The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-27
Declares That Many Unlawful
Executions Have Been Com
mitted by Subalterns -.
Says His Palace
Even Is Not Safe
Makes Declaration for Govern
ment Founded on Justice and
Appeals to Leaders That
Law Shall Prevail

Mexico City, Dec. 25.--In consequence
OF the large number of political exc
cutions which have taken place In this
city since the entry OF the villa and
Zapata forces, Provisional President
Gutierrez has been compelled to issue
the following circular 10 the generals
commanding the military forces:
.There has come to my knowledge
informatton whfcA has caused me much
pain and regret TO the effect that many
persons. belonging to the best classes
Of this city, have been stricken with
alarm Aecasse Of the continued dfsap-
pearanee Of nany Individuals who have
hseA kidnapped during the nighttime
for varseas parDsees. In many In
stascsn the actuatfnG cause has been to
held the victims for the collection Of
var1eus sams Of money a. ransom.
W-hile IN ether eases the sole pnrpose
seems 20 have heen to take the per-
SONS kianaDpeA to lonely spots where
they have been asxassinated In the
AaFkness. So prevalent has this be-
eone tAst even inmates OF the palace
hsve become alarmed.
Earnest Desire Fer Just Government.
when ! accepted the highly honora-
BILE. ana. for ma, the unmertted post OF
provisional president Of the republic
4
that all my companions In arms. as well
as my fellow par;isans generally,
would cooperate with me In my efforts
to establish q strong. honest. and Just
government. While Ii was not my in
tention to be complacent towards the
enemies of the republic. st was my
earnest desire at least to act on the
best code Of morals and within the law
and without resort to any deceits or
subtereuges. whatsoever. When one
acts Justly there does not exist any
necessity to hide In the dark in order
to mete out punishments to those
whose acts merit the condemnation of
the law. Even where 1t seems sure
that punishment is merited there must
be due trial accompanied by all the
formalities dictated by the law. To-
morrow or later. we ourselves, may be
called bandits, kidnappers. or assassins.
and cannot find any defense for our
selves unless the acts which we have
committed are based upon the legal re-
Quirements OF the republic in each
case.
All Depends on Behavior.
Upon our administrative behavior
depends the recognition Of this gov
ernmnt by foreign powers. and ii is
certain that when ,slis Is obtained the
financial condition of the country will
improve notably. Only in this way
can we demonstrate that We are a
civilized people. and that our govern
ment Is able at all times to protect
every individual OF society.
The monumental principles OF
morals ind Justice teach Us that the
right to mete out punishment rests
only with the authorities, through the
courts Of justice. whose proceedings
should be strictly public and carried
on by due process Of law. This right
to punish should never be left pri-
vate persons, military leaders, or
armed groups. however numerous the
latter may be. for. besides discrediting
themselves by taking the law into
their own hands, they discredit the
government also. and upon this will
depend the safety of the future.
Appeals to Generals.
TN view of all this. expect that
you generals will be unit in your
patriotism and honesty, and will IN
every way assist the government by
preventing your subalterns from con-