The Elbert County tribune., 1914-05-08
WHAT MEX|CANS
HAVE FOUGHT FOR
Agrarian Democracy Has Been
the Aim of the Peon Class
for Past Century.
STRUGGLE STILL GOING ON
Position of Revolutlonlsts and constl-
tuition Of 1857 for Which They
Stand, Set Forth In Book by
Senior de Lara.


knowledge that attend the embroglio
with Mexico the big issue that has
moved the Mexican people to revolt
against Huerta has been lost sight OF
or is not known to most Americans.
What the people OF Mexico have
fought for from the first war of IN
dependence. and what they are fight
ing for now under Carranza and villa
is the right to buy and till farms.
For hundred years the peon class
has waged a continuous struggle to
achieve agrarian democracy. Time
after time the revolution has been
carried to the verge of success. and
time after time the Mexican ruling
class has invoked foreign Intervention
in order to prolong its power.
All this and a great deal more is
made clear in a book just published
by Doubleday. Page & Co. The Mexi-
can People; Their Struggle for Free
DOM" by L. Gutierrez de Lara and
Edgcomb Pinchon. 1t is frankly
statement of the position of the rev
olutionists. and shows why they he
leve American Intervention In Mexi-
90 at the present time would only
bring about more loss OF life and
worse conditions in the long run.
Senior de Lara has much to say
about the constitution of 1857, that
has been ruthlessly set aside by sue
cessive governments, and he gives
a digest OF that instrument, the heads
OF which follow:
Article /. The Mexican people recog-
nize that the rights OF men are the
foundation and the purpose of social
institutions. In consequence they pro-
claim that all the laws and authorities
of the country must respect and sus-
tain the warranties stipulated by this
constitution.
Article ii. In the republic every one
ia born free. The slaves who step
into the national territory recover their
freedom by this mere fact. and have
the right of the protection of the law
Article III All education is free.
The law will determine which profess
sion needs a diploma for its exer-
else. and what requisites are to be
| fulfilled.
This fundaIvental principle was
later amplified to make education uni
versal, free. non-sectarian and com
| pulsory.
Article ". Every man is free to
adopt the profession. trade, or work
that suits him. 1t being useful and
honest; and to enjoy the product
thereof
Article v. No man shall be com
pelled to work without his plain con-
cent and without Just compensation
The state will not permit to become
effective any contract, pact or agree
ment with the purpose of the curtail-
ment, the loss or the irreyocable sac
rifice OF the liberty of any man, may
the cause be for personal labor, edu-
cation, or religious vows. The law in
consequence does not recognize mon
astic orders. and will not permit their
establishment. no matter what may be
the denomination or purpose for which
they pretend to be established Meth
or will be permitted a contract or
Agreement by which a man makes a
pact for his prescription or exile.
Article VI. The expression of ideas
shall not be subjected to any judicial
| or governmental prosecution except
in cases of attack upon the public
morality. the rights Of third party.
or the prevention of a crime or a dis
turbance of public order.
Article VII. The liberty of writing
and publishing writings upon any mat
ter is inviolable. No previous censor
ship nor imposition of bonds upon the
writer's nor the publishers for the pur-
pose OF curtailing the freedom of the
press can be established by any law
or authority. such freedom being re-
stricted to respect OF private life. NOR
ais and public business.
Article VIII. This deals with the
right of petition to the government.
Article TX. This gives the right OF
assembly
Article x. This establishes the right
Of every man to possess and carry
arms for his safety and legitimate
defense.
Article xI. This deals with immigrs-
ton to the country and other travelling
both from the country and into the
same.
Article XII. This establishes the in
validity of all titles OF nobility, pre-
rogatives and hereditary honors.
Article XIII. In the Mexican Repub-
lie no one shall be subjected to pri-
vate laws nor special courts. No man
or corporation shall enjoy fueros or
receive emoluments unless they be a
compensation for public services and
already fixed by law.
Article XIV. This esta ablishes the
principle that no one shall be tried by
retroactive laws.
Article XIV. No treaties can be made
for the extradition of political offend
ers; neither for those criminals whose
crime was committed in country