Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-05-24
MEXICO PROVES BATTLING MYSTERY Republic to South Is Differ ent From All Latin.
 America. UNFIT FOR SELF RULE Oppopents of Administration Think That to Promote Self.GOvernment in Mexico Is to Foster Anarchy
 and BlOOdshed.
 
UNFIT FOR SELF RULE

Washington, May 23.-"The more we concentrate the searchlight on Mexico, the more profound the mys- tery becomes" said an official of the state department recently Mexico is not in any sense real or living part or Latin America-Or at least that part of Latin America which has achieved nationality and has a Demo- cratic tradition to maintain or cherish. Not only is Mexico only half civilized; i; she seems to rejoice in her ability to defy civilization.
 Two Views of Mexico.
 In the minds of many Washington ians this is an epitome of the problem now facing the United States. There are two vital differences in. the points of view or the main channels of thought in the United States relating to Mexico. The administration says:
 "The United States cannot act to- wards Mexico any differently than to any other nation apparently trying to make her way through fire and sword to independence. We cannot act as nations which make a profession of imperialism and colonization do. We must remember we are a republic, and a republic which, when we achieved Independence, turned our thoughts away from conquest and aggrandize- ment, even conquest in the name of civilization"
 The opponents of the administration says:
 Tt is absurd and childish to treat Mexico as we would any nation which is even remotely fit for self-govern- ment. To do so is to promote anarchy and bloodshed, to ruin all foreign in- terests, particularly American inter- ests, in the nation.
 No Middle Class.
 RevOlution-torn as she is, Mexico | is today just as hopeless a prospect | for elf-government as she was three years ago. The truth is that she can not easily bring herself out of the slough in which centuries of despot- ism and misrule have enmeshed her. | There are only two classes in Mexico the ruling caste, small aristocratic element of almost pure Spanish blood, and the poor, impoverished, ignorant spiritless peop. The peon is a slave of centuries; he is apparently incap- | able of any movement towards self advancement, and would hardly know how to take advantage of any altru- istic effort to help him along in the world.
 PeOns Without Spirit.
 | The peon works with utter lack of spirit, has neither morals nor morals, possesses little if any physical stam- { ina and is about as ignorant mor- ] tai as can be found outside of dark est Africa" He has been reared in an atmosphere where cruelty and treachery are to be found on every side Therefore he knows not the meaning of character. He regards cheating and lying as commonplace; :; expecting them from everyone he l does not hesitate to cheat and lie himself. He is mean in spirit, doing all things covertly and furtively, and has no desire except to spend the day as lazily as possible, and put off all care until 'manana.''
 Respect Only Force.
 l When the MeXicans started snip l ing'-the cheapest kind of guerilla warfare-upon the American marines and tackles at Vera Cruz, many of the officers said, "We must not blame them too harshly. Their fathers and their fathers fathers did it before them; it is the only kind of fighting that they know or care about" The Mexican thinks it just as rational and normal to shooot or stab his enemy in the back or in the dead of night as the American thinks it reprehensible.
 "There is only one thing that the Mexican respects. and that is force, " said another American officer at Vera Cruz. You can't reach them with kindness. They regard that as weak. ness. You cannot appeal to their bet. ter nature or to heir gratitude, for they have none."
 The most remarkable thing about the peons noted by the Americans at Vera Cruz, however, was their physi- Zeal decadence. They are largely a narrow-chested thin. anaemic, dis eased race, with no more strength of body than strength of character. Most of the mare chronic sufferers from malaria or some kindred ailment. Most of them are the victims of a deadly tropical climate which seems to breed the type which has become known in the western hemisphere as Mexi- l can.
 A Reliable Hair Tonic.