MEXICO AS IT IS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 88, 2 June 1911, Page 7

MEXICO AS IT IS.

through Tin? revolution. F.XrEK.IWN'CKS 01'' A KKW ZEALANDER. Mi. David Russell, an Aucki.im.kr., who (ms relumed aitc; an absence oi twoi. tv live ears spent mostly In M 3xi co, conies direct ffom the sent .): ilie involution. lie wan Die owner of a large much in Hint iro.idled Ulaic, and is hilly conversant wild Me:;icon affairs. “Since I.ho lime of the previous revolution, twenty-live years ago,” Air. Hassell said, “the country has gone ahead at a tremendous rate, and in u ...did way the progress lasted up to imi! or live years ago. President Dim;, apart from lining one of Die greatest of genera Is, in a military sense, that Mexico I las over produced, hr.s shown himself at t ie same time io be the p issescor of Iromeiidaus executive abilities. Ha took hold of the Government when it was piaeiieally bankrupt, and governed a starving mob of snujecls and a ruined cor.ntiy. With Ids brain, energy, and executive pvbilIty lie made a nation out of unpiomining mn ter in 1. Me threw the gates of the State wide open to foreign capital, and gave it every facility that a new country can give to capital. THE SEED OF DISQORD.

“Of course, like all great man, Ire had Ins enemies. Many people benolitoil in the early days of Dio Diaz Administration by selling their haciendas, thcii industries and the materials to make industries, to the foreign capitalists. These people, then unaccustomed to luxury, hurried with their newly acquired wealth to Europe and lived most lavishly’ till they came to the end of their resources. Then their minds reverted to Mexico, where they once had landed properties, and back they wont without land or money to form a certain class of agitation against the foreigner. They saw that Die loreignor had prospered during their absence by working the land as the Mexicans themselves never knew how to work it. DOWN WITH THE “GRINGOS.” “They imagined that they had in some way been robbed by the foreigner, and in a quiet way started an agitation against foreigners, or, as we call them in Mexico, ‘Gringos.’ “The mistake made by Diaz was the appointing, in the late part of Iris Administration, of Ministers who, w’ith only’ two or three exceptions, were mere figureheads, and who fell into the routine of office but had no executive ability’. Diaz considered them honest, straightforward and capable men, and in his old age, loaned to some extent on them, and refused to believe anything against thorn. In the smaller towns the potty officials appointed by the Ministers gave grave oicsatiafactioi), jiikl their actions cansed great suffering amongst the working classes or peons. These docile people were afraid to rise till they had a leader. THE TWENTY THIEVES. “After showing groat patience ami liaving a number of private conferwith the President, tliov induced Diaz to move in the matter of rclorm. Before this was done a cc’tain section of the Ministers formed themselves into what was called Los Veinto Ciefitiflees, ’ which means Ihe I w-enty Scientists,’ or, to make myself / clearer, ‘the twenty scientific thieves of Mexico, which they proved to be in the last year or two. Those fellows, while Diaz leaned on thorn flunking the administration was gomg on as in;early years, secured all the concessions that foreigners required from the Government and sold them at enormous personal profit. In the transfer of these deals enormous sums of money were received. In oim _ instance a man received eleven million dollars—quite a comfortable little present.” Mr Dus, sell stated that these things woke Diaz up. and lie licit! a conference with well-known public men of Mexico to endeavour to have the petty officials elected by popular vote. MADERO’S MARTYRDOM.

'I lie only van who bad the backbone to stand up to Diaz was Francisco J. Madero, and ho. made an agreement that he should go before the people, and stand against Diaz for the Presidency at an election by the people. Mr Russell says ha believes that Diaz honestly intended to carry out the agreement, but “Los Vointe Cientilicos ' had Madero thrown into gaol on fa Iso charges during the election. Madero eventually’ secured ’ bis freedom, and feeling very bitter against Diaz, he crossed to the United States. After realising his large properties ■ matured ms plans lor rebellion, and when a. writ of extradition had been issued for his arrest lie reuossed the border and headed tin re\< tionaries. He showed las .military’ quality by' sending his plans for an attack on the city of daurez to the Federals, with the result that those v e concentrated there, and lie isolated them l>y' dynamiting all ...u raui uads m Die neighbourhood. The war thou proceeded as has been detailed in the papers, and Mr. Russell estimates the loss on bath sides it 2.100. Tbe revolutionists appeared to have the bettoi of the fighting, ind Mr. Ru ssoll was of opinion (hat tin’s wan duo to a groat, deal of sympathy expressed for their just cause. THE “CAUSE” OF THE “INS UR RECTOS.” Tu reply to a question as to what .as the ••eauae” of the revolui ion arts. Mr. .Rugs;:]] said it was simply .:okin.g for reform in the administration, the retirement of Diaz, the aliaition of the petty officials, more freeI v.n of sped), and i ho light to vote. Thougli Diaz had done well for the country, ho had been very’ many' years i ollicc, and the people w r ero tired of im. Ho was, not elected by the people, .and it was now proposed to have President elected ln : the neople. iadcro hard given his'word that lie mid mil stand for tiio Presidency if Diaz retired within six months, and io had shown how the psonlo could V instructed to exercise their vote in- . .Tligeutly. THE OUTLOOK, "I think that in loss loan throe months,” Mr. Russell continued, ‘Mexico shrink] be. governed on a o '.acel ul basis again, and the peace •I'.onld easily last for ten or fifteen years. The people did not want the war. They are fond of money, and money can be made there in times of peace. Diaz has left the Admini,si ration in such a way that the laws, which are excellent ones, cannot bo overthrown, and with a fair and sensible man as President, and an honest Ministry, Mexico may look forward to a prosperous future.”