The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-09
MEXICO.
BITTER rEELISo TOWARD THE UNITED STATES
THE INADEQUATE CONSULAR SERVICE AND


THE INADEQUATE CONSULAR SERVICE AND
THE FAILURE TO SECURE MExIco's TRADE
MArAMoRos. Mexico. March 81, 1877.
Scarcely year ago General PorGro Diaz, then
refugee in the United States crossed from Brownsville
Texas where he had been Tor some time organizing
revolutionary movement against tho government Of
President Lerdo, and joined few hundred OF hts
friends in the rear OF Matamoros. His was
posed chiefly OF Cortina's partsans. who willingly
cspouscd the cause OF General D!az means OF OPP
posing and perhaps ovcr.hrowng tho government OF
Lcrco who then held Cortna prisoner 10 tho city Of
Mexico, and thereby securing the release OF their
favori,e chief
BY the treachery Of the garrison OF Masamoros Daz
the city without resistance on the morning Of
Apr, q 1875. With the regular troops, not three
hundred number, eleven pieces OF artillery and the
munitions OF war which fell his hands and tho few
hundred followers who entered the city with him. he
began the movement which resulted in the occupation
OF the capital OF the nation IN December last and bis
assumption Of tho Presidency Of tho Republic.
When Diaz entered Matamoros no could not count
among his followers one prominen: politician or states
man Of the nation and military officer who had
ever held rank above that Of colonel. Without
MEANS without political or even military celebrities,
aud with Insignificant army, he has won the dcta-
,orship OF tho nation IN few months. his movement
singular TO increase in strength rapidly and TO
with no effective resistance any stage Of lis prog
ress The Mexican people appeared to be ready TO
hail any movement for The sake Of change not that
they were badly governed under Lerdo, but merely
that they governed at all which 10 reason enough
TO Join revolution. There can be no question that
the moral Influence United states has been and
yet against Diaz which perhaps one Of the chief
sources Of his strength, and while It may be humi
iang reflection IS nevertheless true that the United
States is looked upon with less consideration and re-
spect Mexico than any other nation Although the
contrary opinion prevails 10 great extent III the
United States ana IT IS supposed that Mcxcans are
friendly 10 Americans, and regard them rs having
aided them in freeing the country OF tho French, the
reverse is the Case
JEALOUS OF TIE GRINGos.
Mcxicans are naturally jealous OF the United States
ana regard US as d nation Of hlibusters who
iously LOOKING reasonable pretext 70 make war
dcspoll them Of their territory When II Is
RENE that a the acquisitions OF hababie ter.
rtory by tho United States since the formation
OF the government have been 10 the southwark and
IRON the Latin tor Alaska cannot bc regarded as
an extension OF empre and that IN no instance has
serious attempt been made either to gain by con-
neghbors tho fears and jealousy OF the Mexican peo
pie can be easily accounted tor. In addition 10 this
Tho United States have had no settled ana DC,
numerous outrages, murders and robberies
committed upon our people in Mexico IN no
instance has prompt and reasonable redress been
exnctcd, while violations OF treaty stipuations have
been repeated with mpuny, until tho Mexicans have
begun 10 regard incapable Of asserting ourselves
ana our commerce has correspondingy suffered and
our people fallen disrepue. The present course
of the United states IN regard TO Daz IL virtually IN
creasing this feeling. Lerdo not sustai ned aud Daz
not recognized; hence wo are regarded with equal
indifference by tho partsans OF both. In country
where everything depends upon to-day, and where TO-
morrow may a totally different state OF AFFAIRS any
action effective must be prompt Hence, II tho
ana political influence Mexico which her geographic
cal position would seem TO Indicate she is entitled 70
the policy must be settled, determined anu decisive
CONSULAR SERVICE
Our Minister and the SIX consuls in the Republic OF
the purpose OF receiving and aing away the protests
Of their countrymen. As Tor any Influence they have
In tins country they might a. well be so many large
and small knots gnarled tree, and, while they arc
generally mon OF responsibility and fully competent
discharge their duties to the credit OF their country
their support from home is equal to nothing, and con-
sequently their power 10 promote commerce and pro-
countrymen Is almost vaueicss. When II Is
krown that Mexico has n population OF about
10 0oo. 600 and is tho most important commercial
country adjoining the United States and that we have
only paid consuls IN the whole Republic, who re-
cevc in the aggregate less than $2 600 salary per
nun, VIII be readily understood that the expcndi.
turc OF this small in supporting consular officers
whose functions are chiefly TO promote AMI protect
commerce is the cause OF insignilcance in tho
opinion Of the Mexcans and Of our utter failure TO
secure the commerce OF Mexico.
CONTRAST OTHER COUNTRIES.
As n contrast In the Dominion oil Canada with pop
uaton Of perhaps less than O0O or scarcely one
half that Mexico there eighteen United States
consuls, $50, 700 salary per annun.
and their influence Is corIespondingly felt In COM
MERGE. While Canada dependency Of Great Britain
ind naturally the larger proportion Of her
manufactured supplies from England. with which the
United States cannot readily compete, yet every
effort made by means OF reciprocity treaties and the
favorable commercial relations incident thereto TO
Gu re- com merce ana the more important and
lucrative trade 81 Mexico which Is separate ana IN
dependent Republic, almost entirely neglected so far
efforts OF our government are concerned and
the commerce OF this country Is attracted from It's
natural channel and diverted and supplied almost
clusivcly by Europe With the apparent inauguration
OF new policy in tho United States by the rcccntly
Installed President il Is perhaps an opportune time 10
establish aud more effective aud attractive
poncy with Mexico. Whether the government OF
Diaz recognized OF but little moment II
people projected nero, SO that American nanuac
send their wares to this market with safety
anu feel that their government will promptly
and effectively interfere to secure them In their
rights The Mexican market would then soon Afford u
profitable outlet for commodities. and the inlu.
Importance OF our country c0rrespondngly
increase IN legitimate manner, and therefore, bene-
hciay aud permanently 10 the advantage VI both
countries.
DROWNED, BUT NOT ROBBED.