The Washington herald., 1914-07-05
HANDS OFF,,SAY
VERA Cruz sage
ExGov. Dehesa Asserts Mex
leo Can Make Good
Without Aid.
TELLS U. S. TO KEEP OUT
"A Paei6caion of Conquest Has No
Place in the Mind of Modern
Nation" He Declares.
ny CHARLES E. NICHOLSON.

/
Vera Cruz. July 4.-Don Teodore De.
hess is Vera CruEs great man. sf1e was
governor Of the state for eighteen years
He is rich. cultured. and 30 him repair
the doubtful for advice on business and
on politics-particularly on politics,
though the digniied ex-governor will tell
you that he has retired from politics
| and has only an onlooker's interest In
the passage of events His retirement
from politics was e1ncident with the res
igntion Of Poririo Diaz OF the Presi-
dency.
More than once when the distracted
country has been putting MS favorite
[ conundrum, who can hold down the
lid when Huerta drops out7" there has
been a mention of the grave old-tims
governor. under whose domain Vera Cruz
remained steady. prosperous. and at
peace, though all the rest of the coun-
] try ,revolted and rioted-bu Don Teo-
doro will tell you that is idle talk-that
he aspires to no such lofty post in the
settlement Of his country's difficulties.
Has Hope for Peace.
He is content to hope for peace. to do
what he can to bring about peace-and
for the rest he is satisfied among his
pictures worthy of anybody's attention.
In another country this big eagle
beaked ex-governor could not have es-
capped being the Sage Of Cinco de Mayor
Street" Like others of his class he has
held himself aloof from the Americans
since the occupation, but his home at
tracts all that is going on in the way of
Mexican activity.
What do you see ahead for MexicoT'
was the first question put to him.
Peace" he replied. What else is
there for anybody to look forward to?'
And how is that peace to be brought
about?'
by the efforts of the best of her own
people. Mexico is no more difficult to
govern than any other nation. We have
our turbulent classes. and We have more
education, but the ideals of Mexicans
who are thoughtful enough to have
ideals, are those Of every other civilized
race on earth. We are unfortunate in
| that a man of egotism has seized the
head OF the government; the people can
not rest under such a ruler-neither will
they be any more content under some
soldier Of fortune who seiEes his power
Such situation has confronted many
nations, and 1t always has been settled
in the same way-when 1t has been set
tied without scandalizing the world. The
time will bring forward the mana man
whose principles are honesty and Justice,
who is firm enough to suppress the fac
tions whose interest lie in exploitation,
but who proceeds without thought Of per-
sonal vengence or personal interest-who
is competent to deal with the situation
And who in your Judgment. is the best
man TO succeed Huerta"? a.s
Il do not care to attempt to name any
particular man. The mediators will
doubtless arrive at q satisfactory solu-
ton, including an Acceptable successor to
Huerta- l suppose they went with pie
nary powers TO accomplish such a
mission"
Then you think Mexico is capable of
being pacified without intervention?"
Intervention; what call has your na-
ton to intervene IN the affairs OF mine ?
A paeification of conquest has no place
, in the mind OF a modern nation"
Comparatively Few Outrages.
Hasn't nation a right and a duty to
protect its own citizens from murder and
exploitation? Mexico has not been able
to protect Americana
There has been comparatively few
such outrages. In a country where revo-
luton is rife there will always be some
afniction of foreigners by bandits. Even
in peace time you have had your own
anti-Italian and anti-Japanese riots. As
to the more recent hardships suffered by
Americans, the arresting and imprisoning
of correspondents and others, please bear
in mind that your troops have landed on
our soil-that you hold our principal port.
Suppose the autonomy OF the United
States was threatened by a great power
that seized and held the port OF New
York, would the subjects OF such a power
be very popular with you?"
Suppose you were to succeed Huerta
how would you go about pacifying the
country?"
There is only one way. by exact JUS
tice; the suppression Of violence and the
elimination OF those who insist on vio-
lence."
And how would you deal with such
chiefs as Villa and zapata II they failed
to agree TO your plans Of reconstruction -
They could be dealt with; the world
is wide and men who would not keep
peace in Mexico might be accommodated
elsewhere. There is a difference between
Justice and vengeance. Whoever is
chosen must forget the past. Men must
not be executed for what political part
they played, but there must be no weak
ness in dealing with those who persist In
defying the new government.
And the land question:
"A dream. Divide the land among our
Indians and they will not hold it a week.
In a very short time the shrewd land
SPECTATORS or the old owners would buy
It from them for a meal. or a drink and
the whole problem would have to be gone
over again. Until we have educated these
people to the responsibility of holding
property 1t is impossible to make such
distribution as the theorists suggest
Only education can make of Mexico a
community OF small land owners. You
ask me about plans of regenerating this
country; the statesmen and the soldiers
can only make a beginning; II is the
schools that will finally solve all Mexico's
problems-and we require no American
assistance to accomplish that destiny,
thank you"
THE ONION CURE.
II Is not chic