New-York tribune., 1873-02-14
VIEWS OF MEXICO
LECTURE BY T. II. woRRAi'L'

w.rrp.I InVhNTAGEs AND POLITICAL hisAoh'
OF THE COUNTRY
II II Worrall, for many years resident in
,..,so a.bvered last evening. at Association Hail.
~ lecture on Mexco" giving general idea OF the
,,, eondition Of that Republic, and auding briefly
=, ,, climate productions, social condition, and political
hst~, end finally sketchng more at length the pronlh
a., features Of the brief empire which Macmillan
established. and.whch came TO so abruPte termination
An ms tragic death The number who listened 20 MT
worra's comprehensive review Of Mexican history was
very small hut the attention Of the audience WAS un
siyided from the fret.
MI Norra referred AT the outset TO the eeogr"Pn'"
endsuratiou Of Mexico its extent of country covering
~ area of 76eCoo miles, with population OF ABOUT SIX
u,Ihon. five millions OF which composed the small
stunt.d Indian race half the remainder being white ana
e rect Of mixed blood The lecturer then spoke oil the
a.bt of the Mexican Government fifteen years
Aco computed from report of the thea Minister
oi FINANCE, Don Miguel Lerdo, from when
n appears that there WAS an annual denolt ln tue
zreasury Of $oOOOOO The Interior debt At that time IN
tends as about tsOO0e.Oo0 which ne interest mas
s-nee been pald. aud they now have only nominal
yalne OF perhaps six 70 eight cents the dollar Inc
s.reirn debt in 1862 was about S2e@'oO' OF WHICH
teaoOopoo were due Great Britain on when also 30
interest has been paid the last s years. ana III
vresent the bonds quoted on the London sock Ia
change al from If 10 is cents on the collar
1ee ue1ican Navy consists of a few small armed
.,e.,ers The army is imperieCtly organized bady
,ouirrd armed, aud paid, and contains prouglo"s
,,,uer of generals The administrative OF justice O
the uoet venal kind. There Is no Jury system noi
xoo, uroceednc all pleadngs and judgments are III
.ritirc. except the summing up OF tDe eu"'o
,,g LAWYERS aud the worst forms OF sPdhish
,.ral DELAY and chcanery prevail III nlin
.,sl wealth Mexico IS the richest country
an ,he world the present annual yield OF siqef Dehg
,nt SO ooOOOO while S1e0eO0 Of gold and si'er com
A. m circulation and is only currency The product
he
ga, GO and II II asserted that the sudden decay OF SPAN
r+cau 80 date from the great influx Of the precious met
sls from colonies, which spirit antaeonsuc 10 Ia
lous aud industrial habits, and this speculative enter
Yriss IN mines and gambling mania for sudden wealth
bas been one Of the possibly OF the deterioration
Of their national character.
Agriculture Mexico vet knows nothing OF science
tLe pov yet being done with sharpened seK'
Which - successful account of the remarkable reh'
psss and fertility OF the soil The high roads except Tor
ypuies ,r on horse back, are almost mpassable Rail-
rnads re almost unknown. The one now completed De-
,weeu Vera Cruz and capital has just been opened
a., Prsdent erdo and possibly the benefits 1t will con-
fer may stimulate further enterprise IN that drec-
,im. This railroad is great triumph OF engineer
iur shiu In 1857, 7. said Mr.. Worran as one
o ;ho acting managers engaged here the services OF
capt Taicoti went out 20 Mexico and at an expense
sfss surveyed the road. The projectors were az
psled at me dlieuy ana maguue t V1 m @ erw Ok over
point there Is grade OF one Io9V ~ 6r
feet Subsequently the road was ooinpete1 s 10y
\.
EsTa cruz Havana where formerly 1T was imported
from he United States
HOSTILITY To INNOVATIONS.
But generally the people look upon such innovation as
railroads gas waterppes, telegraphs, &c, with sus
ricio ana dislike aud gners, who alone risk capital
n Eor introduction instead OF support meet with oppo
sifon frUm municipal bodies and houses Of Congress.
Preiguers likewise introduced some small cotton
fsotorss this soeaed native industry protected
Ey an almost Vrohibitory import tariff making people
6ny deaIer st home what they could import cheaper
fsnfg FIqlf las EVuKT
home and export, for the climate, moist and warm,
tafse Of the finest kind is abundant and tobacco OF
Spontaneous production, though not OF the best
snsrsne Is about 1900 tuns and Humboldt considered
hat IN an miles only days journey from the
roI,uIoItiou of all France. We have also the we'll
buovn medicinal drug Jasp, the ysrlegsted dshis log
.ochiutaI &c. Everywhere the country abounds with
valuable timber cattle, sheep goats. and deer 70 say
uothlne 81 tht ihnunerdpie N"iie"es Vi O" P'"u's'
A. Tor f6e people themselves to whom unfavorable
character has given II must be admitted that they
arr de hcent in energy and the higher qualities OF hu,
ma, b1rd Thev are unversed IN sefgOvernment and
incapable O developing Their great natOnal resources
ihouch with somewhat overweenng opinion OF their
own importance, and prejudice against iorelgneIs,
Which j. gradually, however, decreasing Ibe women
have charming manners, are SIMPLE gfaceIu anu uId-
tected very musical great uef9&oge, & anu ~ T ND ~ ita
.nca,ed possess much natural talent VIII, ana vVNacy
1b,N have now discarded the saya and mantllla, ana
slrees IN the European fashion. The nVe millions OF
It1iau popnatlon wear the same dress and have the
same and habits as before the conquest From
beur kiil ignorant of the symbolic character Of their
images have merely transferred their alteration 10 them,
an ther allegiance TO the priests Tne mesnzOs out
,usI cass the descendants OF the cOnQuerOrs Oy
Indian inteTmaIIiaSes, and subsequently Win blacks
and Indians.
Tlcy swarm everywhere bandtti. by fOrcibe
yistmeni the ranks OF the army. Don Augusn de
TiIe the son Of the first Emperor, once said 10 me,
sFverv SINGLE man OF them is a rObber when few OF
fbem ret together they call themselves guerrilas but
wien collected ia a mass they form our army
The lecturer, dropping now MS character OF observer
took thar Of chrOncleT aud gave compact resume OF
ne IOltlcal events of the country rom the
conquest down 70 the present time, reviewing
fri,f, misfortunes of the people under the
sIauIsh Crown. the dominion OF the church. and the
the achievement Of independence, in 1870 by
Ian Aultstin de ItuTbde the "DeliyeTer OF Mexico"
the sIor life Of TINS first Empire the revolution OF Vic
oa and santa Anna and the succeeding Instructions
and v wars which have continued 10 the present day.
uTug period of GO years over 80 individuals figured
Al the mead Uf affairs
Tbs story comprised sketchsof the romantic career
of santa whom the lecturer considered the most
capable nau in Mexico and who is stil Intriguing
for place aud power The war with the United states
was mentioned and finally BentO JuaTez became the
bls movements aud its results, comprising the dipO
matte history OF Mexico formed an interesting tale.
Tlen followed recital OF the negotiations and move
ments which led 20 the Superior Junta, out OF which
ame Maximlan and the drama OF the last Empire, and
remainder Of the lecture devoted 10 the
unfortunate Catholic Prince, and Justification TO
come extent his and his motives In cOnelu
pioD Nj WOnall predicted the final absorption Of
exieo United States aud the undoub6d benefits
that would accrue TO both Governments.