The Press Fights for the Trust of U.S. Hispanics

By Armando Miguélez.

Emperador Maximiliano

The push to gain Hispanic readership by American press associations today is nothing new. In an article published at the beginning of the 20th century, we can see that earning the trust of Hispanics in the U.S. was already a concern. The friendly letter sent by Harry S. Andrews, the managing editor of the Los Angeles Times to the editor of the Spanish-language Los Angeles paper La Prensa on Mexican Independence Day of 1918 is clear evidence of the interest the American media had in the Hispanic population of a city like Los Angeles, with such a large Mexican community.

Only five months earlier, in March of the same year, Manuel Carrillo published several articles in La Prensa challenging the Examiner´s editorial defense of a U.S. intervention in Mexican affairs, calling it a blatant affront to international law and contrary to the very principles on which the United States as a nation was founded. Hearst publications defended a war of aggression against Mexico right in the middle of World War I, knowing full well the toll it would take on American society in general (see the article by Manuel Carillo, Hearst, a traitor to his country [Hearst, un traidor a su patria], La Prensa, March 16, 1918.)

It is interesting to note that since the 19th century, and especially during the Porfirio Diaz years in Mexico, many U.S. newspaper owners and editors had economic or financial interests in Mexico. This colored the way news about Mexico was presented; biased or subjective reporting was common from the mid-19th century all the way through World War II. This is why the letter written by Harry E. Andrews that we are examining in this article is so relevant.

We can use it as an example of the early stages of the debate on interethnic relations in the city of Los Angeles during the period around World War I, which was also a period of consolidation of the values of the Mexican Revolution. Harry S. Andrews is careful not to touch on any of the spiny issues that existed between the two main ethnic groups in Los Angeles, clearly emphasizing instead the points of union and communion rather than those of distension and distance. Hence, he does not speak of the U.S. incursion into Mexico, but rather of the interventions of other countries, such as France, making the claim that the U.S. had helped boot the French from Mexican soil. He also speaks of the republican ideals that unite the two countries and of the patriotic and libertarian values that they share.

The letter also has some traces of a more modern day approach to community relations.

To La Prensa, Greetings

Though Mexico´s freedom began in 1810, it was not until many years afterward that she obtained a status approaching the actual liberty which she had proclaimed for her people. Indeed, as late as 1864 we find Mexico still struggling, and at that time under the heel of the tyranous ruler of the Hapsburg family-a member of the same family which today is yoked with the Hohenzollerns for the purpose of reducing every nation on earth to a state of slavery, Maximilian´s crown was handed to him by Napoleon III and aided-by French forces and the treasury of Mexico´s enemies within her own borders, he managed to retain his seat for a time.

But there was a spirit in Mexico greater and stronger than the will of a king and that was the spirit of liberty that smiles at guillotines and guns. In 1866, following America´s action, striking the gyves from the wrists of the black slaves at home, the Washington government expressed its emphatic disproval of the presence of French forces in Mexico, and this protest, echoed by freedom loving Mexicans, led to the deposition of Maximilian, and the placing of Juárez on the presidential chair of the Mexican Republic. Since that day, the road has been smoother for Mexico, but even today our sister republic is far from her ideal. Yet is she going forward, and the very fact that her people have, for generations, been rebelling against oppression and misgovernment, is sufficient proof that for them there awaits that destiny reserved ever for those who ,having once kindled the fires of liberty, keeps those lights burning ,though never so dimly, upon the altars  of justice and truth.

Between the people of the United States of Mexico and those of the United States of America there is much in common. The foundations of the national governments of both republics were laid on much the same principles. America is a melting pot of nations and so, to a large extent, is Mexico. This is the glory of the United States and it will prove the salvation of Mexico. In spirit and in truth we Americans are brothers of the peoples of Mexico. “The Times”, therefore, upon this glad occasion, gives fraternal greetings to the Mexicans of Los Angeles, rejoicing with them in this anniversary of the freedom of their people, and congratulating those Mexicans who have made their homes in this city and become citizens of this country.While American citizens of Mexican blood do well to remember their own torn and bleeding land, “The Times” doubts not their patriotism and loyalty to he land of their adoption. The Spanish press of America and of Mexico can do much toward maintaining between the two countries that amity so essential to the happy intercourse of neighbor nations, and in inculcating the principles of justice and right, the foundation stones of every true republic.

Harry S. Andrews. Managing Editor, “The [Los Ángeles] Times”

(La Prensa, Los Ángeles, Cal., 14-sept.-1918)

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