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- 7 -
The sixty-odd years of government by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) has had its drawbacks, but as you review the history of Mexico in the years following its civil wars, an impression arises ? quite strong and quite clear - -that this was the only course open. A form of centralized government is hardly strange in this country or in other
nations. Likewise, the claims of fraud are not novel. However, Mexico may now have reached the qualified level where a sensible course would be followed in the election by majority. And we hope and trust that this may be upon a truly democratic
process.
Under the government of President Salinas, Mexico reached a threshold position toward entrance to the elect company of First World Nations. Were it possible under the Mexican Constitution, Salinas would undoubtly be reelected (one party or a dozen).
The assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio on March 23 was a shameful act which will certainly impede progress toward the goal of a mult-party system. If it was, in fact, an
action by those opposing the dominance of PRI, it was a backward step.