New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-22
TtRDy PROGRESS IN MEXICO.

The numerous revolutions through winch
Mexico has passed can all be traced directly or
indirectly to the unwise policy OF It's rulers
Notwithstanding the turbulent character OF Tue
people, it is certain that it is now III the power
of the Government to enter upon course Oh
conduct which will place the country III INC
position which it is entitled to hold from us
wealth and population. We were led to nope,
at the time of the accession to the Presidency
of Senior Lerdo de Tejada, that wise ana
statesmanike policy would be adopted. we
must admit that, after waiting with some So
licitude for indications of a serious Intention
on his part to provide a remedy for the evils
which aflct the country, our faith III MS
ability is somewhat shaken.
Tho greatest source of evil to Mexico IS one
which has impeded the advancement Of sew
era countries Of Europe under much more
favorable circumstances. 1t is the division of
England to-day into large landed estates
which tends to prevent the thorough eultIVa-
ton of the soil and contributes to keep
the agricultural labOrers in state OF
ignorance and penuTy. The condition OF
England is somewhat ameliOrated by the
enlightened character of the prOprletorS
and their average comprehension OF their OBJ
LEGATIONS to the State. In Mexico 1t Is the
same concentration of property IN the hands
of a few pr0prictOrs which creates dlsaifec-
ton. But there is a strong contrast III the case
of Mexico compared to that of England in the
influence which the landowners exercise over
the population at large. The letter which we
publish to-day from our MlsTieQ e9Trespo9ade9y
contains the remarkable statement that, out
of a population of nearly nine millions OF
souls, the territory of Mexico is held by 100000
persons The prOpretOrs are Spanards who,
with a few exceptions, are narrOw-mlnded,
and almost entirely destitute of enterprise and
public spirit. They do nothing to improve
their estates or to alleviate the condition of
the landless classes. Their illibeTal character
now threatens to involve the country in a
social contest which will be waged by the
depressed laborers against the landowners.
1t is very plausibly urged that the discomfort
would be removed after the lapse of a few years
by the construction of an adequate system OF
railroads throughout the country The State is
now possessed of only 202 miles of railroad.
In comparison with the population of the
United States it should have $4,000 miles. If
the State had as many miles of railroad, III
proportion to its population, as Colorado, one
half of which, in 1916, was only an outlying
province of Mexico, it would now have 10000
miles. The country has very large inland
traffic which is labOrously transported over
vretched roads in wagons and on the backs of
mules The principal obstacle to an adequate
railroad system has now been overcome by
the construction of the Mexico and Vera Cruz
Railway, which connects the low seacoast with
the elevated plateau which traverses the great
est part of the State. To provide for the
wants of the country, no time should
have been lost in anticipating the COM
pletion of this route by the adoption
of measures which would speedily connect the
most remote portions of the country. If we
are correctly informed it remains with Presi-
dent Lerdo to decide on the schemes proposed
by the different companies now demanding
concessions to build railroads. Although a
prompt decision is required in the public in
terest, President LerdO has apparently been
Indifferent to the subject, for up to this
time he has failed to give any evidence
of his appreciation of the gravity of
the occasion. SO far as any important
measures of reform are concerned, the cOun-
try is in the same unfortunate con-
the same Cabinet ministers who made them
selves odious during the former adminstra-
ton, and his private engagements render him
almost inaccessible to those who desire to APP
proach him on important questions concern
ing the public welfare. 1t is not strange
that his failure to meet the expectations
which were formed of him several months
ago has excited the suspicion that his Spanish
descent has rendered him blind to the state
of the country through his attachment to the
Spanish landowners. If President Lerdo
should adhere to this diatory course, and the
country is again involved in an instruction,
tn, same Odium will rest on him as on the
preceding administrations, and history will
have to record another case of Government
which betrayed the confidence of its people.
LEGISLATIVE CONSCIENCE-KEEPING.
Sturdy John Holmes one of the first Soma