The Washington times., 1913-02-24
MExCOs OFFICIAL MURDERS.

mat FRANCISCO Madero and Jose Plno SuareZ,
few days ago President and Vice President of Mex
leo, were done to their death by traitors whose lives
they had themselves spared is the only possible ex
PLANTATION of the latest horror of the revolution. The
weak and hating explanation which the Mexican
authorities have issued does hardly more credit to
the ingenuity of its authors than the crime does to
the humanity of the Huerta government
That Madero would be conveniently removed
under the barbarous fugitive law, had been freely
predicted The Washington Government had warned
the Huertistas that such proceeding would not be
noted without grave displeasure and serious conse-
quences. Yet the new regime proceeds boldly with
its business of getting out of the way the men it
most feared.
lame explanation is followed by pronounce
ment by Felix Daz that the new government intends
to employ the most rigorous measures to suppress
opposition throughout the country. The sequence of
events of Saturday night and Sunday is something
like this
Murder of Madero and Suarez
Official explanation that they were not murdered
Of6cial announcement that other people who op-
pose the new order will be put out of the way just
as relentessly were the late President and Vice
President
The savagery of the Sunday murder leaves little
room to doubt that the last proposal of this program
will be executed tc the very limit of the power that
resides in the new government. The real question
which confronts the Washington Government is
whether the men now in control at the Mexican cap
tal can be made to listen to reason realize their
responsibility for their acts and to believe that they
will be held to answer for further crimes 1t is in
large part question of their intelligence of whether
they can be reached by diplomatic address and
moved by reasoning that assumes understanding Of
civilized usage.
If they are 100 inflated with the impression of
their own power, too confident of the impotence Of
this Government, they may proceed, in the face Of
whatever warning is served, with their campaign Of
rapine and determination. In that event there can
be but one end this Government will have to inter-
vene in force.
1t is possible only to conjecture whether the
terror was timed with reference to the fact that
change of administration is about to take place in
Washington and therefore the Government might
possibly be able to move with less decision and vigor
than in ordinary circumstances. 1t is highly i'm
portant that Washington shall give demonstration
that such reliance is i'll placed. The proposal of
| conference and cooperation between the present
Administration and tine Presdent-elect is practical
and timely.
Profound pessimism is the first feeling induced
by consideration of today's situation In Mexico
pears to be backed by no important force of public
sentiment, and it is viewed with keen distrust by
the foreign Offices of the world. The governors of
the Mexican States are not accepting the new re-
gime; instead, they are pointedy declaring their
antagonism to it. After the first outburss of huzza-
ing for the new order after the familiar Latin method
of cheering whatever change is made, the plain peo-
pie of Mexico are reported settling down to grave
doubt whether their position is not worse than ever
before.
Huerta and Diaz are not commanding the sup
port of the numerous political generals scattered
throughout the country, each with his own plans for
furthering his own ambitions A feeling of dread is
commonly entertained; dread lest reign of terror
may be created in the effort of the military Dictator
snip maintain its control of the seat of
The cynicism that could dictate the peace and pros
perity' telegram to President Taft and then turn
to the murder of Madero and Suarez, is of a
quality to inspire shives instead of confidence
Huerta and Diaz, both traitors will not long CO.
operate. Each will become suspicious of the other
Standing together they could not sustain themselves
against such a force of protest as is reported Or
ganzing throughout the country; divided, they will
presently fall There is intimation of counter rev.
olution by the Maderistas; but it is hardly possible
that this could accomplish good results. Nothing
short of localized anarchy in every neignborhood
where there are organized forces to contend for
control, appears in the present horoscope.
Pesident Taft is right when he urges that we
must be patient, and not be drawn into Mexico ex-
cept as an absolutely last resort. If we do inter
vene, it must be as duty to humanity so clear, so
unquestonabe, so plainly pointed for u.s. that there
will be substantial unanimty in performing the duty
/ imposed. The nation must not be forced into war
/ of conquest and exploitation 1t has enough prob
lens Of administration and assimilation on its hands