The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-05-06
They Both Fear and Dis
trust Yankees.
FIGHTING IS THEIR PAST|ME
Politics Is Only Known
Among Them As Power
To Cypress.
IGNORANCE VERY PREVALENT

Americans should not forget, in
considering the present unhappy
complications in Mexico, that
throughout all the Latin republics
south of the Rio Grande there is an
abiding hatred Of them. This ami
mostly is not always openly ex-
pressed, especially when Americans
possess visible means of resentment.
But it always exists. The charac-
ter of the Mexican is complex and
strange. He is an admixture of odd
races and he is Influenced by many
atavic characteristics. Proportions
vary greatly as the scale descends
from the pure Castiian to the troy
lodyte Indian, and there is every
conceivable combination of mental
and physical elements in the Next
can makeup. But there is one un-
changing and uniform quality COM
mon to all, and that is distrust, fear
and dislike of Americans.
If one were to seek leaven that
might bring homogenelty of interest
and purpose to a majority of all
those of Latin blood, he could find
nothing more potent than firing the
powder of hatred toward Ameri-
cans. And this is the thing which
we must take very seriously into ac-
count at this time. Insurrection is
a chronic condition among Mexicans.
That is their somewhat strenuous
method of playing politics. They
do not take their International diff
ferences nearly as seriously as We
suppose Their political battles are
fought with rifles, ii is true, but
their sentiments are highly volatile
and are subject to quick change.
If, therefore, we in America witness
the somewhat pleasing spectacle of
our own people laying aside at a
moments notice their political
differences and all getting behind
our President in common cause.
we must consider that to very
great extent the MeXicans will take
the same kind of action.
Already reports come from va
rious points in rebel territory that
the MeXicans are ready to stop
fighting among themselves and well
come an opportunity to turn their
guns on the "gringOes." This is
natural and logical Their DISPOSE
tion to fight must have some outlet.
Under ordinary circumstances they
are content to fight each other, but
they would throw themselves into
conflict with a national enemy with
surprising zest. They are intensely
patriotic-or think they are. They
have no real grievance against each
other. They fight among them
selves for power, for money, for
spoils and for the pure enjoyment
of the spectacular battle incident.
Turn this disposition against "A
foreign foe hated for generations,
and the Mexican people will be a
serious antagonist to cope with.
And. finally, it should be kept in
mind that the dense ignorance of
the Mexican masses has distorted
their ideas of geography and history.
Probably not one in a hundred of
them believes that the United States
could whip Mexico. They are COM
mon braggarts. They have no con-
ception of this country's vast re-
sources, its amazing development
and its military and naval power.
Their fear of us is not based SC
much on our military prowess as
upon that mysterious respect which
the ignorant mind has for com
mercial and industrial supremacy
All over Mexico Americans have been
pushing railroads into mountain
Businesses, opening gigantic mines,
constructing great warehouses and
conducting marvellous business en-
terprises. These things constitute
permanent affront to Mexican
pride. So let us not assume that
castigating Huerta would not near
war with united Mexico. for In all
probability the whole country would
have to be combated In stubborn
and costly struggle.-I Kansas City