Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-08-27

LAS We
commerce and enterprise. They mean
an enlargement of the field Of self
government and the realization Of
hopes and rights Of a nation with
whose best aspirations, so long sup
pressed and disappointed we deeply
sympathize. We shall yet prove to the
Mexican people that we know how to
serve them without first thinking how
we shall serve ourselves.
But we are not the only friends of
Mexico. The whole world desires her
peace and progress; and the whole
world is interested as never before
Mexico lies at last where all the
world looks on. Central America is
about to be touched by the great
routes of the worlds trade and inter-
course running from ocean to ocean
at the isthmus. The future has much
in store for Mexico as for all the
states of Central America; but the
best gifts can come to her only if she
be ready and free to receive them and
to enojy them honorably. America in
particular north and south
and on both continents-waits on the
development of Mexico, and that deve-
lopment can be sound and lasting only
if it be the product of a genuine free
dom and just and ordered govern
ment founded en- law. Only 50 can it
e peaceful or fruitful Of the benefits
ci peace Mexico has great and en-
riable future before her if only she
cheese and attain the paths of hon
est constitutional government.
THE present circumstances of the
republic, deeply regret to say, do
not seem to promise even the foun-
dations Of such peace. We have
waited many months, months full Of
peril and anxiety, for the conditions
there to improve and they have not
improved. They have grown worse,
rather, The territory in some sort
controlled by the provisional authori-
ties at Mexico City has grown small
er, not larger. The prospect of the
pacification of the country, even by I
arms, has eeemed to grow more and
more remote and its pacification by
the authorities at the capital is evi-
1ently impossible by any other means
han force Difficulties more and
more entangle those wlfo claim tU III
constitute the legitimate government
1f the republic. They have not made
sood their claim in fact Their sue
,esses in the field have proved only
eporary War and disorder deyasta- 7
ion and confusion seem to threaten to 4
overthrow the settled fortune of the
distracted country AS friends we
,ould wait no longer for a solution
which every week seemed further i
lway. It was our duty at least to
folunteer our good offices-to offer to
assist, if we might, in effecting some
which would bring relief
md peace and set UP universally
political authority \
here.
Accoringly, took the liberty Of
the Hon. John Lind, formerly
Of Minnesota, as my person
Il spokesman and representative to r
he City Of Mexico, with the follow +
ng instructions: S
Press very earnestly on the atten-
ion Of those who are now exercising
or welding influence in Mex
co the following considerations and 9
ldvice: The government of the Uni :
ed States does not feel at liberty
my longer to stand inactiyely by
While it becomes daily more and more
,vident that no real progress is being
made toward the establishment of
government at the City of Mexico
which the country will obey and re-
pect. The government of the United
States does not stand in the same
ase with the other great governments
if the world in respect to what is
likely to happen in Mexico We offer
ur good offices, not only because of
ur genuine desire to play the part
+ a friend, but also because, we are
expected by the powers Of the world
o act as Mexico's nearest friend.
We wish to act in these circum
in the spirit of the most ear
lest and disinterested friendship It
S our purpose in whatever we do or
iropose in this perplexing and dis
ressing situation not only to pay the
most scrupulous regard to the sover
fontv aud indnnnndanoa of Maviao-