The Nome daily nugget., 1911-04-18

{ commendation which I might attempt To offer would seem commonplace and superhuous.'
 Persons prone to take the word of philanthropists could quote Andrew Carnegie who estimated Diaz as "One of the greatest rulers of the world. per haps the greatest of all. taking into consideration the transformation he has made in Mexico for he is at once the Moses and the Joshua of his peo- pie"
 Such quotations might be extended almost indefinitely It is sufficient to say that probably no man of any na- tionality has ever been so extravagant- ly and so nearly unanimously praised in the United States as the present ruler of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz. Hero of the Americas" "The Maker of Mod ern Mexico" Greatest of Living States men," are terms that have been publicly applied to him countless times. Some have even admitted the absolute character of his rule and yet have ap- plauded him. He has been compared to father guiding his children with a suorg, firm hand. He has been calle,. Ia benevolent despot," a "bcnedceqt dictator even good tyrant."
 Certainly the American people can not be banned for having looked upon Diaz as statesman of surpassing emi- hence. Is it possible that so many foremost Americans could be mistaken in such matter? If so by what strange means could they have arrived at sol vast q blunder?
 Let us cast aside authority for time and consider the facts themselves and only the facts that cannot be de ried.
 Probably two of the most definite d is well as the most popular allegations that are made in favor of President Diaz as a worthy statesman are that he made modern Mexico" and that he brought peace to Mexico.
 To say that a man made modern Mexico or that he made" any modern country, at first blush would seem high praise indeed. For the very term mod ern' carries with it the notion of peace and properity, of education widely diff fused, of a fair approximation to equal ity before the law, of guarantees mak ing for the security of life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness, of govern mental protection of the public health. ot freedom of the individual to express his opinions within moderate bounds Of Freedom of the individual to move abou, at will, of government in general not by whim, but by constitution. by-lav.s and laws formally concurred in bv n considerable fraction of the people. ItI cannot be denied that if 1t be within the power of any one man to make n country, then Porfrfo Diaz has made Mexico as We. find il today The ques lions follow: Has the worl. been well done Is Mexica modern? What sort of place for human being k Mex leo, anyhow?
 In Mexico there are chattcl slaves. tt least three-quartrrs of a million of theln-iive per cent or the population. That Mexican slavery k widespread is admitted by the war,ncst defenders of the Diaz system. In my book "Rar- harous Mexico" | have gathered into one chapter the writings of men who have sought either to deny or to justify course of their denials or justihcations. the slavery of Mexico but who, in the have acknowledged the existence of all the essential features of the system The lives of these slaves are frightfuI beyond description. Our negro slav- cry before the civil war was paradise compared with their lot In this slav- cry the government is an active part ner. Without the active partnership of the government the slavery could not he maintained for a single day. Diaz' k the Mexican government Is a ma tion modern which maintains slavery? Can any ruler who deals in slaves prop erly be termed statesman?
 Gro Be ContinuedD