New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-15

ctIOHS III bDt doSuIcu
snip of her powerful neighbor, rich in the
countless treasures of her soil and climate,
fortunate beyond calculation in her geo.
graphical position with reference TO the
commerce Of the world, resolute in the
adoption and naturalization Of the great in
ventions of the age tor abbreviating time
and space, Mexico is now just entering upon
an era OF internal improvements which
may be considered to date from the conclu.
clusion of the railway between the City OF
Mexico and the port of Vera Cruz at the
end of the present year.
The competition Of American and Euro
pean capital for the lucrative privilege OF
providing Mexico with means OF communl-
cation has fairly commenced, and the
Americans are likely TO gain the prefer
ence. Two great railroad enterprises, either
of which, If fully carried out, is certain
to revOlutionize the commerce of Mexico,
are now knocking at the doors OF the Mex
lean Congress for permission to confer
upon Mexico the greatest OF blessings
refer to the international railway OF Texas,
which proposes 20 construct line from the
CITY Of Mexico 20 the Rio Grande, and to
the scheme Of General RosecranS Tor
system of railways to connect most OF the
important cities of the republic with its
capital 1t is probable that both under
takings will be successful in great part, and
that i've years hence it will be possible not
only to leave New Orleans in palace car
and arrive within a week IN the City of
Mexico, but also TO visit in the same man
ner the eight or ten principal cities Of the
republic. Within the same period Of time
the Texas Pacific railroad Will undoubtedly
be completed, skirting one-half Of the
northern frontier OF Mexico, and intersect-
ing at PasO del NOrte with the narrow
gaage Denver and FL Paso road. which
will probably extend far beyond Chihuahua
toward the interior of Mexico. The port of
Guaymas will then be connected with the
capital of Arizona by means of railroad
running due north, and intersecting the
Texas Pacific at another point.
When once these links of union shall
have been established, the commercial re-
lations between the United States and Mex
leo will rapidly assume enormous proper
tons. Each country seems to have been
created expressly to become the natural
feeder and the natural market of the other.
Each abOunds, by reason of its differences
of soil and climate, in precisely the produc-
lions which are most needed in the other.
While in the United States the area which
can be successfully devoted to the cultiva-
ton of articles of such universal consump-
ton as cotton, sugar. rice and tobacco, is
necessarily limited, and for the three latter
is sufficient to supply but small proper
ton of the home demand, the capacity of
Mexico for the production of these four
great staples is practically unlimited. In
with our sources of supply Of
these articles, consideration arises, which,
think, should have great weight with
our government in awarding the prefer
ence to Mexico above Cuba. Puerto Rico
and Brazil, which at the present time enjoy
the profitable monopoly of these great sta
Piles OF commerce. Since the moral sense
Of our nation, aided by the irresistible logic
Of events, pronounced its fat of IeproSa-
ton upon the institution of human slavery,
the United States should be considered as
an anti-slavery nation, and, in |
despite of former prejudices, no section of |
5he country has now any interest in defend |
ng the memory of that extinct abuse. 1t is |
low time that, having washed our own |
hands of that reprUach, by the events Of a |
period to which l need not refer in detail, |
We now have a right to openly express our
opinion of slavery in other countries where
I exists in forms so repugnant as almost to
Justify, by contrast, the milder system
which cost us so much blood and treasure
o eXtirpate. We have now right, and
many would maintain that it is national
luty, to discriminate in our tariff legisla-
ion between the product of free and slave
abOr, and such Just discrimination would
rebound chiefly to the pr. fl of
Hexco. But it is not merely under phi
aspects that such legislation
nay be justified and recommended:
t is equally desirable from the standpoint
II the Monroe doctrine. The countries
Competing with Mexico IN the staples above
are not merely countries whose
productive industry is based upon slave
abor, but they are also ruled upon the mo-
archical system, which, at this period of
he nineteenth century, ought to be cOnsid-
rod q aynri0 4 Nnra |
f the countries in question could Justly
Omplain of discrimination based upon
NO such powerful and equitable cOnside-
ations. 1t would constitute another great
tep in the onward march of our distinc-
lively American international law, and
rOuid probably find imitatOrs, as it would
ertainly merit applause and respect among
he more advanced nations OF the Old
World It would he signal national testi-
lonial Of friendship and encouragement to
II the republics of the New World, and
yould be directly profitable not only 70
leXicO, but also TO the five republics of
entraI America TO Colon bia and Vene-
uela.
Moreover, from She YnateriaHstic stand
ONT OF national and, private interests,
ne policy l recommend has peculiar
laims upon the people of the South
estern States more particularly Louisiana
nd Texas. Their commercial future is so
irectly and intimately bound up in. the
rowth and development of mercantile re
Itions with Mexico as to make it unneces-
Try to dwell further upon this point.
very legislative step which tends to fos-
II such commerce IS step in favor of the
0uthwestern States
Not onl :. the four staples which I have
entiOned above would share in the i'm
Mise given by wise development of COM
ercial relations with Mexico; there are
jher articles of vast consumption, not pro-
need upon our own soil, with which Mex
o is capable of supplying the world. l
eed only mention coffee, chocolate, indigo.
ahogany and dye woods. In return for
lese precious commodities, Mexico would |
aturally receive from us the manufactures
hich she now buys chiefly from England. |
rance and Germany. Thus, our American
anufactures, awaiting themselves of our
water power, would take deep
rot in the Gulf States, and would elevate
lem to degree Of prosperity unknown IL
leir palmiest days of old.
To attain this result, the adoption of the
gislation have indicated would undoubt-
ily tend in no ordinary degree.
The completion of the projected line of
always, between the two countries, will
,rtainly have vital influence in the same
ERECTION, with or without the stimulus of |
lch tavoring legislation.
But, for the Inauguration of a vast and
rottable commerce between Mexico and | !
re Southwestern States, jt is not necessary |
; await the tardy apparition of the mon ]
orse in the central States of Mexico, nor
, follow the uncertain course of legislation. I
he road 30 the treasures of Mexico lies
pen to the merchants of New Orleans and
is cause of unceasing wonder to me- that
lat road has been completely abandoned
eXlco has done her part. In the years ! ]
nee the fall OF the shortlived Empire, she
az increased the production of her Gulf : ,
ta'e.: She has reformed he. yexatious !
seal legislation. by means OF compare