Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-20
Editorial Comment.
The Confisc atoms in Mexico.
New York Globe.)

N~NCW loih IiObt.p
The decree of Villa confiscating Ter
razas and Creel estates is based on
the ground that their owners had
traitorously fomented and taken part
in rebellion against the duly consti-
tuted government of Mexico and had
sought to establish in its place the
susurpation of Victoriano Huerta. If
Terrazas and Creel are guilty as
charged the confiscation is not out or
accord with the traditions Of civilized
countries. In our own and in every
other principal country of the world
there has been confiscation as punish
ment for treason. In our history
Abraham Lincoln by executive de-
cree ordered the confiscation of mil
lions in slave property when he issued
his immortal Emancipation Proclama-
ton.
The Villa decree emphasizes the fact
that an economic as well as politi-
cal revolution is in progress In Mexico
and carries further the paralieilsm 10
the French revolution. Diaz yleloeo
to the spontaneous wish of the Mexi-
can people as expressed in the Madero
movement just as Louis XIV. yielded
to the wishes of the French people ex-
pressed through the States General
The Madero government was Glron-
din--that is, represented an ideallsm
that believed a peaceful regeneration
was possible The Madero government
fell. as did the Girondin government,
because stupid propertied classes
would not accept its mediation ana
leadership. What was needed, said
the French aristocrats, was the res
toration of the old strong" kingship,
and they schemed to bring in the ar
nv Of the Duke of Brunswick and the
emigres. This attitude made modera-
ton impossible, brought the Girondins
TO the scaffold, and gave the Jacobins
their opportunity With many differ-
ences and variations events in Mexico
suggest little French revolution, with
horror following horror and no pros
na.t of neace until there is acceptance
of the new order.
Mexico has been large feudal
and baronial. 1t is country OF great
estates, with the titles running PACK
to the Spanish conquest one hacl-
enda of northern Mexico has had
population of 10000 poems. instead Vi
seeing that such conditions could not
and shouts not last, and taking intel
lieent measures to get the land into
the ownership of its tillers, the latter
DAYS of the Diaz government saw
further monopolization. In violation
of law paper titles to the leagues OF
common land surrounding villages
were granted to court favorites. Inc
MEXICAN peon is backward and ignor-
ant but he knows when he is dis
nossessed, and the tendency OF the polo'
or shirts to turn bandid is easy to I'M
derstand The kind of government that
assumes that the few shall have use
less luxury and the many misery ana
starvation is a demonstrated failure.
Even the most sodden of peoples have
sense enough to make a row. The
fundamental responsibility for the
troubles of Mexico rests on the rul-
ing classes-on the educated men and
women who have failed to understand
the chief lesson Of history and to rec
ognize the most outstanding fact OF
contemporary life.
Ultimately Mexico will learn that it
is better to change in an orderly than
in a disorderly way, and that the
fighting reactionary and the fighting
revolutionary are both enemies of the
general interest. But 1t will take