The state herald., 1914-05-08
WHAT MEX|CANS
HAVE FOUGHT FOR
Agrarian Democracy Has Been
the Aim Of the Peon Class
tor Past Century.
STRUGGLE STILL GOING ON
Position Of RevoIutionlsts and constI-
tuition Of 1857 for Which They
Stand. Set Forth In Book by
Senior Dc Lara.

In the confusion and lack Of exact
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 10 not known to most Americans.
What the people Of Mexico have
fought for from the nrst war of In
dependence, and what they are night
ing for now under Carranza and Villa
u the right to buy and till farms.
For . hundred years the peon class
has waged . continuous struggle to
achieve agrarian 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 moro 10
made clear in . book Just published
by Doubleday. Page 4 Co., THE Mexi-
can People: Their Struggle for Free
DOM" by L Gutierrez de Lara and
Edgcomb Pinchon. 1t il frankly .
statement Of the position Of the rev.
slutionists. and shows why they be-
Nsve American Intervention in Mexi-
co 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
about the constitution of 1857. that
has been ruthlessly set aside by sue
cessive governments. and he gives
. digest of that instrument, the heads
of which follow:
Article /. The Mexican people recog-
niIe 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
10 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 will determine which profess
sion needs a diploma for its exer.
else, and what requisites are to BE-
fulfiled.
This fundaryental principle was
later amplifed 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
pelied 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
rince of the liberty OF any man. may
the cause be for personal labor. edu.
cation. or religious vows. The law In
consequence does not recognize mon
astic orders. and will not permit their
the denomination or purpose for which
they pretend to be established. INeith-
Or win be permitted a contract or
agreement BY which man makes .
pact for his prescription or exile.
Article VI The expression OF ideas
shall not be subjected TO any judicial
or governmental prosecution except
IN cases Of attack upon the public
morality. the rights Of third party.
or the prevention Of n crime or n dis
turbance OF public order
Article VII. Tho liberty OF writing
and publishing writings upon any mat
ter 10 inviolable. No previous censor.
ship nor imposition OF bonds upon tho
writer's nor tho publishers for the pur-
pose OF curtailing tho freedom Of the
press can be established by any law
or authority. such freedom being re-
stricted to respect OF private life. NOR
ais and public business.
Article VIII. This deals with tho
right Of petition To the government
Article TX. This gives the right Of
assembly.
Article x. This establishes tho right
Of every man to possess and carry
arms for his safety and legitimate
defense.
Article xi. This deals with immigrs-
tion TO the country and other trayelin.
both from tho country and into tho
same.
Article XII. This establishes tho In.
validity Of all titles OF nobility. pre-.
rogativss and hereditary honorr.
Article XIII. In tho Mexican Repub-
lie no one shall bs subjected to pri.
vate laws nor special courts. No man
or corporation shall enjoy furros or
receive cmolumonts unless they be a
compensation for public services and
already nHcd by law.
Article xiv. This establishes the
principle that no one shall bs tried by
retroactive laws.
Article XIV No treaties can bc made
for the .stradltion OF political offend.
srs: neither for those criminals whose