Mexico After the War

Mexico After the War By Hon. Anthony W . Ivins

War is a business divine in itself. God will see to it that war always recurs. Self-sacrifice is a renunciation of life, whether in the existence of the individual or the state. The efforts directed toward the abolition of war — must not only be teimed foolish, but absolutely immoral. From Germany in the Next War by Baron von Bernhardi.

The effect of war, a war which, by comparison with the great world struggle which now exists in Europe, was a mere scrap, and its civilizing influences, may be had by a comparison of present conditions in the "Mormon" colonies of Mexico, with what they were before the exodus of the colonists from their homes in 1912: So long as peace prevailed in Mexico these colonies developed with remarkable rapidity. The people who established them were poor in purse, but rich in faith, industry, and a sincere desire to benefit the people and country where they chose to establish new homes. The principles of fraternity, charity and industry were their chief capital when they pitched their tents on the banks of the Janos, Casas Grandes and Piedras Verdes rivers. The tents were soon replaced with good temporary homes, and these, before the exodus of 1912, had given way to houses of brick and stone which would do honor to the streets of any modern rural city. Orchards of the choicest fruits, gardens where the most beautiful flowers bloomed in profusion, cattle, horses and poultry of the finest breeds were to be seen everywhere. Meeting and school houses were the pride of the colonists, while the stores, work shops and factories were far in advance of those in the neighboring towns and cities, where Mexican civilization had been slowly developing for three hundred years. This was the happy, prosperous condition of the colonies prior to 1912. Then came war. Without warning, with scarcely time to reach the waiting trains which were to bear them to the United States border to friends and safety, with only the few belongings which they could hastily collect and carry in their hands, not even stopping to exchange everyday clothing for the better suits which hung in the closets, the people

*Illustrations by the author.

Upper cut: All that is left of the meeting and school house at Colonia Diaz. Tears were shed by these women as they looked, for the first time since the exodus, upon the ruins of their former homes. Center: The former home of Bishop W. Derby Johnson, Jr. Lower: Ruins of the home of Andrew Peterson.

Upper cut: The ruins of the splendid home of P. K. Lemmon, Jr. Center: What is left of the Union Mercantile, Colonia Diaz. Lower: Union Mercantile, Colonia Dublan. At the time of the exodus the stock of merchandise carried in this store was worth $100,000. Not a

dollar was saved to the stockholders, so far as the writer is aware.

Upper cut: The San Diego Ranch. Bishop A B. Call, of Colonia Dublan, stoodwith his back to the tree in the foreground, and faced a firing squad. His life was spared on condition that he pay a ransom, which was done. Center: A typical colonist home which escaped the ravages of war. Lower: Pierson lumber mills, one of the largest plants in the world, passed through many experiences, but was not destroyed.

—

MEXICO AFTER THE WAR 719

fled. Many of them, the great majority, have never returned. They are scattered from Canada to the Mexican border. In November last, the writer, in company with Elder Oscar A. Kirkham, visited Colonia Diaz and other points for the first time since the war which followed the Madero revolution devastated the country and turned back the wheels of progress and civilization ,at least one generation. The desolation which war leaves in its wake, wherever it goes, was in evidence everywhere. The flocks and herds have disappeared from the ranges. The fields are uncultivated. The fruits and flowers gone. Where happy homes stood there remain only blackened walls. The photographs here reproduced tell the story in language more eloquent than words. The few views showing property which has miraculously escaped the ravages of war represent the condition before the "great civilizing agent" stalked through the land. Do we want this "divine business," with its devastating influences in our own country? If not, we must check it before it gains a foothold on our shores. If it effects a landing, there will be repeated here what has occurred in Mexico, with far greater horrors, for "barbarous Mexico" has proven herself to be childlike, humane and merciful, when compared with the enemy with which we are menaced from across the sea.