The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-12-25
A HERO OF TODAY
In the Face Of Death, This Mexican States
man Uttered the Words Which Sealed
His Doom.
By Marco Polo

Amidst the turmoil and rapidly succeed
ing events across our southern border
which are being daily heralded in the
press, the prowess, victories and defeats
of the contending factions in the field
are given, naturally, a pre-eminent
position in the news columns; yet,
incidents which are of portentuous
meaning and directly determine the series
of events are at times slightly alluded to
and, in some cases, entirely overlooked.
One of the most tragical of these which
seems to have escaped the notice of the
press, or at any rate received but slight
comment, was the affair of the scathing
and eloquent speech of Belisario Domin-
guez, the member of the house of deputies
in Mexico City who had the temerity to
denounce Huerta, paint him in his true
colors, and paid for it with his life.
In these columns is given for the first
time in an English publication a transla-
ton of the eloquent words delivered upon
that occasion. The report of the speech
was, of course, prohibited from appearing
in the Mexican press, but it found repro
duction in the ''Imparcial' of Madrid,
and it is from the columns of that periodi-
cal that we translate.
The occasion is still fresh in our minds
Huerta, wise to the fact that rank antag-
onsm to his personally and policies ex-
listed in congress, sent his confidential
minister to that body demanding certain
detractions and anulation of measures to
which he objected. The deputies temper
lied and endeavored to side track the. ques-
ton, unwilling to debate in the presence
of the dictators emissary; but the latter
| would have none Of it, and insisted upon a
direct reply there and then 1t was then
that Deputy Dominguez asked for recog-
milton from the chair; obtained it and pro-
ceeded to the speakers tribune. Without
preliminaries or waste of words he began
his tremendous accusation against Huerta
"This man not only has failed to ac-
complish anything towards the paci6cation
Of the country. but has actually been tn
cause of engenderng fresh revolutions al
over the republic Civilized governments
have seen fit, anf with proper justice, TO
refuse to recognize him as the legal execu-
tive of this nation. The Mexican nation
is not content to have for president Vic
toriano Huerta-a soldier who reachep
power through acts of treason, and whose
first official act upon entering into that
power was the assassination of the President
and Vice President legally elected by the
people;the president who had been the first
to shower honor and distinctions upon this
| traitor, and to whom he had sworn allegi-
ance
1t is an act of infamv that this man
should commit acts which eventually may
provoke a conflict with the United States,
in which every Mexican who NAV have
been spared from the assassination of this
man would be expected to take part and
stoically give and take death! Every Mexi-
can, l repeat, except two-Huerta and his
hireling Blanquette! =. ~
Senior Dominguez here proceeded to
prophesy that the October elections would
prove farce, and urged congress to de-
pose Huerta, using the following words:
"Gentlemen, you tell me that to at
tempt all this is dangerous; that Victoriano
! Huerta is a cruel and blood thirsty soldier;
| that ne assassinates without scruples or hes
itaIion all those who prove obstacles to his
ambition. All that matters nothing gen.
tlemen The country demands that we do
our duty, even in the face of DEATH We
all are aware that this man is rank i'm
poster unworthy of the least considera
ton; that he is carrying our sorrowing ma
| ton to certain ruin! Mediate upon this
hear me! What would you think of the
crew of ship which in the throes of tenn
pest and danger, would name as captain
| butcher who, without nautical experience,
would be expected to navigate the vessel
without any other recommendation than
the fact that he had assassinated the cap
tain of the ship! The world has its eye up
on us gentlemen, and our country demands
of us TO hold up its dignity. Let us avoid
the inoignity and the disgrace of having as
first magistra Of the nation traitor and
assassin!''