The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-11-15
Moorhead Department
HOLDS u. s. IS
| RESPONSIBLEFOR
MEXICAN TROUBLE

American interests in Mexico and
American citizens who live there.
boasting of the United States as the
greatest country on earth and despising
the Mexicans openly. are the real caus-
es OF the Mexican revolution which has
been waging for Ave years. charged
Lincoln Steffens. noted American writer
and traveller. here last night.
125 Present.
Mr.. Stenens was the guest of honor
at $50 o'clock banquet, given by the
Moorhead Progress club at the Com
stock hotel. Members OF the Commons
club of Fargo. were invited and In all
there were over 125 Moorhead and Far
60 men and women present to hear Mr..
Steffens Gov.-elect Lynn J. Frazier of
North Dakota, and Cong. Halvor Steen-
erson, of Crookston, were among the
want Their Liberty.
Underneath all bad things in Mex
ico," said Mr.. Steffens, there is a
strong movement of a backward people
to achieve their land and liberty.
When we are asked to intervene, as
we surely will be in a year from the
present time and even in twelve years
to come, let US remember first, to put
our own house in order, and second,
that we are responsible for the disor-
der in their house.
Cause OF Revolution.
"Foreigners in Mexico who have not
a divided loyalty. but who possess only
an undivided love for their own coun-
try and its ideals are the real cause OF
the great revolution that has been go
ing on there for the last five years and
which will continue indefinitely For
eigners in any country, even our own,
get in i'll repute when they show disre-
spect for the ideals Of that country.
The history of every people and nation
is dear to them and when openly at
tackled always engenders dark thoughts.
Americans in Mexico have in every
way shown the utmost disregard for
the Mexican ideals, have openly boast
ed that they despised the Mexican peo-
pie and that they abhorred the revolu-
ton. This has resulted in the Mexicans
hating us. Deep back of that there was
rather well-def1ned feeling of tyranny
brought about by the fact that the gov
ernmsnt was corrupted by Americans
to whom Diaz had granted concessions,
had Joined in the corruption of Mexico
The Mexicans stood for this for a con-
siderable time, when they rebelled.
seeking justice and liberty instead of
kindness and slavery.
Real Democratic Movement.
1T Is genuine democratic move
ment-it is big revolution, as pro-
found and big as the French revolution
and has evolved through the same
stages with the exception of the last
two. They have avoided the guillotine
and Napoleon.
Mexicans Want Liberty.
The American cry in Mexico is for
law and order. The Mexicans' hope is
for liberty and democracy. They are
fighting the same battle against op-
preston that our colonists fought They
do not want law and order any more
than we did in 1776. but they do want
liberty the same as we did. The whole
world is struggling for liberty and
most of the countries now have it. Why
should poor, little Mexico be denied?"
Tells of Murder.
Mr.. Steffens held his audience with
breathless attention as he told the
story of the ten days tragedy before
the rule of Huerta and how Madero was
murdered in cold blood in the rear of
the prison where he had been confined
by Huerta- "Huerta," he said, "repre-
sented the United States and England
and Germany and France and all the
powers and that is why we did not
openly recognize him as the ruler of
Mexico. It was American money that
bribed Villa and made him leave
CarranZa.
1T is not a political war but an eco
nomic revolution, and until Mexican
land and liberty is restored to Mexi-
cans the question will not be settled"