Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-10

it shall do so regarding a foreign
country.
Mexico has been accused of emulate
ing the irreligion of Soviet Russia. We
do not recognize Russia mot on ac-.
count. of her atheism, but because
she refuses to honor her debts and in
ternationa1 obligations and Is active lin
her avowed purpose of undermining
other governments.
Consul General Elias AYERS that
Mexico Is not in antagonism to reli-
gion, but that "the youth of Mexico
are to be protected in their tender age
from being dedicated to. either the pro-
fession of a priest or q nun. In other
words, their liberty is preserved to
make their own choice when they
come to years of discretion. !"
Yet. the prescription against reli-
gious teaching seems TO apply mainly
to priests and missionaries of foreign
birth, while It is professed that there
is no interference with native priests.
In defense of President Gales re-
cent DEGREES enforcing the constitu-
ton, the consul general claims that
the President has not issued any de-
cree beyond what was already pro-
vided for in the constitution of 1857
and renewed In that or 1917, but he
has added penalties for violation
thereof. He Ii simply putting teeth"
into old. principles Of the republic
which had been fiouted by the aristoc-
racy, the hacendados, who, besides the
hierarchy, held possession OF most
Of the desirable land and crushed the
poems into slavery.
&&*
The pending political fight over the
successorship to the presidency after
the expiration Of Gales term, hinges
more directly upon the church issue,
Involving not merely the right to
teach religion but more essentially the
right to hold the. oldtime vast estates
Of church and aristocracy than it
does upon any other issue. Within
| the last week Mexico City has been
placarded with great posters proclaim
ing the candidacy Of former President
iObregon, in spite OF the constitutional
provision forbidding reelection. Obre.
gon explains away that prohibition as
meaning that one cannot succeed him
selffi1 Office, but since there has been
another in the Office since his term.
he has taken a cup OF coffee" and
may run again.
| Il ~
The masses of people throughout
Mexico are of the Catholic faith, vet
they are now divided In their
adherence politically, between sup
port Of the democracy which stands
| Tor the middle classes and the peon
on the one hand, and the hierarchy
OF the church, which Is reactionafy
and, It is alleged, seeks to protect
the church and the haceRdados as
to their threatened or actually con-
| fiscated lands.
One Of the leaders, discussing the
Tailey proposal that the United
States should ostracize the Mexican
republic because OF its action against
the church, compares It grotesquely
\ to an imaginary proposal that if
President Gales disapproves Of the
NOlstead law In the United States
he should cut on diplomatic relations
with Washington
| IN the meanwhile, a decree issued
last Saturday said all ministers or
any creed must be Mexican BY BIRTH
tn0 monks 81. nuns are permitted,
lon the ground that the government
win not recognize any vow which
prevents man on woman from
being b worker producer by labor.
!, Violation Of this last provision Will
be penalized by six years IN prison.
The press is forbidden to publish
anything criticizing the government:
under severe prison penalties. All
ecclesiastical buildings churches
and ether real estate are declared
| the property of the government, To
1 be disposed 81 Or used ais the ofl1cials
| may decid revival of the con-
| tiseafion under Juafez and Diaz.
fcopyriEht 1925: IT. F@ez V. Coliins.l