The Russellville Democrat., 1881-03-17
Mexico. New York Times.

Considering its geographical nearness, Americans know but very little about Mexico, nor can much be said for our facilities for acquiring informftion, even if our desire for it were stronger than it is. Of English and French books about the country most, perhaps all, are thor oughly superficial, so that we have unus- ually good reason to welcome the able monograph on Mexican society publish ed in the Deutsche Rundshau for Janu- ary, How far trustworthy the authors statements are one cannot say, but as regards the ground covered, the article may fairly be called exhaustive. Mexi- can society, according to this writer, is composed of two races, governed by diff ferent laws and ideas, and when they come in contact mutually hostile The bulk of the population consists of Indians devoted to the church which has always been at odds with the republican govern ment, and living in village communities, which since the end of the Spanish rule, have been constantly encroaching on the private property lying near them, and which they seem likely ultimately to possess through the inability of the gov ernment to protect the lawful owners. They are, moreover, comparatively healthy and fruitful, while the Creoles, even with annual accessions from Spain, are diminishing in number. The author is. therefore, of the opinion that the country, if left to itself will become directorship of Paraguayan type, found- ed on primitive Socialism and the Church. The Creole population consists of small minority of absentee planters and a large majority of persons who, in one way or another, get their living out of the gov ernment. The States have tariffs against each other, which, though the revenue | fails to pay the cost of collection, afford plenty of places for workers" that, like the Governorships and other higher offices, are practically filled by the poli- ticians of the capital. Like the Orien- tals, the Maxican regards the office not as post of duty but as piece of proper | ty." While the ereoles monopollze the civil service and the army, the Indians | the agriculture, such as it is, and Ger mans, French, etc, the foreign trade, the most fourishing class in the community is the Spaniards. They rule it's indus trial life, and are described as not only
 industrious, but able to amass moderate | fortunes, which their children. in sink l ing to the Creole level, invariably dissi- pate. AS to education, "the acme of cul- ture is to speak as many foreign tongues as possible. French is especially favored
 and in the book-shops one sees more
 French than Spanish works. Recently,
 English. has become fashionable. The
 Americans are hated but they are also
 feared, and the English are respected" As to the projected railways, our German
 resident says the country does not need
 them, and that they will not pay, which
 is also the case with the telegraph lines
 already built.
 WE are told that the Chinamen can
 not whistle. All remarks of ours about
 moon-eyed lepers, or In any way derog-
 atory to the elevated plateau of ciyiliza-
 ton occupied so ably by the estimable
 gentlemen of the Flowery Kingdom are
 here and now declared of, and are
 henceforth and forever to be considered
 as never writ or spoken.