The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-09
BY JOSEPH p. AMIN.

Now that facts promise to push what
Thomas Carlyle characterized as "un-
realized ideals" from the premises
upon which a Mexican policy of ex-
pedency has been builded in the Uni
ted States, and with false hopes CIV
ing place to practical experience. 1t
will not be so difficult for President
Wilson and his advisors to judge
whittier any given line of action. log
ically pursued. will lead them.
Because of this, it is not unreason-
able to hope that a program of action
may be evolved as the result of which
the United States may yet be of real
help in restoring order in Mexico,
without forcing itself into armed inter
vention, though as matters now stand
a single false step will close the door
on this opportunity and make armed
Intervention inevitable.
The policy to date has been built
around a framework of misapprehen-
sion carefully reared and constantly
embellished by politicians. both here
and in Mexico. In the case OF the
former, this has been for the selfish
desire to gain permanent and arbitrary
power In the case Of the latter.
It has been largely for no less sell
fish reasons of political expedfency
on the part of those upon whom Pres
ident Wilson should have been able to
depend for frankness and intelligent
discrimination.
People "Gold Bricked.'
Between these two influences. the
people of the United States. and since
shortly after the fall of Madero. the
honest epople of Mexico of all classes,
have been gold bricked" with a few
high sounding phrases and generali-
cations constantly reiterated by dema-
eogues in innumerable notes and man
ifestoes into a complete and. in its
effects, a wholly criminal misunder-
standing Of what has been going on
in Mexico and why.
The most pernicious Of these miscon-
captions, or gold bricks" is that all
Mexico is divided into two classes-the
"cientificos"' and the poems. and that the
bandit factions now warning among them
selves are representative of the aims and
desires Of the peon class as counter-op-
posed to the "cientiflcos." This is the
theory upon which President Wilson has
proceeded up to the present, and which
he now has officially repudiated through
the announcement of Secretary Lansing
Saturday that in the view of this govern
ment the factions in the field now repre-
sent only the selfish aims Of their lead
ers, and not a political revolution. /
AS u VI INIT UicAA>S 10 Nt'AeSo
into four distinct classes-the poems, the
cientificos, the factionists and the rest of
the Mexicans. Roughly speaking. the
aims Of the first and the last Of these
classifications are common, and those of
the second and third are united IN the
military movements which have torn
Mexico asunder for more than four years
The military leaders do not represent the
poems and do not represent the rest of
the Mexicans."
Peon Glass Eighty Per Cent.
The peon class involves approximately
90 per, cent of the 1905. 900 population.
THE rest Of the Mexicans'' class involves
the remainder Of the population less about
I per cent, represented by the armed
factionists and the small group OF
''cientificos."
The poems are Indians and semi-In-
dams. ignorant. impoverished. IMPROVE
dent, and no better fitted intellectually
to handle alone their own affairs or
Improve unassisted their civilization
than the North American Indian whose
affairs the United States government
long since took over under Q benevo-
lent despotism. The solution Of his
problem lies in an honest government
which will bring about land reforms
and redistribution for his benefit just
habits to protect and exploit the ad-
vantages and properties SO placed at
his disposal
AS long as every acre turned over to
q peon by benevolent laws IL by him
turned over to . 1and-grabber in re-
turn for liquor and temporary release
from labor. land distribution. will re-
suit in the creation OF q group Of land
pirates who by their growing power
not only will defeat the purpose Of the
land reform laws. but will regain con-
troll OF the government as well Thus.
any agrxrian reform must be enacted
eauticnsly and with . view e giving