Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-01
The Mexican People
BY Frederic ]. Haskin

Washington, d. c., June 2S.-The
really uncertain element in our deal
ings with Mexico lies in the Mexican
people and their attitude towards the
United States. 1t Is possible to esti-
mate with some accuracy the course
Of the bandit the soldier, the politi-
clan or the landowner, as Is shown
by the fact that our writer's and eX-
perts on Mexican matters are pretty
we'll agreed in their conclusions on
these classes. But when we consider
that vague and important body known
as the Mexican people the greatest
diversity of opinion seems to prevail.
The most contradictory assertions
are made as to how this Mexican peo-
pie regards the simplest issues. Ac-
cording to one authority, any Ameri-
can interference with the internal az
fairs of Mexico will be impossible un-
til the last Mexican has been killed or
According to another, apti-
is partly a Pigment of the
pro-interventionists and partly a flame
famed by bandits and political lead
ers for their own ends, that would die
out, given fair chance. Since this
is the most important point in the
whole Mexican muddle, 1t is pity
that there Is not more unanimity Of
opinion as to the true state OF affairs.
A consideration of few facts about
the common people of Mexico helps to
clear matters up There is no doubt
of the presence of violent anti
below the border just
now; unfortunately there have been
only too many proofs of it of late.
There is some doubt, however. as to
how deeply rooted this sentiment is
with the people at large.
II the Mexican people have united
in hot and holy hatred of the Unit.
ed States, it is the first time that they
have united on any abstract principle
with any degree of warmth. It is a
fact apparently prone to be forgotten,
on the American side Of the line, that
in dealing with Mexico We are deal
ing with a great primitive people in
the hands of a few energetic and dom.
mating men, and that primitive peo-
Piles rarely cherish and fight for alb
stract principles.
The exact constitution of the Mexi-
can population has never been ascer-
tanned definitely. Between the oficial
census returns of one decade and the
next wide and incompa tible differences
have appeared. Different observers
and students have arrived at widely
differing conclusions. The main facts,
however. are obvious. The people are
divided into three classes. It is with
regard to the relative numbers Of
these classes that there Is dispute.
These three classes are the pure
white. the mixed blood or mestizo, and
the Indian. Probably only ten or
twelve per cent Of the total population
is Of pure white blood. Some of the
ohicial estimates put the proportion as
high as nineteen per cent. but this Is
probably an overestimate, arising OF
course from pride in the possession OF
an unmixed ancestry, and a tendency
to deny any admixture Of Indian stock.
The second class is that Of the mes
tizos or mixed bloOds. These people
shade off into the Indian on the one
hand and rise on the other to type
closely approximating that of the pure
white. according to the proportions of
the different stocks in their ancestry.
Most of the mestizos.. however. have
the Indian characteristics strongly pre-
dominating over the Spanish. 1t Is
this fact that has led some among
even the most careful observers to
state that the Indians make up IS to
80 per cent of the Mexican population.
As a matter Of fact about 40 per cent
of the population Is of mixed blood
and this class is continually increas-
ing In fact. the ultimate. Mexican
type which will be evolved after the
various elements have finally adjust-
ed their relations to each other. &C
cording to the ethnologists, must be
an individual OF mixed blood with In
dian stock predominating. - 49,
The remaining division of the peo-
pie includes the pure Indians. Placed
by some authorities as high in num-
bers as thirteen million out Of a total
of sixteen millions. they constitute at
least from 40 per cent to half of the
people Among themselves they in
clude great diversity of types and
tribes. One hundred and eighty-two