New Ulm weekly review., 1880-10-13
The Population and Politics OF Mexico.

IL lS amazing 10 see upon now small
rations an Indian or half breed can
thrive and do the hardest work. l saw
at Vera Cruz half breeds working ten
hours in the hold of steamer packing
away sugar and coffee, the thermometer
standing at over 100 deg, and the men
working harder than New York steve
dores, yet their breakfast consisted of
only tortillas and a cup of coffee. This
ability to endure fatig que upon q very
small amount of food makes the Indian
an admirable soldier. He will make Q
forced march of two or three days al
most without rations, and will then be
as ready to fight rs an Irishman at Don.
nybrook Fair. The Indians have
another characteristic that makes them
invaluable soldiers in land like Mex
leo. They do not care whom they fight
for, or for what principle they are led
into battle, as long as they fight some
body, and in the revolutions they al-
ways join the party that wins rs soon as
the battle is over. General Grant tells
story of his experiences when Lieu
tenant in the Mexican war. The Ameri-
can army defeated the Mexicans, and
the defeated army being deprived of
their arms, Immediately became camp
followers, Grant engaging a Mexican
Captain as his body servant at 81 q
month.
Next to the pure whites, shese In
dians are by far the best population
that Mexico has. The inhabitants may
be divided into three classes: First,
whites descended from the original
Spaniards, or from German, French or
English ancestors; second, the pure In
dians; and, third. the mestizos, or
mixed race, who constitute the labor
ing class. Putting the present popr-
lation of Mexico at 10000, 900, which
is probably slightly under the real fig
ure, those Of pure European descent
probably number 100000, or twenty
per cent. of the whole population; the
Indians, 3,5OO,O0O, or thirty-five per
cent, and the mestizos, 4,5OO, 1000, or
forty-tive per cent. These Indians be-
long to various tribes, and differ as
much among themselves in habits, ap-
pearance, and their intellectual quafi-
ties as Anglo-Saxons and Latins. The
Indians of the cities are low, brutal
lied lot, constantly drunk, and only
engaged in the lowest menial duties
In some parts of the country, however,
as at Tlapacoyan and Amatlan, they
are hard-working, Industrious people,
neat in their dress and sober in their
habits. In the mining districts they
make by far the best miners, and COM
mand the best wages. The mestizos
are the principal agricultural laborers,
small shopkeepers and politicians. They
are generally understood, with copper
colored skins and straight hair.
Without the energy Of the pure white
or the hard working application
OF the Indian, these mestizos have
very little to recommend them. They
are lazy, stupid, thievsh in their pro-
pensities, and inordinately fond of
pulque, which is, next to their love of
revolutions, the greatest bane of tho
country. The wealthy landowners,
merchants and bankers both in the cities
and In the country, are almost altogeth-
er lmperialists. They were all in favor
OF Maximilian, and, looking down upon
the mestizos, who arc the politicians of
the country, they refuse to take any
part, in the present Government. The
Indians take no interest in politics un-
less there is some fighting to be done,
and then they will, as mentioned be-
fore, fight with equal readin css upon
either side. The mestiZos. from whose
ranks the Presidents and other political
officers are mostly recruited, are, as q
rule, "agin the Government" no mat
ter what it may be. 1t is to the lazy,
treacherous and, at the same time, un-
easy nature of this class that the revo-
lutions arc mostly due. The mass of
the people take no interest in politics,
and never mention the Government ea-
cept TO abuse it. 1t is scarcely to be
expected that much improvement will
take place in this until the population
increases, and perhaps the best thing
that could happen TO Mexico would be
that she should lose the States nearest
the border, and then there is chance
that the remainder might be able to up
hold good Government. The educa-
tional system is as good as that Of the
United States, and the smallest village
has its public school, But education
does not seem to do the children much
good. Letter to N: 7. Sun.
FAMED by the charm Of loveliness.
the independent and virtuous spirit
amalgamates with what is earthly.
Thus it is that love defles the dust, and
brings down upon earth that which .
heavenly.