New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-05
Minister MariscaI on Mexico.

| Senor IgnaciO Mariscal Minister of Mex
| leo to the United States, arrived in New
| York last week. He makes the following
statements concerning affairs in Lis country
to reporter Of the New York HsraM:
There is no truth whatever in the rumor
that the ne WY elected Mexican Congress is
opposed to American enterprise. All that
can be yet known Of the new Congress is
that the majority of its members support
the LerdO administration, and that many
old members have gone out of office, new
ones, whose names were hardly known out
side Of their respective districts, being elect
ed to fill the vacancies. Minister Mariscal
says that, judging from the results OF the
late elections, there is room to beleve the
new Congress will be very favorable toward
American interests. Lordo de Tejada
favors them, and, as his admins
ton will have a majority OF votes,
it is clear that the Congress, as a parlia-
mentary body can not be unfriendly to
Americans. No reasonable person could
make an assertion to the contrary; for. as
Congress will not meet until the month OF
September, and as many of its members
are partly unknown to the public, it is
manitestly absurd to define it's future ac-
tion on any given question many weeks be-
fore it has verified even its preparatory
meetings. Persons desirous Of fOmencing
bad feelings between the two republics
must have invented, he says, this false re-
port Perhaps the friends of some railroad
enterprise who had been disappointed in
their projects, and are destitute OF both
brains and of capital to carry them out.
The English had, he observed, succeeded
in the Mexico and Vera Cruz railroad after
the expenditure of millions. Thus far
Americans had pro@osed many railroad
plans, but spent no capital iu carrying
them out. The same also held good with
mining speculations. General ROsecrans
had laid before the government and Con-
gress plan for the construction of mar
row gauge road. Mr.. Plumb had rival
project Sor standard gauge road. This
gentleman's scheme was better combined,
more reasonable and acceptable to the
country. The Vera Cruz and Mexico rail-
road was of the sort known as standard
gauge. The American roads now being
built through Texas and the Southwestern
Territories were also of the same gauge. 1t
was, therefore, reasonable for the Mexican
authorities to select this gauge, which
would enable new roads to be here
after constructed to interlace, by using
the same breadth of track as these already
in use or being built. For these reasons
the scheme of Mr.. Plumb had been pre-
ferred to that of General Rosecrans, and
the fermer gentleman had received from
the executive concessions: but these con-
cessions only await the approval of the Con.
gress. 1t could not, therefore, be said with
the shadow Of truth either that the new
Congress or the government of Mexico
were in any way opposed to American in
terests. On the contrary, 1t must appear to
every impartial observer that Mexico anx-
iousy desires the cooperation of foreign
capital. especially from The United States,
to assist in developing the rich resources
and to bring to light the untold hidden
treasures lying dormant in her rich valleys
and mountains throughout the country,
that but await the touch of the intelligent
industry to spring into fountains of riches
and life.
1t has also been telAgrsphed said the
minister that an intrl que was on foot in
Mexico having for its aim the transfer Of
Lower California to Germany.
This rumor is entirely untounded. The
minister here can not say what intrigues
may be going on in the city of Mexico, but
he is certain there is none of this nature
that receives countenance from the admin
istrat!on. The most unpopular act that
any administration could do would be
proposition to ALLEVIATE any portion Of the |
public domain. The face OF the nation is
firmly set against any such project, and the
bare mention of it would precipitate the
fall of any ministry, no matter how popu
idi' it@"LOCt lHC cAoCut!ht Is pD"tIIcso "
initiate or carry out such measure.
Mexico has no idea of parting with her
territory. It may be true that some Ger
mans have gone to work mines, or other
wise improve the peninsula of California:
but the citizens OF the United States, or
those of any other country, are not only
free to do the same, but they are even in
vlted hy the liberal colonization laws of the
republic to go there, settle, make home,
and to all intents and purposes enjoy the
same rights and privileges as those who
are born in the land Mexico has al
ready alienated enough of territory,
and she is resolved to part with no more.
Were she willing to do SO. it is very
natural to suppose that the United States,
bordering, friendly nation of the came
kind OF government as Mexico, and not a
European monarchy. would have the first
offer. Germany is q powerful nation and
on terms of friendship with Mexico; still
there exists more sympathy between repub-
lican governments than may be expected
betGeen a republic and monarchical
form. Persons need not be alarmed that
Mexico will invite or encourage any in
fringement of the Monroe doctrine. America
should rather. he thinks look to what is
now going on in Cuba than turn the public
eye toward Mexico. She can take care OF
herself. If anything is being done against
the Monroe doctrine Mexico is not the
offending power. Cuba should claim
share of American attention.