The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-08-12
TIE FUTURE OF MEXICO.
Mobile Ressistef.1

Mobile Reesister.]
The history of Mexico has been u
strange one. Our first knowledge of
that land is through the writings of its
Spanish cOnquerors. These reveal TO
us pictures of II civilization among its
original population which is wonder
full to read of, and give us traditions of
u more remote and even higher civliza-
ton. To-day the existing remnants of
ancient structures speak to us Of Aztec
power and magnificonce, standing out
in the dim foreground of past in
which all else is enwrapped in the vail
Of total obscurity.
To the Aztec succeeded the SpaniarL,
and the rule Of iron followed The sway
of the MonteZumas. VicerOy succeed
ed Viceroy till 1921 when the revolt of
Iturbide, along with that Of Santa
Anna and other chiefs made Mexico
free and independent. A republic was
proclaimed, and d republic has been
maintained, after a fashion, ever since.
We cannot truly say that Mexico has,
until a few years past, seemed to ap-
preciate to any extent what 4 republi-
can from Of government is. Its history
since it achieved its independence has
been the history of Il succession of
revolutions, and of struggles for power.
PrOnunciamentnes have been scattered
over the land broadcast from time to
time, until tho people became SO as
| custOmed to the sight Of them that
they felt natural uncertainty when
they retired at night as to the govern
ment that would rule them in the
morning.
No progress could be expected in a
country constantly torn by civil war
and the contests of faction, and it is
not surprising therefore that Mexico
up to- this time has not progressed.
But now change is apparent in that
land SO long sunk in torpor. The
country has enjoyed Il longer period of
! exemption from civil discord and inter-
necine strife than it has over known,
and tho Government for the past eight
or ten years has felt itself to be firmly
| established. The result is that Mexico
is turning its attention from internal
| improvement, and that that romantic
| land at last appears to have future
| before it. Instead Of looking upon all
Americans with hatred and suspicion.
the progressive Mexican now seeks to
be joined to our country by the iron
links of commercc, and the puff of tho
locomotive is now q welcome sound to
his cars. OF railroads which arc in
process of construction and about to
begin in Mexico, there is the Mexican
Central, $3.50 miles long the Mexican
National, 1914 miles; the Mexican
Southern, whose length has not been
ascertained the Sinatoa, 273 miles the
tho Sonora, 2s3 miles and the
Tehuantepec, 1877 miles long. All these
havo more or less direct reference to
connection with the railroad system OF
tho United States
These roads will all in developing
the resources of Next leo. Writing upon
this subject the st. Louis Globe Demo
crat says:
"Of the mineral wealth of the region
which is to be Opend it is not necessary
to speak at length. 1t is known to be
one of the richest, if not the richest in
the world. When the present inper-
feet appliances for mining which are
now in use there give place to modern
methods aud machinery there is no
telling to what limits the productive
ness may be extended. This present
yield is hut a hint of what may be OK
pected. Gold, silver, copper, lead,
zine and antimony are known to
abound. Those who have observed the
sudden influx of population in Cali
fornia since 1913, and the rapidity with
mining centres, Leadviilc for instance,
are proverbially populated, know
what Accessibility to the Mexican mines
means. The precious metals from but
one feature Of the natural resources OF
Mexico. Marble in iuexhaustible
quantities exist in numerous localities,
and it is claimed to he equal to any in
tho world. P0rphyry, jasper, serpen-
tine, sulphur and copperas are known
to be plentiful. The forests themselves
invite special attention. The India
rubber tree exists in some States in
sufficient quantities to create 4 large in
dustry. In the way of cabinet woods
there are mahogany and rosewood of 4
very superior quality. The palm,
olive, cacao and almond yield COM
mcrcial oils. Among the agricultural
products arc cotton, coffee, cacao,
tobacco and indigo. The tobacco,
some OF it, is claimed to he equal to the
best Cuban. Tho present population of
Mexico is about 10000 600, and there
is not II population of that size on tho
face of tho earth so barbarous that its
con, Mercc with outside nations may
not be rendered valuable. How much
then may legitimately he expected
from the McXicanS!