New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-01
THE MEXICAN TRAGEDY
An Observer at First Hand Portrays
Carranza and Villa.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
sir. For the last three years | nave
bean an observer at first hand or tnat
mos, annalling Of modern tragedies-the
Nexican situation. During these years II
has been my lot 10 see and near thihs'
so horrible in character that as MINK
back upon them II does not seem possioie
that they could have happened IN TINS
enlightened age and so close TO our very
doors without arousng protest nauoh-
wide I'm scope and Of such force that IL
would have demanded some definite &C
ton upon the part of our government.
II has been repeatedly said that the
average Mexican has no appreciation nor
qualification for the right or Suffrage
Elections such as We have In this couh-
trv-not that our elections are conducteu
on any very high plane-are unknown IN
Mexico. Anything approaching popular
expression of the people at the poiis 10
impossible. The election or Madero Was
as great hasco as that OF Huerta. Inc
vexican does not vote; he is voted. This
apathy toward politics is largely due 10
Illiteracy: only about 10 per cent or the
great many people in the United states
have conceived the idea that there is
great issue Of principle existing between
the Carranzlstas (Consttutionalsts) ana
the Federalists. An analogy has been
drawn between Mexico and our own
country. No one appreciates the value or
this misconception better than the fe"
shrewd individuals who arc financing the
Carranzista cause and the Carranzista
representatives In Washington. Nor am
I prepared to say that all Of the followers
of Carranza are hypocrites. IL does seem
that have met some who were genuinely
sincere in their ambition 10 better the
conditions in Mexico. They were high
class. cultured men who we're stalking
their all in this struggle on the other
hand. the best men that know in Mexico
are all Federalists. Men upon whom
Mexico depends for its prosperity and
existence as a sovereign state are FEEDER
alists. And | am sure that no one appre-
ciates this more than Mr.. John Lind. At
least 81 per cent OF tho educated and in
telligent Mexicans, and more than that
percentage of the better foreign popula-
ton. II not fully in accord and sympathy
with the manner in which Huerta came
into power, at least recognized him as the
man of the hour and the one most capable
OF bringing order out of the chaos which
existed And all are strong in the belief
that had ne been recog mixed conditions
would be normal and prosperous in Mex
leo to-day.
want to explain why Carranza has A
following. Any man with the necessary
means can start a revolution in Mexico.
That Carrsnza is being financed from the
outside is beyond a question of a doubt.
In Mexico they say that the Standard
OF supplies him with the money But as
the Standard Oil is accused of everything
this indictment stands for little. The fact
remains that Carrlnza Is getting All the
money he needs, and from the United
States Carranza is a patriot TO the OK
tent that he wants 10 be. President OF
Mexico. II Huerta IS not acceptable TO
Mr. Bryan and Mr. Wilson. surely Car
rama and Villa should be less so one Is
just as good and no better than the other
II CarrarZa should succeed IL viii mean
another revolution at once. II Carranza
succeeds thousands of the best and most
cultured MeXicans Will become eXiies.
Where will it all end? Even now Car
rama is losing prestige among the rene
sade MeNlcans which composed his fol-
lowing. and villa. the outlaw, the bandit.
Is gaining the ascendancy.
Surely the United States will not rec