The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-02-09


MEXICAN AFrAIRs.-We have received the FOL
lowing interesting letter from oar correspondent.
at Laguna. 1t gives an insight into the affairs OF
that part Of Mexico.
LAaurA DE TERMINUS, Jan. 8, 1916.
Mr.. BENNETT
DEAR SIR =
Among all Of your correspondence in various
parts OF the world, do not recollect OF having
seen any dated at this place, and being soJourner
here tor the winter, l have concluded to address
you as occasion may offer. This place contains
about 900 INHABITANTS. and as you are aware, Is
mence and subsde. The reason is abvious three
quarters of the exports OF Yucatan were formerly
shipped from this place, which consists of logwoOd,
the staple commodity of the country; consequent
Nv. when any difference exists between the Central
lCsoye.nrnenf and the department OF Yucatan, the
former Immediately sends troops to take possession
Of this place, as IN 1917 Ihis place was also me
in 1899: thus Won will perceive that II IS kind oil
frontier town, on which all the petty skirmishes
take place. which the Mexlcans call revolutions;
business has very much declined here since lS42, III
consequence of this peculiar state OF sffairs, and
the business of Tobasco has augmented In cor
responding ratio Last year not more 'han one
quarter OF the usual quantity OF logwood snip
eed from this place in former years was embarked;
consequently money was scarce, and genera
stagnution Of business was the result. Notwlih-
standing the small quantity OF wood shipped mere.
the cutters have brought out from the " Iancnos
the usual supply, blu, instead otsendng IT here they
sent il TO Tobusco, the facilities for conveyance
are much superior, and they are not subject those
embarrassmenfs constantly growing out CT Yucatan
Ifficulties. All the wood which formerly came
.. he Usumasinta river--and which was the
down shipped at this pace-now passes INTO
best quality ~. instead oft the Salzaea river tor
this h Of
this is one Of the fruits Of the g. alow, that in nv
it has given this place such q :, III Capitalists,
4 a
though inhabitants Of Yucatan, who re. are era.
had their means invested in logwood h, 20 gwen
dually withdrawing it to Tobasco Hayl. zee.
to You hasty sketch of the business 0, this pr -
| will touch little upon It's social character,
which is peculiar; money is the only standard OF
responsibility regardless of color desccnt but II
is not so ia Campeachy or Merda-there the de.
scendant of the old Spanard assumes the cabel-
lero, whether he have penny or not, and the hrst
reply he makes, II he conceives that his honor II
touched, is, "Do you take me for an Indian?'
think the peculiar social character OF this Place
80 different from other towns Of Mexico of the
same size--s chiefly owing to Its having once been
the "Botany Bay" of Old Spain Of course the
GLORIOUS equaliiy'' of that state OF society only
yielded to pecuniary ascendancy; her, the dreams
of abolitionists, in sense, realized; there
are persons here OF African descent who could
marry into the first families Of the place-and their
descent is not equvocal; they are recognized at
first sight by the stranger II is unnecessary tor
me 10 diate upon the position and prospects Of
Santa Anna, nothing yet is definitely known
in Yucatan two-thrds ART against the government
Of Santa Anna, but they are not the wealthy por.
ZION of the community, however; we are waiting
with some interest the news from Vera Cruz, as
he change il the fortunes of Santa Anna neces-
sarly changes the political mplexion Of Yucatan,
which always has leaders ready tor any change.
have been surprised at the ignorance betrayed by
many persons In writing about this country, but II
more than probably arose from total ignorance
Of the language, which must certainly bar most ef
iectuaIly the sources Of information from which
they pretend to have been enlightened. A Swedish
orig will sail from ere in ten or twelve days. BY
which vessel will ,.ndeavor to give you sketch
of Mexican society. Yours, &c.
VIATOR