Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-02-29
LET THE PEOPLE RULE.

Mexico is trying the experiment of letting the
people rule without the aid Of constitution, laws
courts The question in debate is, who are the
people and what do they want? In some places
they want Madero for president; in others, Ire
vino; in still other places Gomez, and some think
Zapata is the man to rule the country.
All the contending factions agreed that
the people should rule, but they are all opposed
to the only rational method of finding out the will
of the majority-holdng "a fair and free election
and abiding Loyalty by the result Hence they
are holding a debate with arms in their hands,
convincing opponents of their error by shooting
them down. contiscatng their effects and burn
ing their homes.
The courts are powerless, becaus everybody
concerned is too busy finding out the will of the
people. The constitution is of no avail because
nobody respects it or will obey it. The will of
the people is the law of the land but the jury
cannot render verdict till they have finished
cutting each others throas. The people are
vindicatmg their right to rule by killing each
other off The constitution and the laws are
being interpreted by ho pollo in the spirit of the
day. by this simple method of adjustment the
will of the people will be determined by the
most cannon and the best fighters
In this country the Mexican experiment is be-
ing watched with intense interest, because the
Mexican method of settling elections and deciding
cuHstltutlohdl questions IS Delng advocated with a
good deal OF NOISE and fervor From this side
of the border looking to Mexico for in
structon-and getting it in abundance The
Mexicans are getting it in the neck.
San Antonio Madero called on Diaz to resign
the presidency and let the people rule When
Diaz refused to comply with the modest request
Madero made war on him, overturned the govern
ment and had himself elected president I'm
fortunately other patriots arose and complained
that Madero was uSlrper and was not letting
the people rule. So they made on him, and
on each other.
Now General Emilio Gomez-every patriot is
4 general in Mexico and every general states
manrwrites polite note from San Antonio ask
ing Madero to turn the government over to him
as the representative and authorized agent of
the people Madero regards this request as in
solent and preposterous though it is precisely
| like the request he made to Daz. and he issues
an order to shoot Gomez if he dares to enter
Mexico
Here again, the right of the people to rule is
resisted Nevertheless, it is being valiantly as
serted by murder fire and proclamation, and by
the incidental plumber of such unpatriotic persons
as desire nothing but peace and safety. and lib
erty to go about their business undisturbed
But progress cannot be halted for such small
| considerations peace and order and safety and
industry The people must rule Progression
must progress, even if there be the devil to pay
and a lot of patriotic bloodettng. This expert
4 ment IN advanced popular government must be
allowed to work itself out, or at least go on
till IT is determined who are the people
After taking the lesson to heart the constitu
tution-makers at Columbus Ohio may decide thai
the only thing for them to do is to abolish the
present constitution and the laws enacted under
it. and let it go at that-let the people rule BY
the simple expedient of every fellow being hi.
own constitution and jugde-OaEand Tribune
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