Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-05-08
WHAT MEXICANS
!: HAVE FOUGHT FOR
Agrarian Democracy Has Been
the Aim Of the Peon Class
for Past Century.
STRUGGLE STILL GOING ON
Position Of RevoIutionlsts and constl-
tuition Of 1857 for Which They
: Stand, Set Forth In Book by
Senior de Lara


knowledge that attend the embroglio
with Mexico the big issue that has
moved the Mexican people to revolt
against Huerta has been lost sight of
or is not known to most Americans.
What the people of Mexico have
fought for from the first war of in
dependence. and what they are fight
ing for now under Carranza and Villa
is the right to buy and till farms
For a hundred years the peon class
has waged a continuous struggle to
achieve agrartan democracy. Time
after time the revolution has been
carried to the verge of success, and
time after time the Mexican ruling
class has invoked foreign Intervention
In order to prolong Its power.
All this and great deal more is
made clear In a book just published
BY Doubleday. Page & Co, THE Mexi-
can People; Their Struggle for Free
DOM" by l. Gutierrez de Lara and
Edgcomb Pinchon. 1t. is frankly a
statement Of the position of the rev.
Olntiouists, and shows why they be-
90 at the present time would only
bring about more loss OF life and
worse conditions in the long run.
Senior de Lara has much to say
RboSt the constitution of 1857, that
has besn ruthlessly set aside by sue
Cessive governments, and he gives
digest Of that instrument, the heads
Of which follow:
Article /. The Mexican people recog-
niZe that the rights of men are the
foundation and the purpose of social
Institutions. In consequence they pro-
claim that all the laws and authorities
of the country must respect and sus-
tain the warranties stipulated by this
constitution.
Article H. In the republic every one
IL born free, The slaves who step
Into the national territory recover their
freedom by this mere fact, and have
the right Of the protection of the law.
Article Ill. All education is free.
The law win determine which profess
sion needs a diploma for its exer-
else, and what requisites are to be
fulfilled
This fundamental principle was
later amplified to make education uni
versal. free, non-sectarian and com
pulsory.
Article ". Every man is free to
adopt the profession, trade, or work
that suits him. it being useful and
honest; and to enjoy the product
thereof.
Article v. No man shall be com
PEELED to work without his plain con
sent and without just compensation
The state will not permit to become
effective any contract. pact or agree
ment with the purpose of the curtail
ment, the loss or the irrevocable sac
rifice OF the liberty Of any man, MAJ
the cause be for personal labor, edu
cation, or religious vows. The law IL
consequence does not recognize mon
astic orders, and will not permit thei
establishment, NO matter what may b.
the denomination or purpose for which
they pretend to be established. Meth
or will be permitted a contract o
agreement by which a man makes
pact for his prescription or exile.
Article VI. The expression OF idea
shall not be subjected to any judicia
or governmental prosecution excep
In cases of attack upon the publ
morality, the rights of a third party
or the prevention OF crime or dis
turbance of public order.
Article VII. The liberty OF wrftin
and publishing writings upon any mat
ter is inViolable. No previous censor
ship nor imposition OF bonds upon tn
writer's nor the publishers for the pul
pose of curtailing the freedom of tn
press can be established by any La
or authority, such freedom being r
stricted to respect Of private life, mo
ais and public business.
Article VIII. Tbis deals with tn
right Of petition to the government
Article TX This gives the right {
assembly.
Article x. This establishes the rigf
of every man to possess and carr
arms for his safety and legitimat
defense.
Article XII. This deals with lmmigr
ton TO the country ana OJnef tTdVelIL
both from the country and into Il
same.
Article XII. This establishes the /
validity Of all titles OF nobility, pr
negatives and hereditary honors.
Article XIII. In the Mexican Repu
lie no one shall be subjected to pl
vase laws nor special courts. No ms
or corporation shall enjoy fueros
receive emoluments unless they be
compensation for pubic services al
already fixed by law.
AAicle XIV This establishes u
ri pie that no one shall be tried
retroactive laws.
Article XIV No treaties can be ma
f5r the extradition of political often
ers; neither for those criminals who
crime was committed in a count
,here they had been slaves; Meth
can a treaty or agreement be made
which the warranties or rights tn
1900 A1atIT MENIf0 CITY