The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-07-19
A SCHEME.

There are those who do not take a rose
colored view of the railroad situation in Mex.
leo. They claim that the country is not YET
prepared for these vast enterprises which have
: lately been inaugurated in that country. In
proof Of this the fact is pointed out that hall
of the revenue collected annually from Gus.
toms, or a sum equal TO ninety millions OF
dollars IS pledged as subsidies to railroad COM.
panies and that it is utterly impossible that
any such a sum can be paid. 1t is further
more boldly charged that the outcome of this
railroad business in Mexico will result in a
war between the United States aud that coun-
try. This is predicted upon the following
reasons. In the first place the railroad is not
a suitable institution for Mexico, and it is
claimed the Mexican Government knows this
while it is so apparently anxlo to encourage
it. The American railroad kings, it is claimed,
know it as well, while they aleparading sub
sides and carrying General Grant about, as a
figure head for the purpose of selling their
bonds and stock at home. In shot, it is
plainly charged that the Mexican Govern
ment has sold itself and its country to these
spectators, and they in turn have arranged
to make the American people pay the cost.
This is a very pleasant little scheme and will
be brought about in the following manner.
By and by, and that before a long time, the
subsidies will cease, and the railroad compa-
MES will find their termini at some obscure
places in the mountains, unless perchance
they may reach some mine in which these
capitalists are interested. Then the whole
blame will be laid upon the Mexican Gov
eminent, which by that time in due course Of
revolutions will be another one, repudi-
dating and not even attempting
to 'readjust' the debt. The injured
stockholders, who will have nobody to blame
but themselves for their stupidity, will ap-
peal to their own government for redress. and
perhaps a lobby influence at Washington
may provoke a war with Mexico. That is
the way the war is to be brought about, which
is to end finally in the absorption of the land
of the Aztecs by this country.
But there are several rugged obstacles to
overcome before that speck of war will be
seen, and the principal one lies in the fact
that the American people have always been
and are still opposed to the acquisition OF
Mexico upon any terms. If Mexico is not
prepared for railroads, this country is not
prepared to receive her with her unfinished
roads and enormous debt. Neither
will this government permit itself to
be used as a cats-paw to pull out
subsidies from the Mexican treasury for the
benefit of American spectators in railroad
enterprises in that country. If Mexico can
not sustain the roads that are projected with
in her boundaries she is too poor and feeble
to become an acceptable portion of our great
Union. This scheme of acquiring Mexico by
loading her down with railroad subsidies in
the interest OF American capitalists and then
when she is unable to fulfill her promises for
her to be gobbled up by the United States un,
der the plea of protecting the interests of
American citizens, has been outlined before.
But it is doubtful whether it will work.
| Mexico is a beautiful country and may appear
a desirable acquisition, but the squalor, filth,
ignorance, superstition and semi barbarism
which may be found within its bmndaries
are not 50 inviting. While she may he q
good neiglItor. as a relation and one of the
great family Of the States of the Union she
might become unbearable-