Rebellion Spreads, Expropriation on Every Tongue – Ricardo Flores Magón (1911)

From ‘Regeneración’, English Section, November 25, 1911, edited by William C. Owen, Los Angeles, California

In every corner of the republic arises the formidable cry: “Down with Madero.” Battalions, brigades, divisions, artillery of all descriptions traverse the country at top speed, bound for districts disaffected toward the existing regime. It is not yet three weeks since Madero inaugurated his government and our beauteous country is again a furnace. Two hundred “Jefes” and federal officials have asked for their dismissal from the army, and Madero, terrified at the prospect of finding himself alone, does not grant the request. “El Impartial,” of the City of Mexico, under date of November 11, carries this head on its front page: “Rebellion continues to spread throughout the entire republic.”

In the full delirium of revolution unarmed masses are flinging themselves on garrisons, sacking haciendas, running up and down city streets. In Torreon, the situation is so alarming to the government that it has dispatched fifteen hundred soldiers. In Torreon the workers in all industries have declared a general strike and they are masters of the situation, for every industry is at a standstill, the street cars do not run, the bakers make no bread and the great masses of the strikers swarm over the city threatening to fall upon the banks and larger stores.

The entire district of La Laguna is full of more or less large bands of Vazquistas, Revistas and Liberals. Almost the whole of the state of Durango is in arms, the Liberals being in goodly numbers there. The state of Oaxaca is afire on all its four frontiers, and lacks only a spark in the central districts to reduce it to a single flame. In all the towns of the state of Sinaloa the government forces are assassinating the inhabitants. Fifteen hundred Yaquis, thoroughly well armed, refuse to surrender and have converted the Sierra del Bacatete into an impregnable fortress, resolutely hoisting the red flag. All the haciendas of the state of Guanajata are being menaced by the peons who threaten to take possession of them unless they are paid better wages. The very politicians are declaring that the growth of the revolution is not due to the political ideals of the masses, but to the fact that they desire to get bread. The Indians of the state of Oaxaca are declaring honestly that they are fighting because they were promised haciendas, and this has excited consternation among the bourgeoisie throughout the country.

In the Comarco Lagunera the North-Americans are appealing to Washington for aid, since they are in danger of being executed by the workers whom they have exploited for years. Uprisings in all quarters indicate that the fighting spirit of the Mexican people has been born again, more vigorously than ever and better directed, for now it seeks the CONQUEST OF BREAD. Authority burns with the dull yellow of phosphorus beside the sun of revolution. Capital has lost the religious respect the disinherited masses formerly entertained for it. Expropriation is talked of as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Ricardo Flores Magón