THE KING’S BUSINESS
1087
COWARDS AND FOOLS, FALL IN Badger Clark, on Conditions in Mexico, in “ The Survey” for June 24
A BOUT seven years ago we sat with our heels on the porch railing o f the ranch house and looked down across many square miles o f sizzling desert to the purple moun tains in Mexico. I was a cowpuncher and he was the confidential employee o f a very rich man whose operations in cattle and copper thereabouts we puny dickerers in red steers and sun-blistered mining claims regarded with awe. “W e own a good deal o f that down there,” said my companion, waving his cig arette toward the south, “ but we’ve got to have it under a government that will stand hitched:” “We,” said I. “Who’s we?” “ Oh, I mean the System, the men that run this country.” “Well, that would be up to the people,” said I, “and I don’t reckon the American people want to take over any more colored orphan asylums until they get rid o f the Philippines.” “ The people don’t run this country, son,” replied my friend, in the tone o f one addressing a little child. “ They don’t now, and perhaps they never did. The System runs this country and the System wants Mexico. Uncle Porfirio is getting old, and any kind o f greaser government is so uncer tain that our dividends ain’t safe from one year tq another, anyway. With the money we’ve got invested down there, we’ve sim ply got to have a stable government to do business under. One o f these days we’ll take Mexico, or at least Sonora and Chi huahua.” “ United States army, o f course,” he said, still with patronizihg gentleness. “ I always supposed the United States army worked for the United States gov ernment,” said I, my perfectly good Ameri can blood beginning to simmer a little. “ Oh, they do, they do,” he smiled, “but it’s qll as simple as four aces, just the same. Uncle Porfirio is getting shaky and
his feet áre loose in the stirrups. Mexico is due for a revolution in-a year or two, even if he doesn’t die. I f it doesn’t start on time, it can be started. “Well,” said I, “that just means another Mexican government.” “Wait,” he answered. “ That’s just rev olution number one. There can be others. Give any enterprising peladi a dozen rifles and five thousand rounds and he’ll call himself a general and start out to save his country against all comers. It’s a heap easier than working at Mexican wages.” “Well?” said I. “Why, can’t you see?” said this loyal retainer o f the System. “Mexico is full o f American property and American citi zens. In the general rookus that will be stirred up American properties will be looted. The owners in this country 'will start a holler. Then American citizens will be plugged and perhaps some American women will get carried off, and then the holler will, be a yell. You know what a sentimental, hysterical outfit the American people are. You ‘remember the Maine,’ don’t you? Well, Congress will have to come through. •The President will have to come thrqugh. The army will waltz across the line. Mexicans fight better than they work, and they don’t love us two-bits’ worth, so it’s likely to be ‘hell a mile high for ¿ while.’ It will cost the government so much to get in that they Won’t be in any hurry to get out again. When the dead are finally planted and the dust blows away a good part o f Mexico Will be under Amer ican control for good and our dividends will be safe. Sabe?” ' The comments I made on this proposed business enterprise do not matter. The day was warm and so was I, and my words would not read well. “ Pardner,” said the henchman o f Plutus, when I was out o f breath, “religion is a nice thing for women and children, but the
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker