Semi-weekly herald., 1913-02-24


the oppression of King John. Nor did
Benito Juarez, the George Washing
ton Of Mexico, effect any larger
change than the separation of church
and state.
Everywhere remained the same
desoIate contrasts between the landed
few and the landless many--between
piled-high wealth and abject poverty.
Under Juarez, who knew. nothing of
politics, economies or industries, the
soil was not freed from monopoly nor
the people rescued from serfdom.
Came Diaz with his iron hand and
his dream Of rampant eommercialism
He crushed the dawning hope of de-
mocracy under military despotism,
and restored semblance of order by
killing liberty.
For thirty years the rule of Por-
firio Diaz was as absolute as that of
the czar. 1t will be said that he did
much for Mexico, but when inquiry
is conducted, it will be found that he
ad no conception Of human rights or
N.oral e,avation, but was concerned in
nothing else than money-making. The
betterment of the masses, the abro-
cation of the privileges enjoyed by
the landed class, were all put to one
side while Diaz devoted himself to the
securement of foreign capital for the
development of Mexico's resources.
In every move he made there was
graft-huge graft. An appearance of
prosperity was attained, but under
il the sores Of the people festered.
Diaz established school system, but
one grossly Inadequate to the needs
of the populai on, and when wage re-
volts started he crushed them as
though they were treasons against
himself.
The pillage in the presidential pal
ace had its imitation in every branch
Of the government From highest to
lowest, each member of the Diaz ad-
ministration seemed to feel that he
rad the right to steal and oppress.
Insomuch as they kept Diaz in power,
his followers were firmly Of the opin-
ion that they had the same right to
graft Prof. Rowe. in recent arti-
Gle, stated the situation we'll:
"ln return for this loyalty the state
governors were given a free hand,
and they abused their power to such
an extent as to create widespread dis
content. This was increased by the
tyrannical abuses of the minor ad-
ninistrative officials, especially the
o-called jefes politicos, whose control
If the police force in their districts
enabled them to develop system OF
intimidation and extortion which
weighed heavily on the poorer classes
md gave rise to widespread discon-
tent"
Ten thousand families own all the
ard in Mexico, which has popula-
ion of 15,O00,000! These millions were
little better than serfs, working from
arly until late for few cents a day,
always in debt to the landlord, and
unable to leave their employment. IL
addition to this, the population was
systematically debauched by the pull
Iue and alcohol monopolies, secretly
owned and operated by the govern.
ment.
American investors in Mexico, JUS
flying the iron rule of Diaz, have
united in painting the Mexican as a
low, idle creature without brains and
initiative. Insomuch as they can get
no land of their own, earn no more
than serf's wages, and have drunk
onness forced upon them, it might be
well that the investors contention is
true. But it is not true.
r. B. Brismade, writing in The Pub
lie, thus trenchantly disposes Of this
contentious:
Many foreigners here have told me
the land question has nothing to do
with Mexican unrest, the Indians
wouldn't work on the land il they
we're given farm apiece. My own OBJ
servations in the country districts
discredit this view. have ridden for
miles through flat and rich valleys
owned by absentee millionaire resident
in the big cities, whose only human
homes are occasional structures (ha.
ciendas) where the estates steward
herds gangs of pauper poems, living
under conditions similar to those prev
alent in the feudal castels of mediaeyal
Europe. The independent Indians re-
side ON the neighboring hilltops. where
they often cultivate land as steep
and barren as a shingle roof, while
just below stretch the monopolized
valleys of partially unutilized land.
Whatever may be the case in the more
arid north, the valleys on the plateau
in the south are well watered and
often capable Of producing two crops
n year without irrigation, modern
agricultural science and intensive cu'-
tivation could multiply the present
yield in most instances.
Not only are vast fertile areas