Valdez daily prospector., 1913-03-24
MONDAY, MARCH 2i. 1913.
RANcRoFr's VIEWS ON MEXICO


 condition seems best to suit Mex jeans: before DiaZ'S time they had il and will now have il again.
 And times will be worse be- fore they are better. That Mex leo, tanned ,by prosperity, and restless under a long peace. now seeks the excitement that leads to anarchy all who know The people are forced to admit.
 The foregoing are quotations from chapter on comparative republic in Hubert Howe Bancroft's book, "Retrospection,' written early in 1912 when the venerable historian had reached the age of 80 years. His prOph- ccies proved true. Mexico accept ed Madcro and revolution. Now Madero is depOsed and killed and another comes forward evidently aiming to rule as did POrfrio DiaZ.
 The best hope of peace and or der in Mexico seems to rest in the plan to rule firmly in the fash ion of the dictator, otherwise rev olution will continue, for as Mir. Bancroft well points out, a pop- lllar government presuppOscs "people,' and there were no peO- pie. There is an aristOcracy that would not work but is willing to govern. Then there is the mOZo or servile class. Between these classes there is little OF nothing in the way of responsible pnpu- lation.
 Mexico lacks the strong and stable middle class that restraints and sustains those in office in EngliSh-Spraking countries. Il has the extremes of rich ariStor- racy at the top and poor and ig- nOrant at Inc bottom. The am bilious and designing work sue cessfully on the ignorance of the lower classes, and so there is rev olution.
 Mr. Bancroft enjoyed d close personal acquaintance with Por- firiO DiaZ. He visited Mexico, studied the country and it's peo- ple and wrote of it's resources. He became warm admirer of the old Mexican and in "RetroSpec- iiOn' he praises DiaZ'S rule as the "Only kind of government that would save the country from an- archy and endless revolutions While gat h6ring material for his hook on "Thr Resources of Mex ico.' Mr. Bancroft had occasion to call al the offices of the presi- dent and his ministers and he was also entertained at their private residences. "During these visits from time to time, writes Mr.. Bancroft in "Rctrospection, "I went with Gen. Djaz over his en- tire career. touching he strings which sounded his inner nature, until l came tn know him well. and tn understand his iIioSyn- crasies and aspirations at the be- ginning and his hopes and en- deavors toward the end had ev- ary opportunity of studying the man at close range. And this is what l came to know: In his mind and heart, in public and in private, that he was direct and sincere in all his ways, and that he was devoid of avarice and car ed little for personal aggrandiZe- menl. Therefore. when heard of his treatment al the hands of his people l was shocked, and grieved beyond measure over the mistake the poor dcIuded mr~Iizos were making.'
 Yet Mr.. Bancroft freely admits that the character of DiaZ'S rule was not truly republican. The government was republican in form but not in fact. The people were moi prepared for a gONcrn- mcnt truly republican, and We i'm aginc that today Mr.. Bancroft reads the latest news from Mex icO and finds in il ample verili- cation of his views and predic.- lions expressed several months ago.
 Now Mexico appears to b.