New-York tribune., 1911-04-04
RETOLyTTON " UEITCO.

Revolution is prescribed in Mexico as
an antidote 20 attempted or threatened
revolution. That is the unmistakablc
purpor, of the drastic reforms in gov
ernment which President Diaz proclaims.
Our special correspondent at the Meyi-
can capital appropriately describes the
message Of Saturday last rs presaginS
the passing of the old order. IT certain
ly will mean that. If its recommendations
are fulfilled. and as yet there Is no suftl-
cient reason for doubling that President
DiaZ is able to make sure of their ful-
filment. The Congress will have To enact
the necessary laws. which IL may confi-
IDENTITY be expected 10 de-. Congress is
either for or against the President If
the former as we assume. il VIII execute
bis policy. If the latter. il will. or sure
ly should. enact the reforms for which
his critics and opponents have professed
to be contending
They are salutary reforms. and seem
ingy sufficient at least for the present.
10 satisfy the most advanced of the
Mexican ProgreSSives. Making the Pres
ident and other chief officers ineligible
for reelection VII prevent the eXan'-
ple of President DiaZ from being fol-
lowed by his successor: and we under
stand that his repeated and numerous re-
elections have formed one of the chief
grievances of the Opposition The re-
form of the election laws will remove
the reproach. whether justitiable or nor.
that elections have been Il farce. with
their results dictated in advance: ana
the reform Of the Judiciary will increase
respect for and confidence in the courts.
The division Of the great estates-some
oi the largest of which are said to he
owned by insurgent leaders-and their
distribution to peasant proprietors VIII
be economically salutary and should
have good social and political effect.
The references Of the veteran PreSi-
dent TO American relations are welcome.
They make il plain that satisfactory
understanding has existed between the
two governments. and that the sending
of our troops TO the frontier expressed
purposes which the Mexican government
recognized ~ legitimate and even as
benevolent With the structures Of freSi-
dent Diaz upon the brigandaGc in Lower
California and the design of foundlhg
there q communist or socialist state
every right minded American must
heartily agree American filibusterlnc
in Mexico. even with the oStensihle ann
of inducing desirable reforms il un-
warranted and deserving of reprobatlon
and mnishment but when IL aims
through lrigandage Ia establish anar-
chv il is detestable. In declaring II Io
be intentions President Diaz spoke with
moderation.
No feature of the case is more obvlonS
or more emphatic than its convincing
confirmation Of the views which we eX-
pressed last week concerning the gray
itv of the general Situation in Mexico.
The conditions therc have been far more
serious than the estimates when mao
heen somewhat light-hcartedly made by
,hosc who assumed 10 he the SpokeSlnSn
Of tho ,Iexican government. EQualIT con
yincinc is the vindication Of the pru-
deucc and wisdom of the President "i
the United states in placing an adequate
military force within easy distance TOT
such action as might have been impera-
lively needed in the threatened emer-
cencv Of veritable dCbdcIC. Ills pru-
dcnce and wisdom are indeed now gen
erallv recognized. while the aifecta,'on
Of ingenious dispeasure with The fresi-
dent for not promptly posting on puplic
huiletin boards all diplomatic secrets
and military necessities seems Ia proceed
from not moro than two considerable
sources Senator La Toilette could nor.
Of course. bp expected To deny hlInsci'
tho Measure Of attempting 10 make trou-
bic for Mr.. Taft. nor could we reason
ably ask our publicity loving neisho"r'
..The New York World" 10 overlook me
audacity of the President in presumlns
to transact an important ahalr ot S'a'e
without obtaining its approval III az
vance.