The Washington times., 1913-02-19
THE MEXICAN COUP.

HE. MEAlSAN NOOT.
Itis bit dizzying to contemplate the revolutions
of the wheel of fortune at the Mexican capital.
few weeks ago Felix Diaz inaugurated his first revo
lutionary move at Vera Cruz, and its collapse was
as sudden and ignominious as the success Of his
latest coup has been complete and overwhelming.
Diaz was arrested at Vera Cruz by force of sodiery
which he supposed had come to join his movement.
Madero is made prisoner and deposed, by General
Banquet in whose loyalty to his cause he had ap-
parenty placed implicit confidence Another federal
general Huerta is proclaimed provisional president.
Apparently there never was time, since the begin
ming of the outbreak in the national capital, when
anything like real loyalty entertained for Madero
by those upon whom he must rely.
There is good ground for the belief tnat Francisco
Madero has been the victim of unjustifed confidence
in his brother, Gustavo Madero. Gustavo has come
to be understood as an utter stranger to the high
ideals the noble sentiments, that lie at the basis OF
Francisco Maderos character. He has been mar
plot, a manipulation; he has been suspected all too
reasonably of being "on the make;' OF using his
relationship to the administration for the purpose OF
furthering personal fortunes at public expense Tne
falling away of public support from President Ma
dero is largely due to the Vaccinations of this
Machiavellian brother.
IL
the formation of clear opinions as to the capabity
of the new regime to reconcile all the warning ele-
ments even in the capital say nothing Of the yet
greater complication of factions throughout the re-
public. But one thing may be set down as very sure.
That is that if Diaz, Huerta de Ia Barra, Banquet,
and the rest Of the new regime fall again to quarrel
ing among themselves; if riot and turbulence are to
be resumed once more, then Mexico will forfeit the
civilized worlds confidence that it contains the ma
terial with which to make q nation.
II takes more than square miles of land and
millions Of human beings to make nation. There
must be the cement Of some common purpose, aspra-
tion and ambition. There must be sincere desire
to promote the common good. There must be
recognition of some of those fundamentals laid down
in our own Declaration of Independence. TO secure
these rights" says that document, governments are
instituted among men, deriving their just rights from
the consent of the governed" How much evidence
have we had in the last forty years, that the Mexican
mass is leavened with any real appreciation and un-
derstanding of what that proposition means?
If the turbulence and terror of Mexico in recent
wears has been sad commentary on the capacity Of
that people for government, are warranted IN the
feeling that the American attitude toward Mexico in
that same period has marked great advance of our
own ideals Only fifteen years ago, this country
literally forced an unwilling administration into
war with Spain, for which there was certainly no
more justification in humanitarian sentiment, than
there would be today for Intervention in Mexico.
The lesson of responsibility that we acquired in the
Spanish.American war and later in the Philippines
has had seberng effect on tine national mind. Rea-
zation that we are world power has been sufficient
quite to satisfy the national ambition; the RESPONSE
bes that position has brought to us have compelled
a good deal of wholesome thinking Today, we are
able to turn from dreams of glory and empire, with
out single regret, to contemplation OF the great
domestic problems that demand attention. We are
! looking more and more after the beam in our own
eve. When it shall have been cast OUT we will be
better justified in attending to the notes in other
ewes The greatest piece of good fortune that could
attend the next generation of our history would be
the privilege of pursuing our own way, attending to
our own problems without the distraction OF foreign
complications in any quarter.
And the vast majority of Americans realize that
this is true They did not realize it fifteen years ago,
though it was just true then as now So far have
we nroqressed in the direction of accurate national
and social consciousness.
In this regard, however, the United States does
not stand alone. The whole enlightened world is Of
the same mind Europe still stands grded for COM
bat If combat must come but it holds aoof from the
crowded by Chauvinsm into the war with Spain,
Europe would have been plunged into general war
by the very conditions that have lately obtained in
the Balkan peninsula Today Europe is able to re-
strain ITSELF to exercise restraining influence on
others, and to promote the real interests of peace.
Ia nna