New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-12

X.
of this country that railway building IN Mexico
will be good investment. You must not Ioree..
that Central Mexico is not only popuous put
densely populous. There are rich and productive
States in Mexico like my own state Of Oaiaca. the
interstate commerce of which alone, when deVeI-
oped by rapid railway communication. Wouiu SOU
assume "A great and Temunerative Importance. 90
far as I am personally concerned, my cOnylction
that railways essential to the prosperity ana
welfare of nv country Is not OF recent date' DOth
MS q public officer and as a private citizer nave
always done everything IN my power 10 secure uhe
building of railways in Mexico though nave
never had any pecunary interest IN any such
enterprise. And | shall feel that nave done my
country very great service If L can happily
contribute in any way 10 decide the capitalists OF
tins metropolis seriously to engage in such enter
prises. IL Is with this purpose that j have ven
tured to ask General Grant to give you his views
sound and enlightened. and which ] am snre will
be commended to your attention by his high po-
siton IN this country aud the great services he las
rendered il. / am sure ne has acceded to my
request because he regards the question as
one of National importance and hope lie
Will permit me TO say that l have not only been
strnck bv the accuracy of his views on this ques
ton but equally gratifed and surprised TO see now
well he understands the condition OF Mexico, now
thoroughly he appreciates the character OF the Mex
lean people, and how clear an insight he mas INTO
their future after brief visit to my country
But must delay you no longer. and with my best
thanks for your Obllgng attention, must now
resp ctfuv ask General Grant 10 favor Us with his
views on this subject.
RESPONSE OF GENERAL GRANT.
have not arranged anything that am going to
say in order, and il may be that as 90 on. some
questions Will suggest themselves to your minds.
If they DO, and if yon will ask me, will answer
them to the best of my ability, or confess that
know nothing in the shape Of an answer. went
TO Mexico last winter Tor two objects One was
that | had been there good many years ago, in
the war which this country unfortunately had
with that nation, and have always felt an inter
est In the country from that day TO this. And then
went there with the further object of seeing, II l
could how possibly we might establish relations OF
friendship and commerce between the two nations.
I was led 10 that from facts which became aware
of in reference to this country. | found that we
were large consumers Of tropical products and that
the amount was increasing in double raho-frst
by an increase in our population, and then
again by increase IN the wealth OF
our inhabitants. All those vroducts-sugar, cof-
fee and tobacco being the leading articles
we derive from countries that trade but very little
with u.s. countries that collect their revenues to
large degree by levyng duties their exports,
which we have to pay. and then forcing us to ship
our products to a European market to get the
sterling in exchange with which to pay these bills.
III remember c0rrectly-f0ur years ago, could
have told you accurately-but If my memory serves
me right, we are paying out annually 3OOOoO'OOO
in current exchange, nearly all Of lC in sterling eX-
change Cor such products believe. and was con
WINGED after nv visit TO Mexico, that that country
was capable Of producing all that we have to
import now Of this character and with large sur
plus to provide for our increased consumption. III
is q neighboring Republic with institutions like our
own. and her wants, which mast be supplied from
abroad, are Just such as we could supply. If Mexico
were developed SO as to have incentive to cult
yate her soil she would want agricultural imple-
mcnts and many such articles. As the peo-
,le became wealthy, they would want
carriages and wagons ali sorts OF machinery, all OF
the rolling stock for rhlrOads-ron probably would
come from England, because they would get It from
there cheaper-harness boots and shoes, clothing.
and a thousand and one other articles we could
furnish. so that we could pay largely for what we
received in the produce of our manuiacto-
res thereby adding TO the commerce OF our
country and beneftting the two Republics alike.
HOW THE PEOPLE FEEL
Willie | was there l was met with this subject all
the time found the people there very much inter
csted in the development of their resources.
was told that there was good deal of hostility on the
mart of some people to connection with the United
states they having IN their recollection the
result Of tho unfortunate incidents many years ago.
! when our Americans settled up Iexas-part OF
! Mexico ar that time. That afterward LED to a
| secession OF that State from the Mexican Republic
/
| resulted in the loss of yet more territory
There las been in this Nation feeling that the
| Mexican people were not class to develop thelr
! country, and that they have gone thr0ugh a long
| series Of years here without making many ad-
vances The assertion Is made without am, par
ticu'ar examination Of the subject, IRON
history o' Of tHe eeun5S i%f t@St the, they
Mexico is entitled to great deal OF credit for the
! positiOn which she occupies now among the CIVIL
| led nations OF the earth when yo9 consider her
| trols her dItiicultes-trials and difficulties
which it was impossible for her to avoid;
| JJp to 1910 Mexico was province OF Ola
| SPAN. She was governed great deal As SPAN
| governs her provinces now-ior the purpose OF
eating from them all they could possibly collect and
Keeping their subjects entirely ignorant OF how 10
| IegIslate and how TO govern, SIMPLY making them
| nTodncers. hewers Of wood and drawers of water.
| Mexico, up to 1910 was governed entirely from
old Spain. She was prohibited IRON produG.ng
| onrthinp from her soil which Spain could produce
| and ship to her, and all of those products bad TO
| nav large duty when they went INTO
| Mexico They prevented the Mexican people
| from having any part in their government
samding their own sons there TO rule and to enrich
| Themselves by large salaries and pubic plumber
| do not think l am overstating H. am l. MI
senior Romero-No. not at all.
| WHY THg COUNTRY REvoLTED.
| Il At last became so unbearable that in 1910
| uov;co revolted and the war continued until 1924
before she gained her final freedom. Then she
WAS a people without legislative expert
| ence without experience in governing, but
free. and with a country TO rule and to make laws
! for. The first thing they did was to adopt a
constitution something like ours, establishing
United States, when there was but one
State. They had to 90 to work and carve
| mn the territory and make states so as TO CON
| form TO the constitution. And having DO people
TO- make laws for them, they adopted the laws which
Mere in forcethe laws of Od sDain they pIohdIn iG
| tied fine cultivation of certain articles ana so did
ha lows of Old spain They prohibited the cultIva-
ton of tobacco to two sections, where 1t was
| farmed out. and where the Government became me
! nnrchasers of the crop after 1t was raised the
p"onSactnrers of the tobacco and the sales
men of it, That perquisite was transferred to me
Goyernment of Mex instead Of that OF Oiq Hpt'n.
Tbaf was an the difference, the reform, that was