On the Right

Mexico City, July 28—All is especially tranquil in Mexico, a new President, Mr. Echevarria, having been elected to take office in December. The chances of Mr. Echevarria’s failure to achieve office, once having been nominated by the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) to succeed the incumbent, could be compared to the chances of Prince Charles losing the throne of England to Sammy Davis Jr. Notwithstanding this, the whole nation engages in the ritual of democracy with feverish gusto, and the birds and the cactus flowers and the mountains cry out the virtues of Echevarria, so that when the great day comes and the people speak, it is to say joyously to destiny, Thy will be done.

It is very easy to make sport of the Mexican Way, and to be sure, it is not the kind of thing which would commend itself north of the border. But the political stability of Mexico is unquestionably a principal factor contributing to the national affluence. That is a relative datum, to be sure, but not unfair. The situation in most parts of Latin America deteriorates, as governments come and go. Capital is attracted to places that are at once stable and energetic. The stability of Mexico, PRI undertakes. The energy comes in part from Mexico’s mouth-to-mouth economic contact with the United States, in part from the gloriously benevolent climate in the highlands surrounding Mexico City. I and the sun were at Mexico City at the same time (that is to say, the latitude of Mexico City is at this time of the year the de facto equator), and the temperature was 72 degrees.

About the Author

William F. Buckley Jr.

William F. Buckley Jr. founded National Review magazine in 1955.

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Mexico City, July 28—All is especially tranquil in Mexico, a new President, Mr. Echevarria, having been elected to take office in December. The chances of Mr. Echevarria’s failure to achieve office, once having been nominated by the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) to succeed the incumbent, could be compared to the chances of Prince Charles losing the throne of England to Sammy Davis Jr. Notwithstanding this, the whole nation engages in the ritual of democracy with feverish gusto, and the birds and the cactus flowers and the mountains cry out the virtues of Echevarria, so that when the great day comes and the people speak, it is to say joyously to destiny, Thy will be done.

It is very easy to make sport of the Mexican Way, and to be sure, it is not the kind of thing which would commend itself north of the border. But the political stability of Mexico is unquestionably a principal factor contributing to the national affluence. That is a relative datum, to be sure, but not unfair. The situation in most parts of Latin America deteriorates, as governments come and go. Capital is attracted to places that are at once stable and energetic. The stability of Mexico, PRI undertakes. The energy comes in part from Mexico’s mouth-to-mouth economic contact with the United States, in part from the gloriously benevolent climate in the highlands surrounding Mexico City. I and the sun were at Mexico City at the same time (that is to say, the latitude of Mexico City is at this time of the year the de facto equator), and the temperature was 72 degrees.