The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-12
mexico, Texas and the United states

of the 10Th instant, ask space to offer sout
reflections in regard to Mexico sAd our early
prospective railway connection with thai
wonderful and interesting country. Without
clear conception of the true condition AND
genius, past and present, OF that people, VT
cannot do them justice or realize their grand
achievements in atf1irs material, or in theil
march towards constitutional government
and the education and elevation of the
masses. To some extent l shall draw from
an article written several - since
the predictions of which have been more
than verified, aud most respectfully ask
fair hearing from all railroad men pushing
their lioes toward or through that country;
of sll capitalists seeking investments as well
as citizens seeking homes in Mexico
This article is prompted by SO often seeing
in American newspapers utterauces in some
sense forsshadowing MS the result of these
magnificent railway connections, the snnexs'
ton of that country to this, or the absorb
ton of its political autonomy BY men
vet to 90 there, embodying, with no effort at
disguise. the idea of filibusterism, of all
things the most potent and detestable to the
Mexican mind. Every such American news
paper utterance is seized upon by the organs
of the old party of oppression and cerico-
military despotism to alarm the people and
break down the noble party of progress,
which has held the reins of government for
twenty-five years, interrupted only by the
French intervention from 1868 to 1867. Tho
true friends of constitutional liberty, popular
education and enlightened advancement in
Mexico, are previously panied by such
publications, AID, to some extent placed on
the defensive at home, whereas their mission
is aggressive "A ;gressive against the remnant
of all form abuses and expressions, and
aggressive in fav Or of utilizing every practical
conception fol tn enlightenment and eevs-
ton of the p ope.
The popular Union of our countrymen is
that Mexico is u land of ever-continuing rev.
olutions and internecine strifes-thst the
country has been on the descending scale for
at least two generations. and that anarchy is
its normal condition. | am fain 10 believe
that not u man or woman in the United
States, If only moderately Informed as 10
the true history of that country, would en-
terrain any such thought. Can we not afford,
even in these days of development, enterprise
and money getting, TO be just to our next
door neighbor, the second republic in the
world?
undertake to say Quoting from an article
written by myself several years ago. that no
people on the globe are more entitled to the
good will of all liberty loving people of this
country than are that portion of the Mexican
people belongiDging to that party which,
since the accession of Juarez to tho pres
idency in 1859, has controlled the government,
excepting during the French intervention
the great republican or democratic party of
the republic.
For precisely three hundred years-l52l to
182l-;he natives of Mexico were held in the
most abject bondage and ignorance by the
crown and minions of Spain. Their lot was
one OF toll and misery for the enrichment of
their despoilers and oppressors. They were
ground into powder by restrictions and ex.
actions, scarcely surpassed by the rules of
pententiary life. 1t WAS death for a
foreigner to set foot on Mexican soil without
permission from the XII G of Spain. No
trade was allowed except with Spain. All
officers of profit or dignity, whether civil,
military or ecclesiastical, were monopolized
by pets and favorities from Spain, who came
to plumber themselves into wealth and 70.
turn. They were not allowed 10 plant
vineyards, or produce any staple articles OF
commerce that was produced in Spain, but
were compelled to buy from the mother
country. 1t WIS for three hundred years a
vast .politico religious despotsm, alIevisted
only by the occasional rule of q true.hearted,
Christian bishop, and soothcd by the
sympathy of such natives as were allowed to
fill poor benefces in the underpriesthood in
outlaying villages and pueblos.
Commencing under the lead of three such
priests-Hidslgo, Morelos, and Matsmoros--
in 1910, all of whom were captured and
butchered as martyrs to Mexican liberty,
eleven years later the revolution triumphed.
Imagine the condition Of the country after
three hundred years of such OPP
of bloody, relentless and destructive
civil war Stricken as with bosom of
destruction, industry PROSTATE, unscquainted
with tho outside world, without knowledge
of letters or books, the multitude absolutely
unable TO read, buoyed up and held TO-
gether by a single inspiraiion-hatred Of
Spain and love Of liberty-the task Of
forming government and preserving their
dearly bought rights lay before them.
A few years showed hat though freed of
tho Spanish yoke, the elements OF despotism,
the inherited wealth and power of the priv.
eleged orders, were still among them, strong,
organized and rs greedy Of power and gain
as ever. The year 1928, now fifty three
years past, marks the dawn of grand and
glorious era in the bloody march of Mexico
10 the haven of constitutional liberty, regu.
lated by law. /, has been long and often
sanguinarv road. A few bright lights then
appeared, men of noble hearts and far.
reaching foresight, who sought an early
fiuition in their march Of genuine free
government. Pedrazs, seconded by the
illustrious patriot, Manuel Gomez Farias, led
this Spartan band. All tho mighty
wealth Of the clergy, embracing about one.
half the resl estate of the country, and un-
told millions of money and revenue, became
leagued with such men as Santa Anna, TO
check the growth of free principles, and
retain upon the country,a military, ecclesi.
astical despo,ism. 1t was this unholy alliance
that, from 1888 to 1885 destroyed state gov.
ernments, trampled under foot tho free con.
stitution OF 1924, made Santa Anna dicta.
tor, and Immediately afterwards invaded
IeX@' but with n consiancy, a patriotism
and courage unsurpassed in the annals of
America they struggled on, demanding free.
dom OF speech and Of tho press, trial by Jury
and the right of religious worship unawed
by power. Often overwhelmed ana driven
like wild beasts TO cayerps and moun,aina