The Lord High Admiral
THE LORD HIGH ADMIRAL MEXICO'S latest revolution has ended in a pretty definite fiasco. Having been largely a case of "internal revolutionary dissension," with an effort to corral the Presidency...
...The custodian may be caught napping...
...Most important of all, however, is the circumstance that the pricelessness of recognition by the United States has been fully demonstrated...
...One is thus face to face with the status of ecclesiastical ownership in Mexico—an ownership which has been unsettled ever since the revolutionary movement began...
...Such persons have been exceedingly rare south of the Rio Grande, with the result that Washington was perforce fluctuating between inability to defend the rights of its nationals and interventionism...
...From the Catholic point of view, Archbishop Ruiz's statement differs hardly at all from the declaration given to The Commonweal by Bishop Diaz more than a year ago...
...And even the unwilling may be forced to see that such salvaging and reconstruction of Mexico as events make possible must be traced to the silent but relentless authority of a government which believes in facts and law...
...For the farce which consisted in pretending that the "revolution" in Mexico was a movement for democracy will laugh itself out of existence...
...If there exists in any corporate community a responsible person, he can be held responsible...
...The plan is shrewd, far-reaching, human...
...A recent despatch describes him as amiably looking forward to a "conference" with ecclesiastical authorities...
...Pull hard enough and the critter may be brought round...
...But for some curious reason Senor Gil appears to be greatly pleased with the pronouncement...
...Though Mr...
...Yet it must be borne in mind that, ultimately, the intent of this policy is to force the government of Mexico into a role very like that of the Lord High Admiral in the play...
...One may be pardoned for lapsing into a vision at this point—there is a stage in the background, and an actor to the fore...
...Portes Gil, a civilian with no power of his own, has been maneuvered into the office of chief executive...
...In one important respect, however, the Escobar flurry constituted a test...
...But while the fight to the north was in progress, the real population of Mexico (which resides, as has often been pointed out, in the central states) abetted the fight against the government...
...Lest we be too hopeful, however, it may be admitted that the great tests yet to come are fully equal to those surmounted during the past troubled months...
...It can be settled only when they are...
...The reasons advanced in support of this policy are obvious...
...Having been largely a case of "internal revolutionary dissension," with an effort to corral the Presidency concealed behind a military smoke screen, it was not a movement which the Mexican people or the conscience of the world could support...
...Three problems are immediately apparent...
...Morrow had come out definitely for a strong central government in Mexico, at any cost...
...Perhaps it is better so...
...And his name is Morrow...
...The United States will settle a few crucial problems for a neighboring nation according to its own code...
...The forces of Escobar got no assistance from those who used the battle cry of "Christ the King...
...The regulation of finance is not an abstract venture, but a very practical matter which cannot be disposed of without respecting the rights of individual citizens...
...That "the Church and its ministers are ready to cooperate to the fullest extent for the betterment of the Mexican people" means, primarily, that Catholic leaders are willing to discuss a modus vivendi with the government...
...To date the results are not all that might have been expected, but they are substantial...
...58 THE COMMONWEAL May 22, 1929 First, Calles is proceeding not toward Jalisco but "into retirement," and the federal army as a whole seems destined temporarily for a campaign of dolce far niente...
...Finally, one wonders if the military power has actually been centralized, or whether the calm now existing is only a momentary lull...
...Doubtless the most important of these is the still unsettled religious controversy...
...Of course the rope may break...
...The first was infinitely precarious, the second infinitely costly...
...Oddly enough, however, no very vigorous attempt to put it down is being made...
...The record in this case is sombrely instructive...
...He is the manager, producer and prompter all in one...
...We have every reason to hope for its success, so that the martyrdom of millions may cease and the rights of conscience be restored to a people...
...Secondly, the papers have given us a most remarkable exchange of remarks between Archbishop Leopoldo Ruiz y Flores, spokesman for the Mexican hierarchy, and the President, Portes Gil...
...The Catholic problem in Mexico is intimately bound up with these three...
...This nation itself has not spoken, has not even been permitted to speak...
...but the most important personage in the show is hardly evident anywhere...
...Instead, one is offered some highly significant news...
...One by one powerful military or political rivals have been entered in the column of the missing...
...An army battling for religious liberty and civic reform grew and grew...
...And there are other imponderables...
...Morrow has by no means tucked the government of Mexico into his pocket, he has now got something like a hitch on its hind leg...
...Gradually such financial substance as Mexico retains has been concentrated into the "national bank," which in turn depends upon its ability to borrow money...
...Senor Calles possessed the stability of strength...
...All of which makes it seem that for some reason or other no determined effort is planned against the "religious rebels...
...Why not build upon that...
...Secondly, it remains to be seen if government in a dictator-ridden land will respect the voice of the people, particularly when that is also a Catholic voice...
Vol. 10 • May 1929 • No. 3
