New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-28
J. ORLEANS FRIDAY,
MEXICO AND HER FUTURE.

Interview with Minister Neison-The Pro
jected Railroad System-The Religion
Questionable Troubles on the From
tier and Relations with the Unite.
States.
| T. II. Nelson, for three and a half year
past United States minister TO Mexico, il
now in this city. accompanied by his cousin
Alice De Isurbide, the daughter-in law O
the Emperor, and her son. a boy of tel
years, Iturbide, his grandson. The abduc
tion of the latter by Na1imilian, his adop
tion as the heir of the Mexican archduke
and his long detention al the castle OF Cha
pultepec. will be remembered as the Incl
dents of remarkable page in the history
OF the Mexican empire. In conversation
with the minister the following statements
were made in regard to Mexican affairs:
| Perhaps the most important conviction
which gained during my stay in Mexico,
| longer than that of any OF my predecessors,
| is that there can be no doubt whatever OF
the earnest, cordial feelings Of good will
| entertained by the government and people
toward this country. Internally Mexico is
now at peace it is an almost unprecedented
fact in her history thatnot single armed
| rebel is in the field from TehaunteDec to the
Rio del Norte. Civil dissension ceased with
the election OF Lerdo TJada to the presl-
| dency. He wa- the faTorite candidate OF
| every party. Liberals, imperialists, repub-
| licans, federalists, men opposed on every
| other issue, united to raise him by unani-
nous vote to the chief nagistracy. He is a
| man of incorruptible honesty and gifted
with abilities of the highest order, trained
and perfected in a long ite of public affairs
and refined by finished education and
| scholarship.
He became my warm personal friend dur
| ing my stay in Mexico, md as Minister of
| Foreign Affairs the diplomatic Intercourse
| of the United States and Mexico passed
| through our hands. While We often dis
| agreed on the most important matters,
| could never fail to admire the skill and
| tact he displayed in adjusting all difficult
| ties. II is scarcely possible to Overestmate
| the influence of such an administration,
| thoroughly honest to a remarkable degree,
| upon the immediate funlre of the country.
| The first result will be development OF
| her internal resources Her Congress is
already crowded with projects for the con-
struction of an elabOrae railroad system.
| The only railroad nov built runs from
Vera Cruz to Mexico. Engineering diff
culties of wellnigh inIurmountable char
acter were overcome IL constructing this
road, whose grade rises900O feet in few
miles. I5 was built principally by English
capitalists. 1t is perhaps unnecessary to
Edhb duN IciciCubC ~ 10 pAoii'S.
The government assumed 4O0, 900 pald-up
shares by paving a cetaln per centage, at
no time less than tifteel, of the net duties
on imports, and has pait annually subven-
sion of $500 900 whicl is to continue for
TWENTY-FIVE wears The road is now in per-
feet order. The projects now before the
government plan the connection of Mexico
with the larger cities OF the INTERIOR the
construction OF a trunl lire to the Pacific
,nvhn
to Manzanillo-and theunion of the entire
system with the roads of this country on
the Rio Grande. Three companies of capi-
talists are now SndeaOrlDg to obtain gov
ernment subsidies, whbh will be given on
each mile al read in he form OF direct
grant, and not by grant OT land. One of
these is headed by GeIerai Eoseccans. for.
meily minister from Ais country at that
capital. who represents the taiIroad inter.
ests con n.rollet! Gy Cobnei Tom Scott: the
projects If q secOnI are pushed by +.
II. Plumb, who propoes direct connection
with ST. Louis as the connecting link with
this country by way OF Fulton. Hearn aud
Lerida. : part of the quite in this country
is already constructed and haS met with
the approval OF the executive branch OF the
Mexican government; third Is composed
of iunta Of = exican capitalists and bank
eys, and is j. Aot impo sible that q natural
sentiment OF national pride Will lead the
Mexican Congress to place the fsilroa1
future Of the ceuht,yN the,; hands. Ihe
religious uuss:ions i'll Mexico may be con
sitered as settled. Tie recent step, which
was publicly proclaimed on Che grand plaza
q. the capital. October ls, and hot Eovem-
Der, az was er.oneousl1 stated by some pa
ycrs, was no Ccw sneaslre IN !tse!t. IT con.
sisted in th. adoption "a. part y! the or.
garic !aV Of the principles which have
been ,ie statute Law OF the land since 1896.
and undeS which Garly s300,00OO0O OF
church property vas zen conhscated. 1hls
amendment to the Mexican constitution
was adopted by unanimous vote of the
States, and places tht relations of Church
and State on prec:seythe same footing as
IN this country.
An unfortunate e.liCof Seuiai practices,
an article in the constitution which gives
the President the righ to Danish, without
assigning any reason, persons known to the
article as e'perniciOus foreigners, has been
used lately IN manner which tended to !
bring the religious cut stlon prominently
before the people. PRESIDENT Lerda ban
ished under that article thirty or forty |
priests. Two of then were Americans, |
and as Minister | protested against their |
expulsion from the country without a trial, |
or the opportunity fOrcharges or d defense. !
tirely alooi from politns, scarcely knew the |
Maine OF the eXecutiveti!l they saw 1t signed |
to the order of banisIment. The alleged |
fact that they were ,Ieluts dla not in my |
mind offer tae slightet excuse Tor this act, |
which was performed however, by Ierda |
from the pure.J anu highest motives. ip |
regard to the srOubleson the sronte! It IS
my opinion that they have been greatly
exaggerated, and tn. best result OF tie
Mexican siiaiin- Commission III my opinion
IS thai the truth will IDw be reached Gnde;
a cr0ss eXami nation tDm both sides.
Ih. only annexation which will be really
beneficial L" both countries Is not an organic
connection bat commercial union-iree !
trade iI the broaGest sense. Il would not
be to our advantage {. absorb = civilization !
of another t,pe uyotlrced by an alien race
and religion. MexicOis a tropical country.
raising products We ian not produce. ani
We can euppi3 her eith manufactures Ot
which she IS absolutely deficient. The true I
interest Of both countries can be promoted
only by the treest, fulest intercommunion.
1t will do away with most uniounded pre-
udice which exists il this country against
Mexico. tie result of ignorance alone.
People here know les about Mexico than
about China. and yetNe have contiguous
territory of 20U0 mills, and by the recent
steamship line fron New Orleans 20 Vera
Cruz the trip from New York is Seduced TO
TX days. three by raj and sh:ee Ny sea-
N.,- ioF. 1j0tss.
STOLEN BONDS RECOVERED.
EnNn n,1n &AYgS