New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-05
O the Editor OF The Tribune.

have lived half lifetime in Mexico, mar
ried one Of its daughters and that all have
! Is in Mexico; and should l acquire wealth
untold, would always make Mexico my
home. | have many and good friends in ali
stations of life, and write from no sense OF
/ injury, much less from malice. And should
any Of my many good friends take offence, as
all will, let them remember an apt saying IN
their own beautiful language: eel cue tie
quiere to hace llorar."
Very few mortals, even II they recognize
inherent defects in themselves, will acknowl-
edge the fact, and still fewer will try to cor
rect those defects. The japanese, as a ma
ton, were wise enough both to recognize and
correct, and the result is a nation that, fifty
years ago considered as semi-barbarovs, is
/ to-day in the vanguard of material civiliza-
ton, though still lacking in general morals.
| No nation, however advanced, can be classed
as civilized unless civic and social morals
are at a high standard.
After years of the closest intimacy with
all classes, over a large section OF the coun-
try, I am obliged to state that there Is no
hope for the regeneration CT Mexico from
within.
I There are 100000 inhabitants. OF these
about 100000 are semi-savages, or people
of pure Indian or mixed blood, ignorant,
superstitious, lazy and improvident; mostly
immoral and absolutely immoral Where
over SO per cent of the population exist I'M
der these conditions, the other per cent
must be more or less afectedj and this
being the case, what hopes Of regeneration
from within can be expected II the people
of Mexico persist, as they do, In being left
to themselves7 In this case Mexico for the
Mexicans means Mexico for 7 per cent OF the
population; and although in time outside
influence might have some effect, for the
country to survive these some show would
have to be given tho submerged sS per cent,
and even then 1t would take another thou
sand years to bring the country up to even
present standards of civilization. Up to
twenty years ago Mexico, outside OF the thin
nest veneering of polish among the per cent,
/ in its daily life. was 800 years behind the
times. And to-day such is the fact in regard
to the 90 per cent of the population
Lack Of Civic Morals.
Civic morals are almost unknown among
all classes Limsntour is recognized as the
hest TYNE OF his nation. He belongs to the
highest caste, is a man CT natural intelli-
gence and ability and is highly educated
and very wealthy. Once, while in the Clty
of Mexico, was told by man OF his own
class that he, Limantour, had used his com
handing position TO have Congress exempt
a certain section Of the city from certain
taxes. Most of the section exempted Dc
lonped TO Limantour; or perhaps 1t was that
most Of Iimantour's holdings OF real estate
were in that section. This indicates the
state OF development of civic morals IN
man Of the very highest type the country
produces. What can be expected OF the PEG
! pie at large ~, l.
Tho snanIsh poet and writer Zorrilla, In
advising his countrymen about going to
Mexico, says, In a little verse;
\ "The flowers are without scent,
I The fruits without taste,
The men without honor,
The women without delicacy (pudor)"
This Is rather strong and blunt, but In
General is true. In referring TO the women
bv saving, LAS mujeres sin pudor, take
IL no mean. lacking in delicacy, not chastity.
For the Mexican woman, even among the
Lover classes. Is chaste. Often she l. un-
morol hut seldom lewd. In fact, the women
are the best part Of Mexico, and II our Mex.
can parents took one-ffth of the care OF
their boys that they do Of their girls' the
outlook would be different.
The people at large have no moral stamina
Except among the few OF the upper crust
there is no home life. There is no genuine
companonship between man and wlie. =
once heard an intelligent man, good type
~ the 7 per cent, tell party of young girls:
"Cirls. am going to be frank with you. we
love YOU. but after the honeymoon it is more
fror, nitv than sentiment. This is the truth
/ vow you can marry or not Suit yourselves
The girls are materially protected, but rarely
orc thew given moral, chaste education
/ ,hot would be true protection; but their in
berent modesty Is great They are raised
subservient to their men, especially to their
/ brothers The boys are raised without any
rorticular care as to their moral training;
/ thew are pampered by their mothers and
raised to be selfish and inconsiderate, and as
Mr.. whitney aptly says in THE Outlook,
"Tbev are polite, emotional, but totally lack
inc in consideration Where there is no in
innate home life, where the men are raised
WITH self the main motive, there can be no
great love for country. There can be no
patriotism.
No Homes, No Patriotism.
Eighty per cent of the people are illiterate
and 20 per cent are illegtimate. Ninety per
cent OF the great common people are abso-
lutely ignorant with the instincts Of the
savage. They have no ideals, no homes, no
morals, no country, no patriotism. They
have been exploited, as slaves, for 300 years.
The common people are vulgar and immoral
Nearly the entire people are unrefned, in
the true sense OF the word. The upper class
are arrogant, selfish, unprincipled, vain, in
considerate and believe themselves born to
the purple, as far as the great bulk Of the
common people are concerned. For 300 years
they have ruled and If they cannot rule they
are ready TO ruin the country. as they have
as little real patriotism has the plebe.
They are too vain TO accept outside aid or
TO adopt and adapt outside, sane policies that