The Washington herald., 1914-05-07
The Mexican Problem.

twenty years ago uere were on tne SURFACE o
the globe. among the various political plague spot
which recognized by statesmen and inteligen
people as those in which conditions were such tina
cure by excelsior would be necessary failing intena
tories which time and chance marked out as the par
ticular concern of the United States.
These were colonial possessions of Spain, who's
principal of suffering was the corruption, in
competence and inhumanity of Spanish government
running back for hundreds of years, and eliminating
during the period of the decay OF Spanish power anc
vrilty in state of affairs that only be described
frightful 1t recognized for a generation pre-
vious to the beginning of the recent century that
or later the United States would have to deal
with Cuba. When the hour struck for this work to
be begun the question of the Philippines became d.
rectly involved; and anxious as country was to
escape this latter contingency, escape was impos-
sibe-
The last problem of the kind is that of Mexico
and aude to it in this way and at this time be-
cause we want our readers to fully appreciate that
the Mexican problem is one that our country must
grapple with in the course of nature. and that it
cannot be evaded by merely transferring the reins
of Mexican government from time to time from one
set of political leaders to another. There is more at
stake here than the mere question of the form of a
salute to the American flag, such led to the pres
ent acute trouble. The Mexican question must be
settled, and its work will take years of patient
and still more patient administration.
After the defeat of the attempts of Louis Napo-
leon to practically annex Mexico to France, which
ended in the execution of Macmillan, the country
reapsed into state of savagery and anarchy which
ceased with the administration of Por6ro Diaz. Diaz
pacihed the country externally but he did not settle
it stable basis internally. He gave Mexico a
strong government, but not statesmanlike govern
nent. AT his exit he left able to give the
country even strong government; and with internal
affairs still maladusted, anarchy and barbarism once
more began to prevail. There are radical reforms,
rue reforms, real reforms, that Mexico must have
before she ceases to be deep thorn in the flesh of
Ter neghbor, the United States. These reforms are:
First: A thorough change in the political organ
zation of the country by which proper guarantees
an be afforded for the exercise of the suffrage, and
he national elections be something than farces.
Secondly, change in economic status, which can
,ny be accomplished by breaking up the large hold
holdings of individual farmers and planters. Prob
bly the only way in which this can be done will be
W the enactment of law similar to the friars act
n the Philippines or the land purchase act in Ire
and In this respect conditions in Mexico are ex-
CITY the same as they in Ireland and the Philip
lines, and the country can never be permanently
ettled until the same economic changes that took
lace in the two last named countries take place
within her own borders
Thirdly, the negotiation of great foreign loan by
of which the credit of the country be forth
led and something like order and hrmness be restored
0 its financial administration.
Fourthly the establishment of system of home
yards similar to the ruraes set up by Diaz, whose
usiness the maintenance of local peace and the
rompt suppression of small companies of bandits |
hose natural tendency is to increase in number and
erve the base of revolutionary movements.
We believe that there is no who is at all
cquainted with the Mexican situation who will ques
on the truth of what we have here stated.
But all this in turn suggests another very peril
ent inquiry and that is whether President Wilson
!, after all, wise in his extreme, unbending and ap
arently bitter prejudice against Huerta. We think
people generally changing their opinion about
Iuerta He may be an immoral man. dishonest
ian, drunkard and what not; but there is gain
lying that he is shrewd and strong man, much
lrewder than President Wilson or Secretary Bryan
nderstood him to be when they embarked their
resent program and much shrewder, if not stronger
xactly than any man that has come to the front in
[exico since Diaz's time. In judgment it is ex
emely unwse for the United States start upon
lie work of putting Mexico upon a sound basis with
preliminary condition that Huerta must be elm
ated. Strong men are not easily eliminated in Mex
O. and Huertas general services to the of final
I'd salutary peace in Mexico may be valuable as
icy were to Porfrio Diaz, whom he served 50 long
We do not believe that the people of the United
tates will agree to 60 to with Mexico for the
lie purpose of getting rid of Huerta-
w