Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-19

TINE village Indian OF Mexico has
resisted the twentieth century
as he resisted the SpaniardS. the
i church, the induStrialism of
Diaz. He has taken only such
aspects of the machine as do no vio-
lence to his basic pattern. The same
cannot be said for urban areas. Cities
are made Of softer stuff. Both the
physical structure Of Mexican cities and
the people who live therein have been
profoundly Influenced, first by Spain,
then by France, now by the United
States. In such town as Caxaca or
sleepy little Acapulco on the Pacific the
influence is at minimum; in Mexico
City it attains the maximum.
1t was in the capital that Aztec civili-
zation received its most deadly stab, the
Indian pattern being all but erased. Its
inhabitants were butchered, its leaders
hunted down and tortured, its gods OBJ
liberated, its temples and public build
ings RACED AS a result it became a
Spanish town, with colonial architecture
throughout. The same red lava brick
was used man. q new foundation was
compounded of carr ed stone idols, but
the whole aspect, physical and spiritual,
of the city changed. Here the viceroyS
and the archbishops took up their head
quarters; here the hacendados and the
silver mine grandeeS built their noble
palaces; here the treasure trains-long
files of loaded mules. guarded with SOL
diers-calne swinging IN from the
mines and from the distant Philippines
via galleon to Acapulco: here, as late as
the l840s Mime. Calderon found q gay
Creole society. the ladies covered with
diamonds, and, like so many Amy
Lowells, smoking long. black cigars; and
here the little boys OF the military
school, some of ther4 not Is, died de-
Tending the Castle Of Chapultepec
again,t the invasion Of Gen. Scott.
An, Their invading army from the
United States was in Mexico. during my
last visit. 1t came on horseback, but
carried polo sticks in place of sabers.
1t was repulsed by the Mexican army
team in three straight games. and when
the engagement was over the defeated
American officers made a gracious ges-
ture. They hung wreath Of flowers on
the monument where the little cadets
lie buried.
As late as 1880 we find the United
States ministers to Mexico letting the
cat out of the bag with these words:
Certain gentlemen interested In the
administration of President Hayes have
conceived the idea that in view of the
disturbance in the Southern States it
would divert attention from pending
issues and greatly consolidate the new
administration II q war could be brought
on with Mexico and another slice of
territory added to the Union" First
and last, we have collected fabulous
slices of territory hitherto Mexican. We
took Texas by force Of arms in 1S47.
California and New Mexico we bought
more or less at the point Of the gun
for $4,000, 900 In 1913. This sum today
would not buy minor movie" COM
pany in one suburb of one California
city. In the Gadsden purchase in 1853
we lifted another 10000 square miles of
border territory, while the vast northern
area west Of the Mississippi fell to us
via international transfer involving
France and England.
400 Years Well Filled.
Mexico City has seen revolution.
earthquake, bombar6ment; respondent
viceroy, emperor, dictator president and
q deal of history in 400 years. But the
real spirit Of Mexico it has seldom seen.
It Is a hybrid, as shifting as the salt
lake bed upon which It stands. 1t has
denied its own inheritance and held