The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-06-07
DlAZ AND NAPOLEON.

The picture of Diaz standing on the
deck of the steamer, watching through
the darkness the receding shores Of
Mexico, repeats in history the sad
journey of Napoleon as the British
warship bore him away from his be-
loved France to far off St. Helena.
Both had made ambition their God.
Both had brought glory to their coun-
try. Both had personified force. Both
had been regardless of the simple hui
man rights of common people. Both
were, in their day, invincible. supreme
and irresistible Both did much for
the material welfare of their country.
for the establishment of law and or
der, for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF their
nation. Both failed to recognize the
eternal laws of love and kindness. the
universal brotherhood of man and the
right of the individual. be he ever
so humble, to life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness. Both have fallen
from their high estate, and while we
may pause for moment OF regret
over the splendid lives thus spoiled,
over the high ambitions ruined, over
the great accomplishments apparent
ly to be lost forever. we can but feel
that Mexico is as fortunate in losing
it's DiaZ, as France was in losing its
Napoleon.
Chaos will doubtless follow in Mex
leo as it did in France. 1t will take
many years for the Mexican people to
learn to think and act for themselves.
They have all the impetuosity of the
French race added to which is a
denser ignorance and more of personal
irresponsibility than the French peo-
pie ever knew.
In the state of Texas, surrounded
for many years by American civiliZa-
ton, we have seen people of the Mex
lean race housed like cattle, living
like swine, with their lives seemingly
directed only by superstition and by
animal propensities. Such a people
cannot be made fit for self-government
ton but that the dictatorship of Diaz
will be succeeded by the dictatorship
of Madero or some other strong tyrant.
Nevertheless, the new dictatorship
will be apt to make an effort to avoid
the rocks which wrecked the DiaZ ad.
ministration. The Poems will be given
additional rights. Mexico will be con
served more for the Mexicans. There
will be wider degree of personal lib
education. The result of this will be
other revolutions. They are newt
able. 1t is blessed fact that the peo-
pie having tasted the blood of liberty
demand. ever. more and more.
These coming revolutions mean
bloodshed and misery, and agonized
suffering, but revolution is but evolu-
ton in an acute form. SO long as
men have passions, so long as men
have wrongs, the cleaning sword and
banner shall lead the frenZied throEgs,
till every wrong is righted and every
tyrant slain and the humblest of Gods
creatures stands up man again.
We have no patience with the talk
of American interference. We do not
believe that this county is bound to
protect the property rights of Ameri'
can citizens who have seen fit to in
vest their capital under the we'll
known hazardous conditions which
have existed in Mexico and all the
countries to the south of us for many
years. AS to human rights, the MeXi.
cans must fight their battles for
themselves. Anarchy will come and
bloodshed and all the horrors of half
civilized war, but we have supreme
faith that God reigns even in Mexico
and that, out of the turmoil, will come
a nobler race, purified by the blood
of martyrs.