TURMOIL IN MEXICO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18630, 11 February 1924, Page 6

TURMOIL IN MEXICO.

Stories of revolution in Mexico have become accepted as commonplaces. The gun > and the dagger seem to have been adopted permanently as the chief arguments in political disputes. Following on 1920, when Carranza fell, to give place to Obregon in the Presidency, there was a time of tranquillity which encouraged outsiders to hope that the old order of electoral canvassing with machine guns had passed away. Now, there being another presidential election duo this year, the same story of guerrilla fighting, of assassinations—sometimes disguised as executions—and of intrigue is being told again. The roles sustained by Generals Obregon, Calles, and De la Huerta are complicated, and are inter-related. These three were at the head of the movement which in 1920 brought the downfall of Carranza. Since then, up to a recent date, they worked together in amity. Now Calles and De la Huerta are rival candidates for the Presidency, with Obregon supporting the firstnamed. Troops are in the field, blood has been spilt and floods ol propaganda are being poured forth. None of this is novel. A new note is being heard, all the same. In past times, according to the stories of all beholders, a revolution could be staged in Mexico with'very little disturbance to the ordinary citizen. Consequently their occurrence was accepted with complete indifference. Now sections of the general public are beginning to protest against these efforts to settle by force ol arms questions which should be decided peaceably by the ballot-box. Newspaper after newspaper, in different States, has protested energetically. There has arisen a tendency to balance the benefits oi stable government even if it be a poor government, against the disruptive effects of constant changes by violence. The Mexicans complain that they are misunderstood and their motives misconstrued, even by their nearest neighbours in the United States. It has to be conceded therefore that to evaluate this new note in public life is not easy. Still, it can be concluded that this stirring of public opinion has its significance as the preliminary to more orthodox political thought and method. Encouraged and organised, it may lead to the establishment of government by democratic forms instead of by successive dictators borne to power by revolutionary impulse.