Capitalism in Mexico – Honoré J. Jaxon (1911)

From ‘Freedom: A Journal of Anarchist Communism’, September 1911, London, UK

Of all the astounding positions taken by those astounding politicians who are making special pleas in behalf of the proposed Madero regime as opposed to the ideals for which the real “insurrectos” of Mexico have fought and suffered through so many painful years — perhaps the most astounding is to be found in the argument or pretext that Mexico “has not yet passed through the capitalist stage of social development,” and that therefore (so far as these would-be doctrinaires and their followers are concerned) the insurrectos’ movement should be allowed to perish from lack of of sympathy and support, and as a just punishment for their presumption in rebelling without having first consulted these modern augurs as to whether or not the signs are auspicious!

What a pitifully empty excuse for “passing by on the other side,” for neglecting and ignoring and even libelling the agony-struggle of brave men who in defence of the surplus value produced by their labour-power have rebelled against that confiscation of such surplus value which has already resulted from, or is threatened by, the private grabbing of natural resources and the private monopolising of railroads and other machinery of production and exchange.

And how doubly contemptible when such pleas are put forward by men who have never put their own lives in peril, and whose connection with the uplift movement has never cost them a physical pang or serious deprivation, but has, on the contrary, been a source of comfortable revenue and the occasion of exemption from manual toil.

It should be evident to the veriest tyro in economic thought that the advent of the first privately owned railroad in a country marks an indisputable passing of that country into the capitalistic phase of evolution, not only because the railroad is a machine, and a very complicated one at that, but also because it inevitably carries along with it a host of other forms of the modern machinery of production and exchange, and renders a continuance of primitive methods impossible.

As a matter of fact, Mexico has not only been penetrated and interlaced by railroads for many years, but has developed in their train a host of modern plantation, and ranching, and mining, and factory enterprises, which have inaugurated a reign of exploitation which has notoriously resulted in strikes and lock-outs and every conceivable accompaniment of the class struggle under the capitalist system.

All these plain facts, however, must be ignored when there arises a dictator whose continuance in power means a continuous holding of office by doctrinaires discreetly appointed to office or otherwise “taken care of.”

“None are so blind as those who will not see,” and because these wilfully blind ones have control of a few newspaper columns in which to proclaim their alleged belief that “Capitalism has not yet arrived in Mexico,” therefore, forsooth, the wheels of time must be turned backward in order that these capitalistic performances must all be done over again to make up for their negligence in failing to observe what was taking place under their very noses!

Verily, these special pleaders for the continuance of tyranny, remind one of the quack doctor who, on being called to attend a patient whose symptoms he found himself utterly unable to account for, exclaimed in comical exculpation: “If I could only throw him into fits, I could cure him; I am hell on fits.”

The world will not stand still to enable these quacks to throw Mexico into their curious interpretation of capitalism. Mexico has been under real capitalism long enough, and for her no less than for the rest of the modern world the hour has struck for the “Great Change.” Far from being behind the times, these Mexican clamourers for land and liberty are in the very forefront of the battle. They should be loyally supported, not fired upon from the rear by persons who have decorated themselves with the uniform of progress and of alleged love for mankind.

H. J. Jaxon

Mexican Revolution Conference of New York

From ‘Freedom: A Journal of Anarchist Communism’, September 1911, London, UK

At a meeting of the Mexican Revolution Conference of New York on July 25 further steps were taken to help the revolutionary cause.

A letter has been received from the headquarters of the Mexican Liberal Party appealing for funds to continue the propaganda and agitation. Owing to further interference on the part of the United States authorities in rearresting Magón, and because of the Mexican mails being practically closed to the organ of the Liberal Party by Madero — who, above all others, promised freedom of speech and Press — the continuance of Regeneración is very doubtful, and unless the radicals of the world rally to its support, it may be forced into suspension. In, view of the above, a motion was made and carried that an appeal for financial assistance be sent to subscribers of the radical Press and members of progressive organisations. It was voted to hold a monster mass meeting in Union Square the latter part of August, and a committee was elected to secure that object.

A special appeal for the paper, Regeneración we give in full:

DEAR FRIEND, — To you, as a radical, we make appeal on behalf of this paper and of the Mexican Liberal Party, which is in a life-and-death fight, not only with Madero and the world-wide forces of capital, but also with certain Socialist Party leaders.

The Mexican Revolution is in itself an event of incalculable importance, and the action taken by these Socialist Party leaders has made it infinitely more so. They have started an international quarrel that must be fought out. The Labour movement of the world, and the Socialists themselves, must learn exactly where they stand, must ascertain, once and for all, whether they are to be the playthings of personal ambitions or are to be given the opportunity of working unitedly for economic freedom.

In that fight you are interested most profoundly, and will wish to do your loyal share. The fight is vital and international, and we of Los Angeles should not be required to carry the whole burden.

Six of our most capable writers and speakers are now in jail in Los Angeles, and five are imprisoned in San Diego. They are charged with violating the neutrality laws, for apparently it is a crime not to remain neutral when 14,000,000 of the downtrodden are striking for liberty. Their imprisonment cripples us, badly for the moment.

Twenty-one thousand copies of Regeneración are issued weakly from this office, and go to all parts of the world — including despise Madero’s rigorous boycott — Mexico. We issue much other educational matter, and our work, especially at this crisis, it vital to the international movement of revolt. But this entails enormous expense, and financial assistance we must have.

We ask you to send the largest sum you possibly can at once to Manuel G. Garza, Treasurer, Mexican Liberal Party Junta, 519 1/2 E. 4th St. Los Angeles, Cal., U.S.A.