New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-04
LITERARY CRITICISM
AND BOOK NEWS
Mexico Reign of Terror: Anarchy and Watch
full Waiting -Narratives of the Dutch
Navigators- Reviews

we substitute the single grim old
Anglo-SaxOn Hell
For hell il is, both physical and
moral. II this book be true; and that
Q is only too true there is abundant
reason for apprehending. Some errors
there doubtless are. perhaps some eN-
aggcrations. But IL would not be IN
human nature nor IN human power to
sustain exaggeration al such a pitch
throughout the entire volume. The
narrative is too appalling 10 be ilc-
titious. Because Of It's unimaginable
frichtfulness 10 must be true. There
is. moreover. convincing mass Of
cumulative confirmation. both inside
and outside the book. For many Of
the worst things 10 contains il gives
authority, by chapter and verse; while
others have equal confirmation from
cxtrane0us sources. For the book as
"a whole 20 be true is perfectly accor-
dant with the known and indisputable
truth of parts OF II.
There is also the personality Of the
writer He does not write in a spirit
Of partially for the Roman Catholic
Church. for he is himself a Protestant.
He does not write "a Republican
adversary of President Wilson, for he
is n Democratic admirer and supporter
OF HIM, almost 20 the degree of full
some adulation. In all other features
Of Mr. Wilson's policy, domestic and
foreign, he brackets him with Wash
ington and jefferson, che only two
Presidents worthy Of comparison with
him. But his Mexican policy has been
an actual monument Of Ignorance and
infamy- "the mystery Of mysteries
Three others are bracketed together:
Carranza, Zapata and Villa; three OF
a kind. Why not? If there Is any
injustice in il TO any Of the three, i
is not TO Carranza. Indeed, if half
the story be true, Villa or Zapata may
resent being classed in the same cate
CORY with the creature whom Mr.. Will
son has insisted upon recognizing as
the Constitutionalist Chief of Hell
we beg pardonl of Benighted Mexico.
For what has Mexico been brought TO-,
under Carranzist domination? Pecu-
niarily? When Diaz fell the national
debt was 1920, 100000, and the peso
was worth half a dollar-the face
value. Now the debt is $1,000 $50 900,
while as for the peso-all New YORK
has seen it hawked along Broadway IN
bales, q hundred pesos for five cents;
and few takers. And morally? zone
nun to four soldiers; upon the SIG,
nifcance Of which, for humanitys ana
for decency's sake, let fall a veil.
But the worst damnation of II all, 70
Americans. is found in this country's
deliberate and persistent responsibility
for it.. That is the cruX, the gravamen.
Of the whole revolving exposition
Listen:
The atrocities in Belgium are but
the weird vagaries OF fevered mag
nation compared with the infamies
perpetrated by the brigand Car
rama, the bandit Villa and that
prince Of hooters and highwaymen,
Zapata. The American peo-
ple have been kept in absolute ig-
norance of the conditions.
Even the deliberations of the Amer
lean colony i'm the City of Mexico
are buried in the archives of the
State Department, for il was best,
as Secretary Of State Bryan put 1t
early in the revolution. that the
public should not know
Perhaps il was best. 1t might have
NAMED some pious souls 10 realize that
their idealistic and altruistic President
most hideor mes Of the ages, put
was actuau wing aid and comfort,
in the name Of this Republic. TO an
order Of things under which. at that very
time. converts and schools were being
sacked and the Sisters Of Charity were
being apportioned to the bestial brig
ands. zone nun to four soldiers Per
hens we con claim that the American
nation as q whole is not TO be blamed.
II was not sending Hales and Linds as
personal representatives into that hell
stricken country. II was kept IN lg-
norance. As Dir. Wilson's fayorite Sec
rotary of State declared. IL was best
that the public should not know. But
in what plight stand those who dld
know and who, knowing, consented!
And not merely consented. and not
merely gave aid and comfort but act