Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-01-05
MEXICO'S- ONLY HOPE
To The Herald:

To The Herald:
In my address before the City Coun-
ell In brownsville on the 18th Of Dee
cmber. ! stated that the lack Of public
schools was the principal cause Of the
unhappy condition 81 Mexico. but a sen
fence was omitted which DESTROYED the
sense. hence ! have repeated and am
piifiei the argument
The cause of the continuous wars in
Mexico is usually attributed Ia the am
billions Of INSCRIPTIONS politicians. and
gratters. but the primary causc il the
lack 81 cdncatIon among the masses.
The ambitious leaders would never have
a following il the masses IT the people
were educated. The soldiers in MANY IN
stances do MOI know what they are fight
ing for. hence We see them deserving
from one party la the other without
conjunction.
\ public school system was inangur.
ated under the Diaz administration and
was being developed a. fast a. condi
tion> permitted. bur ID had not yet reach
cd the masses ~ the >parsrly populated
districts. ] mentioned the fact that Ar.
%gcntina with a population If seven and
a half millions had IN her National pri
mary schools. l.oO00O0 pupils besides
those in the sectarian aud state schools
This was in 1911 when Mexico was M
peace. with "a population just twice that
of Argentina. but the imports Of Ar
.%cntina were four times and the exports
eight times those of Mexico. per capita.
have mentioned Argentina because
il j. one If the Latin countries of Am
erica which are sometimes referred 10 ~
non progrcssivcv. Similar conditions
prevail in Chile and Brazil where the
public schools have been universal for
many NcarS. You will find peace and
prosperity non the Latin countries ia
exact proportion to the quality Of Tia.
system W public cduction. II may br said
that white emigration from Europe has
lad much Influence IN the prosperity
"f the Latin countries mentioned. hut
those who know The Mexican population
Know that the masses VINO are Of Indian
descent are not inferior intellectually
.Iuarez was of pure Indian descent and
Dlaz partly. and they have been prcem-
l%ncntly the two greatest Mexican citi
zenS. ] have observed the Mexican char.
ictcr and civilization fer several wears
anil | am convinced that the Mexican
N'lf' ~ hliN NfNt'Ht Nff tItfiUlt vi
developing the very highest degree ~
ciVilizat on IL given the opportunity
They are by nature am.able i'm DISPOSE
iion aud artistic in all handicrafts.
| believe with opportunities they
would he in mo- degree inferior To the
Japanese whom they resemble racially.
Personally | have little hope Of per.
manent peace for Mcxiro and Believe
with all other Americans who are fam-
liar with conditions that Intervention
must come finally. I am sure that the
American people agree with President
Wilson thar W. will never attempt Ia
hold any part 1T Latin America n u per.
manent conquest. II intervention comes
we should Ice satisfied 10 control the
country long enough 60 establish a pub
lie school system thar would give one
generation the benefit If u common
school education If the public SchOnl
system has been inferior In the past.
what will IL bc for many wears when AZ
the present time il j. practically no
" is not the least of her calam-
tiles that her children are growing up ia
ignorance while the adults are being
slaughtered and the land laii waste.
What hope have We for permanent
peace in Mex 90 when the only education
that the rising generation il getting j.
that ~ rapinc. assassination and cruel
~. When the civilized nations ~ the
world intervene in the affairs ~ any na-
I on for the sake - International peace
Que 81 The NEST important conditions IN
npan should he that the nation
taken i'm hand shall establish end main
tain y permanent hubble school system.
olucai on j. the onlv distinction be
tween civilization aud barbari~m.
nn " H. OLE II