The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-26
he is removed from the charge Of be-
IN

he IL removed from the charge OF De-
ing political Adventures.
Political offices are acid tests OF
mems characters. Carranza has been
tried by his country in various ofhces
His apprenticeship was served In mu-
nicipal and State government. Now
he is the first chief of Mexico. Fire
Is the last test of a man.
Latin-Americans are tenpermental
volcanoes. Carran3a suggests gla-
cier, in his advance. Slowly and ir-
resistibiy, no has moved upwards Per-
haps by reason OF the ideas he repre-
sents and the strength of his convic-
tons, for even his enemies have been
impressed by his character Opponents
like Alvarado. Gonzalez and Brigon
have been won to his support by his
moderate policy and constructive
aims. Carranza Yields the big idea in
preference to the big stick.
In the days OF the Diaz regime he
was Senator and as recently az Ma
dero's ill-starred reign. he was Gov
ernor OF Coahuila-
Politically. he has always been an
independent permeated with socialistic
ideas American Republicans and
Democrats may not agree with some
OF his political theories, and think they
abe chidnerical and utopian, but you
can always feel sure he Is disinterested
and has the unity and the prosperity
Of Mexico at heart. The present Mex
can chaos does not obscure hts vision
of a distant ideal Mexico.
Carranza has the first requisite of a
natural leader: faith. He believes in
his country and its future.
The first chief of Mexico Is an IDEAL
list. and some of his speeches have a
Grow, oh
breathe the same passion for Justice.
We are not saying he Is a Latin Amer
lean Cromwell, only that he has re-
semblance to him in speech and task.
Cromwell had enemies and he slew
some OF them Carranza has them in
prison and he spares them. His Glenn
ency angers his friends and encour-
ages his enemies.
Kipling has some jungling lines in
which he depicts st. Peter asking a
trembling petitioner at the celestial
gates:
by the soul in your body. what
have you done?"
What has Carranza done7
His last act was the abolition of
bull fig hting. and his first. the resto-
ration OF land to the Indians
His practical common sense told him
liberty was a vain dream in Mexico If
rested on a suhstratum of igno- ance
so he opened schools and met the OPP
position Of the clerical party. Mexico
abounds in monopolies A few natives
monopolize the land, foreigners the
minerals and the oil. and the church.
education. He is trying to break the
monopoly ir schools He Is revaluat-
ing tho land. 1t is only five years
since Lloyd George, against fierce OPP
position, started to revalue the lands
of England General Carranza is
finding 1t no easy task. to revalue the
land in Mexico.
The free municipality or the town
ship system he is seeking to establish.
A bigger task than appears on the
surface. for ii viii shift the political
emphasis. in Mexico from personalities
to parties and principles. and educate
the people in cooperation.
In military affairs he is making the
troops federal force. when State
troops are eliminated, the temptation
of the State Governors to use them for
their own political ambitions will be
removed.
Mexico is paying the price OF despo-
tisrn; bad government. devastation,
high taxes and general impoverish-
nent, has followed the years when
the country WIS drained of It's wealth,
and its riches given to foreigners.
The lack of money and credit Is a
legacy Carranza received from the old
regime and IT will take time to adjust
the finances Of Mexico.
AS a country. II is as large as Great
Britain. France. Germany and Austria
Hungary combined Sparsely popu-
lated, but possessing great resources,
and it's financial salvation should come
from within its own borders.
CarranZa has banked the fires Of
revolution and he Ia trying TO make
Mexico support the Mexicans