Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-25
THE MEXICAN PROBLEM.

r.5ft Inc mexican situation IS not clear
ing up very fast. The mediators do
not seem to be able to evolve adefnite
plan or one that they themselves have
much hope will accomplish anything.
One trouble Is that those who are
doing the fighting are not the ones
who are in favor of arbitration If
two men are engaged in fist fight on
the street, it will not settle the. fight
very quick for two other men to sit in
the tenth story of some Office building
and try to arbitrate the fight that is
going on in the street, because they
are not in any way engaged in the
trouble.
The Huertas and Zapatas and the
Villas and Carranzas and others OF
lesser note still continue to shoot and
rob and burn and pillage each other
and there Is no evidence that any one
OF them will ever submit to the desires
OF the others.
Even if the mediators should agree
on man to act as president of Mexico
their agreement will not carry with it
any guarantee that the majority of the
citizens of Mexico will agree to that
man.
Again If majority should agree to
It, that does not keep considerable
minority from rebellion or continuing
one of the wings of the present rebel
lion
The facts are, that the people of
Mexico are not capable of self govern
ment. Certain parts of Mexico have
been under civil government since
1921. With probably two or three ex-
ceptions it has never had an admins.
tration that has tried to build up the
country, educate its people, develop its
resources, and inaugurate any plan for
the greatest good for the greatest
number. There is no reason, except
the lack of governmental direction,
why Mexico should not be as far ad-
vanced today as is the United States.
It's settlement by civilized people be-
gan about the same time as that of
the United States. This government
has solved it's Indian problems because
It tried to do it by peaceful and educa.
tional methods. The same kind OF an
effort could have accomplished just as
much in Mexico as it accomplished In
the United States, but the effort was
not made.
Apparently, the desire to make such
an effort was not present in the diff.
ferent administrations If there had
been such a desire and effort it could
have accomplished much ia the last
hundred years. A system of public
schools, maintained for 25 years would
have brought about a system of major
lty governed municipalities which
would have had it's good effect on the
country population. All together It
would have worked for respect of life
and property rights that would have
Brought to Mexico an Immigrant pcnu.
'Tation that would also have added It's
part to civilization and respect for gov.
eminent. That population would have
aided a right minded administration
to have enacted proper laws for the
building of the country and the people.
While it is repulsive to all civilized
people, for one country to govern an
other country by force, there Is feel
ing among great many in this coun-
try that the United States will ulti,
mately have to exercise over Mexico
some plan of government similar to
that it is now exercising in the Phil
ippines. Not the same kind of local
government but practically similar
in tie fact that for time it must see
that Mexico has government in real.
ity. That is as far as the United
States need to go. But unless change
In the conditions in Mexico comes
soon, the United States will need to
20 that far.
II the people living next door to you,
are fighting and shooting and carous'
ing every night. there comes time