THE POSITION IN MEXICO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 262, 15 March 1911, Page 5

THE POSITION IN MEXICO.

THE INSURRECTION SPREADING. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Mexico, March 13. The condition of affairs in Northern Mexico is approaching a panic. The insurrection is spreading, and several towns are besieged. There is lawlessness in lower California, and the extermination policy of President Diaz has , resulted in a formidable rising in Muslos and Coahuira. MARTIAL LAW PROCLAIMED. New York, March 13. Martial law has been proclaimed at Galveston (a port in Texas), owing to riots between the Mexican and negro sections. Developments are expected, showing a Japanese factor in the affair. ASSURANCES OF AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP. Received 15, 1.10 a.m. New York, March 14. The Mexican Minister of Finance is here, also the Ambassador. They announce the reception of assurances from Washington of the sincere co-operation of the American and Mexican administrations. Mr. Dickinson, United States Secretary for War, authorises the announcement that the Government does not contemplate intervention at any time; neither will more troops be mobilised. The Ambassador says he has received President Taft's positive assurances of friendship for Mexico, and that American warships will call at Mexican ports merely for coaling purposes. AFTER DIAZ-WHAT ? SOME MEXICAN POSSIBILITIES. The Presidency of Mexico, said the correspondent of The Times in a recent dispatch, will devolve on Don Ramon Corral, the Vice-President, if anything should happen to Don Porfirio within the next six years. This gentleman is not a soldier, he does not enjoy the almost legendary reputation of his chief; but he is an administrator, gifted with exceptional strength of will, and, if one may judge from rather brief acquaintance, he would not be colorless as a President. Will he have to pit himself against another man? As for those who possibly could captivate the people we have Madero and Reyes. It will be admitted that the Mexicans are capable of being carried off their feet by some theatrical Boulanger, and Senor Corral is by no means theatrical. There was a moment when Bernardo Reyes, picturesque, beloved of the army, beloved as the Governor of Nuevo Leon, sucbessful as the Minister of War, might perhaps have had the highest prize, though it is very doubtful if he wanted it. Anyone who has the army has the country, but General Reyes, if he should return from France, would probably discover that his moment has gone by, and, unless his character is deceiving, he would not dream of any purely selfish civil war. Madero likewise is abroad. The Government has caused proceedings to be taken against him for alleged conspiracy against the State. Madero, it will be remembered, was the opposition Presidential candidate, and at the time of the election the authorities thought it necessary to imprison him. He is a member of a wealthy and respectable family in Northern Mexico. It is not easy to compute the number of adherents to his cause; the 2 per cent, of votes which he is said to have obtained tells us nothing, for the bread and butter question caused many to conceal their politics. Most undoubtedly he is courageous; so are those who up and down the country publish little newspapers in his support, and when one sheet has been suppressed start another one. POPULAR' FEELING. You will learn, in opposition circles, that the country is riddled with discontent, that after Diaz there will come the years of revolution. Discontent there is, and one great peril is the muzzling of the press; another peril—and a double one —lies in the absolute position of authorities. A village is administered by its alcolde, who, as long as he does not displease the persons over him, can practically please himself; a higher functionary is the jefe polotico, who rules the canton, and is equally despotic; above him is the Governor of the State, whose powers are extremely wide. There is a Congress, to be sure, for every State, but its deliberations do not usually give the Governor as much anxiety as the remarks of shareholders give to the chairman of a company whose dividends are at the rate of 100 per cent. While the President of the United States of Mexico is satisfied the Governor can go his way. He is practically appointed by the President, and this is where the Constitution it a little strained, for it is written that tie Governor shall be elected by the people. It would be an impossibility, at present, for a single State to choose a Governor. The patriarchal sway of General Diaz supervises all such matters, lie. is like a sun which sends a ray to every State, lie knows his people supremely well, and from the fact that they possess no adequate experience in governance it seems to follow that his system is the best. Before they can be trusted to select their Governor they must have had some sort of voice in choosing their alcolde and their jefe politico. Then Mexico would be Republican.