The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1917-19??, 1917-08-30

"The root of the troubles in Mexico
may be found in the implications from
the fact that cartridges are currency
there. That signifies that the strong
hand takes what it wants, and that
there is no credit between producer
and consumer, between man and man
There is neither law nor courts. and
there can be no contracts, or wages
or profits. Where life is like that
there is little distinction regarding
conditions of livelihood between the
human animal and other animals.
Nature provides all other animals
with clothing, and enables them to do
with raw food and natural shelter. In
all these respects the capacity of the
human animal is deficient. He is slave
to the soil. He must raise his own
food, store and cook it, work for
clothes and shelter. 1t is blessing
in disguise The result is that the
human animal is better nourished than
other animals, although he requires
protection through long early years OF
incapacity. and is dependent upon re-
lations with his fellows in manner
unknown to animals. The root of
Mexico's troubles lies in the fact that
it lacks these securities within itself,
and in it's relation with other peoples.
Mexico has no politics worthy the
name. 1t has no government, not even
feudalism. It's people want security
in living, so that they may have peace
and plenty, however secured. They
will get what they want, as California
did. The discovery of gold in Cali
fornia justified and induced invest
ments dwarfing the value of the pre-
cious metal without the discovery
of gold California could not have been
sustained through the period necessary
for the DEVELOPMENT of its chief per-
manent industry agriculture, ana
could not have been supplied with the
railways which brought in into re-
Iations with the rest of the continent.
Mexico possesses natural resources in
its known oil fields and its undeVel-
oped minerals. Its agriculture can
nroduce any amount of anything that
will grow anywhere. Hardly begin
ming has been made in the develop
ment of natural wealth whose total
is beyond calculation.
At Tampico there is security, peace
and plenty, without suspicion ot pol
itics. or even an attempt at settllhe
land or political problems. Elsewhere
there has been continuous fighting pc
tween local factions, leading families,
nolitical parties, ins and outs, seeking
control of the nation through cohtrol
of its capital. At Tampico there Is no
disnute with any of these contendefs.
The owners paid for what they o"h'
and they pay all bills, including taxes
NV whomever presented in turn. Ihere
are no weapons allowed there, for they
would be fought for. The oil is value
less to the fighters, for they cannot
transport it anywhere, and no one VIII
take goods delivered by robbers lhe
result is that even when Americans
,,ro ordered out of Mexico in the re-
cent disturbance Tampico was uhols-
turbed. its industries were carried on
NV natives who remained loyal to thelr
employers in their absence. Inc en-
istence of the oil deposits 1ustllies 'he
building of railways and pipe lines the
maintenance of steamship commune
cations and the introduction OF civil
,1ation The quantity of the oil chal-
longes the imagination. In most cases
elsewhere the oil is pumped from uh-
derground lakes. although eushnne
wells are not unknown
The Mexican people, are chlloilAe'
undeveloped, loyal to those whom 'hes
trust, and of good, natural apllies' -
;s an idea as novel as bold Mexico
hos thrown ND many leaders, some Oh
,uhon, must be representative. But
on the long list between Diaz anu N"i'
-,,,oh of them is recognizable as pos
aossipg the loyalty patient industry
mick teachableness" when WIN 9"
ahle The United States to 90 LOT MeA-
~ What II has done for Cuba? Inc
Nrexicans are longing for hght' en-
,,ah+roant education 1t Will De ao-
r,;ttad that they need them all ou'
II is hard to dismiss doubt that 'hes
noroaive their need, or possess 'n'
oonacity to absorb civilization al ie"'
IN the first generation. the MeAioa. 20
noonle are not natural race W.
.,tors and aboriginal Indians never
mingled. Their blood STAINS ~,
kept pure and the filter surviVeu, -, ps
49, 1otins and the Aztecs interpreo
~ rosult is a mongrel in whici
M v,cas Of the parents are more az
parent than the virtues. II IS I eaS't !,
,toninate our Indians than Y
o,,,,,ize them. although they were CIV
tho blessings of our civilization ~
noss,hle TO exterminate the NV
millions OF Mexicans haiioieeus' ,to,.