Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-14
VICTORIANO HUERTA,
VISITOR-IN-EX
Indian and Latin Traits in the Man
Whose Coming to This Country
Raises the Question of How Far
He Is "Out of Politics."
BY ROBERT HILDRETH

hURS Is perhaps the friendliest country In
~ the whole world. we are famously good
natured. II by some accident of events we
discover a grievance against a foreigner, we
! forget 1t overnight. Ordinarily, not invari-
ably. Occasional exceptions signify break
! Ing of the national habit We have a feel
Ing toward the foreigner which is peculiar,
and when 1t comes to international relations
there is no courtesy that can match that of
America
Victoriano Huerta has landed in New York,
1t was not to be expected Of course that
he would be received with Kisses and cat
calls. His welcome, on the other hand, has
not been startllngly exuberant The fact
worth noting Is that the American people
really like the man Whatever trouble he
may have given us Cor we, him), however
negligent he may have been once on time
in showing proper respect to the Stars and
Stripes, however shocking the incidents OF
his career and especially Of his dictatorship
may have been to American sentiment, still
the national mind is such that it cannot long
cherish dislike for a man Of so wonderful
a history and so striking a personality. We
remember chiefly the feat which Huerta ac-
complished in sitting tight for a matter Of II
months against extreme Odds and we are
now, when three-quarters Of a year has
elapsed since he took himself out of the
Mexican muddle, close on the verge of re-
gardng him a hero. America likes men
of personality and thus America resembles
history itself We would like to have villa
visit us, or even Carranza not merely be-
cause we are curious to see how they look
and act, but because, each in his fashion,
they are men of personality and Of deeds.
Victorano Huerta, Guest
Romanticsm is nowhere more evident than
in American public opinion, and it CLOSES
over a great deal Of unpleasant realism. Con-
ceivably, it would forgive even the murder
OF Madero. Our democracy. so far as it
stands opposed to snobbery, has in a strange
variety of instances very little use for con-
demnation and ostracism. 1t permits the big
man of a community to lead despicabl life
amid the applause accorded him for his polit-
iCal position his business success and
is not careful Of distinctions. A prison term
for the malefactor whose career has caught
the public imagination wins for him some
times pity and sometimes affection. Speaking
Of Huorta, have to admit that we began
condoning his offerses long ago-largely on
the ground that Huerta was "A strong man
and that strong man was what Mexico
needed We told ourselves that perhaps, all !
things considered, Huerta was more snned |
against than sinning"-one Of human ma
ture's favorite quotations.
Now Hucrta is here with words of polite
ness at his tongue S end. He admires the |
greatness of the American people," he says
he who encouraged the Mexican mobs to cry .
out against the hated Gringo He has al .
ways admired the American people, he adds
and true enough this Is not the first time he /
has declared his admiration. He is polite /
Cnif bic 10 yoof
salute our flag last summer, but now-"I sa-
Lutte this great nation" Whose is the mag
Huerta's or ours? The present
American attitude toward Huerta, however
has nothing TO do with matters International
Huerta proved himself big Chief" That
phrase is potent in America. We take off our
hats to big Chief' Croker. We do the same
to big Chief" Huerta.
Wanted: "Man-Eater"
Huerta is big Chief" by reason not
only OF his military and political deeds,
but by reason also of his Indian heritage,
though he is not a full-blooded Indian. He
is about half Indian in blood and more than
half in sentiment and moral makeup. He
Is much the same type of Mexican as Por-
frio Diaz, who showed in physique and tenn
permanent the predominant characteristics of
the Mixteca, a tribe OF Indians much ac-
to feuds and fights, Huerta never
won the reputation of being humane man.
His disregard of human life is traceable II
you like, to an Indian trait of which you
will find documentary evidence in Prescott's
account of the civil military and religious
polity of the ancient inhabitants OF Anahuac.
When Huerta was named commander-in-
chief of the discouraged Federal army, which
in early 1912 trying 10 put down the
rebellion in northern Mexico, Madero's Of
fcers welcomed the news with such remarks
as: Thank God, now shall show the
1evils! and HE is a man-eater, but he is
what we want"
Out of Americas Andalusia
There is little of stoidity in Huerta's man
ner His features, which are good and which
show strength and force of character, light
up with good humor. He IL not without
genial qualities, and he used to like to come
and go In the restaurants and parks of
Mexico City. stopping to chat pleasantly
with friends and acquaintances, perhaps in
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