The Latest Mexican Murder.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 29, 1913:
    Civilization performs its work slowly in Mexico. The Spanish conquerors were only a little less cruel than the races they never quite conquered but managed to hold in a state of partial subjection. The founders of the republic, after the murder of Iturbide, were not at all less bloodthirsty than the Spaniards they ousted. For thirty years, however, after a long period of turmoil, Mexico enjoyed peace and its benefits under the firm rule of Porfirio Diaz. Murder for revenge became rare; public officers were not permitted to use their power to punish their personal enemies. Industries grew and thrived, foreign capital was freely invested in Mexican enterprises. Public schools were established and a middle class, interested in the arts of peace, was developed in the centres of population. It is true that the indolent peon remained unchanged, and the wealthy landowners, the hacendados, because of the blindness of the Government in keeping their lands untaxed, lived on in their old baronial way, doing nothing to upbuild the country. The courts were inefficient and corrupt, and as commerce and industry thrived well-founded suspicion of dishonesty in high places was general.
    A change was inevitable, but it was brought about in the worst possible way. An incompetent visionary whom circumstances made the leader of a revolt endeavored to reform the Government, but succeeded only in reawakening the spirit of revolution which had slumbered under the effective rule of Diaz and arousing the old murderous instinct. The killing of Hernandez by the drunken and drug-crazy temporary Governor of the Federal District, Zepeda, is one of a series of incidents in recent Mexican history which have shocked the whole world. It is no worse than a hundred crimes the outlaw Zapata and his men have been committing. But from every point of view it is atrocious. It will inevitably strengthen the doubts that have existed from the first of the stability and good intentions of the Provisional Government, which, however, has acted promptly in arresting the assassin and depriving him of his official power.
    It is no news that the condition of public affairs in Mexico is uncertain, that peril threatens on every hand, and the outcome is dubious. But business is better protected than it has been since November, 1910; Americans resident in Mexico feel that their lives and property are safer, many small rebellions have been suppressed, and the new uprisings in the North have not become formidable. In the circumstances there is nothing for the Government at Washington to do but be watchful and withhold its recognition of the Huerta Government until it seems to be deserved. The people of this country have abundant troubles of their own, and they will do well neither to condemn all Mexico for the crime of Zepeda and similar crimes, nor to expect of a nation whose history is full of bloodshed a sudden cessation of political murders. We must all keep our eyes open and hope for the best.