Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-09
TIME really uncertain element in
our dealings with Mexico lies ir

TIME really uncertain element in
our dealings with Mexico lies in
the Mexican people and their
attitude towards the United States.
1t is possible to estimate with some
accuracy the course of the bandit,
the soldier, the politician or the land
owner, as is shown by the fact that
our writers and experts on Mexican
matters are pretty well agreed IN
their conclusions on these classes. But
when we consider that vague and i'm
portant body known as the Mexican
people the greatest diversity of opin-
ion seems to prevail.
The most contradictory assertions
are made as to how this Mexican peo-
pie regard the simplest issues. Accord
ing to one authority, any American
interference with the internal affairs
of Mexico will be impossible until the
last Mexican has been killed or dis
armed. According to another, anti
Americanism is partly figment of the
pro-interventionists, and partly a
fame famed by bandits and politi-
cal leaders for their own ends, that
would die out, given a fair chance.
Since this is the most important point
in the whole Mexican muddle, 1t is a
pity that there is not more unanimity
of opinion as to the true state of af-
fairs.
A consideration of a few facts
about the common people of Mexico
helps to clear matters up. There is
no doubt of the presence of violent
anti-Americanism 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 this sentiment is with the
people at large.
- L Il
in a 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. 1t is a
fact apparently prone to be forgotten
on the American side of the line, that
in dealing with Mexico we are dealing
with a great primitive people in the
hands Of a few energetic and domi-
mating men, and that primitive peo-
pies rarely cherish and night for abb
stract principles.
The exact constitution of the Mexi-
can population has never been ascer-
tanned definitely. Between the official
census returns of one decade and the
next wide and incompatible differ
ences have appeared. Different OBJ
servers and students have arrived al
widely differing conclusions. The
main facts. however, are obvious. The
people are ulNlutu llllO llltSS CldSSGo
1t is with regard to the relative num-
bers of these classes that there is dis
pute.
These three classes are the pure
white, the mixed blood or mestizo
and the Indian. Probably only ten oil
twelve per cent of the total popula-
ton is of pure white blood. Some OF
the official estimates put the proper
ton as high as nineteen per cent, but
this is probably an overestimate, aris-
ing, of course, from pride in the pos
session of an unmixed ancestry, and
tendency TO deny any admixture ot
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 a type
closely approximating that of the pure
white, according to the proportions oi
the different stocks in their ancestry
Most of the mestizos. however, have
the Indian characteristics strongly
predominating over the Spanish. II
is this fact that has led some amons
even the most careful observers tc
state that the Indians make up sew