9i,icd iye sSGlag o4 ny
other reciprocal interests. /, Is not to
the interest Of the haciendado that the
peon should be educated or that he should
| become possessed OF property OF MS own.
! SHUT up by these conditions Of ignorance
and poverty, he is in bondage. and he often
has little chance Of redress for the wrongs
he suffers because the authorities imme-
diateIv above him-the alcalde and jefe
politico-are appointed by the powers
above.
Bishop AYES adds that there "can be no
doubt that among the many grievances
that lie back of the present political erup-
in a growing animosity toward American
residents In Mexico. The American has be-
come disliked not because he is American
for there is remarkably little OF race
prejudice In Mexico-but because he rep
resents vested rights. pre-eInpuons, prlVi-
leges, concessions and advantages that are
felt 10 be prejudicial TO the best interests
Of the native people. 1he govern
toll.
ers concessions that admit them to the
chief sources Of the country's riches: and
the grievance has voiced itself with grow
Ing loudness In what has become political
s.Ogan Mexico for Mex!cans, Down with
the Gringo""
Americans having profted so largely from
their Mexican interests, Bishop Aves taxes
them to task for making no return in the
form Of work for the welfare OF the peo-
pie. He says. pointedly'
American iron interests in Mexico have
beon great The name of one good and
great iron master is stamped on the thou
sands OF miles II steel rails that span the
republic: and yet there Is no monument
10 the benencence OF that good name among
all the destitute and iliiterate millions tnat
represent two-thirds OF the social fabric
OF the nation
its ouicome-will only call the attention OF
that brother at the north 10 the fact that
he Is his brothers keeper In more in
innate and personal sense than Is contem-
plated by the Monroe Doctrine; II II VIII
show him that the best help that can be
offered TO this country-bccause the help
II most needs Is help To strengthen the
foundations upon which its government
must rest II II Is ever 10 rest securely-is
moral social and educational help In the
development of It's people into righteous,
Intelligent. patriotic and peace loving ciu-
zenship-then neither this nor the re'olu-
vain