Page:Margaret Shipman - Mexico's Struggle Towards Democracy (1927).pdf/64

 The results of the revolution in material conditions is small in comparison with the psychological effects, manifested among the masses in a tremendous awakening of independence, courage, self-respect, and ambition for economic betterment and education; among the middle classes, a quickening in nationalism and racial pride, both Indian and Spanish, and resentment against foreign exploiters and the church.

Factors making for success are the inability of the old system to provide for wants of the masses and the middle class; schisms among foreign investors due to their conflicting interests; solidarity of Mexican agricultural and industrial labor and their understanding of other labor movements; national dislike of foreign investors which has a tendency to unite middle class and mass interests; growing solidarity among Latin American countries in their opposition to United States aggression. The pre-occupation of the great powers in the world war was a temporary condition, making for success.

Factors making for failure are agreement of world imperialists to give the United States a free hand in Mexico; proximity of the United States; her immense surplus wealth, overbearing nationalism and lack of sympathy for Latin races; religious prejudice, which is used by interventionists to stir up feeling against the Mexican Government's anti-church regulations; Mexico's backwardness in political, economic and educational development and the strangle hold of foreign bankers upon her re-