The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-09

citizen. not as governor Of Arizona. II
his reply Governor Carranza says:
while recognizing with pleasure the
spirit of frank friendship which actu'
ated Jour letter, your personal sym
pathy and that of the people Of the
United States with the struggle in
furtherance of civilization and justice
which we are carrying on, I cannot
the less deplore the fact that, with ar
imperfect understanding of the pc.
Culiar character Of the Mexican prob
lem, their likelihood in certain cases
and notwithstanding ones good in
t%ention, Of placing a wrong construc-
ton on some Of our acts. This is due
in all probability, to the fact hat the
criminal acts with which this struggle
was begun and the cruel measures
employed to maintain it, are forgotten
when Mexico had realized the SUI
preme democratic prerogative of elect
ing her own representatives and had
reasons to expect in the midst of peace
and tranquility, the periodical change
Of public officials only by ar express
| sion Of popular will, a most corrupt
minority Of the defeated factions. after
attempting to overthrow for all time
our political institutions by means OF
violence alone, have destroyed the
lives, the rights and the interests of
our fellow citizens, have carried out
bloody executions without regard TO
any law; have murdered constitution
alists who fell wounded while fighting
for the liberty Of the people, and have
imprisoned the deputies and senators
| who have defended, with their power
of speech, Jul democratic institutions;
have torn away from their homes
peaceful men and even boys to COM
pei them to take arms against us, or
have filed them with terror by devas-
tating entire cities.
obstructive acts of this character
have made it apparent that the cause
which I represent has constituted rot
only a political form of revolution, but
also has the character Of preceding
calm and severe justice, which pun
ishes the culpable and safeguards the
Mexican family.
II have determined. within the spirit
Of our constitution and without any
feeling of passion, but deliberately and
with circumspection, to pursue these
ends, until gradually the exercise of
clemency and magnanimity can be at
tanned in satisfaction of an imperative
demand Of justice n h urgent ne
cessity of securing peace and Of as
surfing the future welfare Of the ma
ton. I have determined to enforce
vigorously and in accordance with the
proclamation which was duly issued
on May If, 1918, the law OIL JudIeH,
Of Jan.2 rs, 1862, which defines and pun
ishes delinquencies inimical to the
public peace.
with strict Difference to the law
provided, the Huertaista officers were
tried and executed in the city of
Juarez. Among them were some who
had been captured at Torreson by this
same General Villa, who after pardon
ing them, agreed that they should be
enlisted by our forces. Thereafter
they endeavored, but unsuccessfully,
to create a detection of the men whom
/ entrusted to their command. finally
DESERVING to re-engage in crime.
1T is true that the established prin-
ciples observed in International wars
extend to prisoners the privilege of
pardon or immunity from bodily harm,
but in civil struggles, the most civil
lied nations in all ages have employed
more rigorous and bloody means ever
than we have been compelled to adopt.
And with reference to the executions
of the officers in the city of Juarez,
there should be perceived not any
needless cruelty visited upon prison
ers of war, but merely such punish
ment as was prescribed by the law
applicable to offenders against the
public peace and safety.
1.-THE Mexican people. In the Begin
ming of this civil struggle, initiated by
Hon. Francisco /. Madero, exhausted
all their power of cleInency and for
giveness, tyranny In their country's
! interior and the loss OF prestige OUT