The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-06-25
Grant on Mexico.

| Generai Grants views upon the
present condition and future pros
poets of the republic of Mexico are
far more interesting and valuable
than his views upon the senatorial
squabble at Albany. In his several
visits to Mexico he has had an oppor-
tunity to make a close examination
of the affairs of the republic. and his
position as president of the Mexican
Southern Railroad has brought him
in close relations with President
! Gonzales and other Mexican officials.
To reporter who interviewed him
on the subject, General Grant said
that he thought there was a great fu-
ture in store for Mexico, and that the
Mexicans are very fortunate in the
possession of their present President,
who, with the other principal men of
the republic, is fully alive to the bes;
interests of the country and in full
sympathy with the improvements
which are going Oh there, and has
sufficient firmness to resist the effort
of selfish men who stand in the way
of all enterprises which they cannot
manipulate to their own advantages.
Everything he saw impressed him
with the fact that President Gonzales
was man of great firmness-a to
resist persons who had been regarded
as all-powerful in the government,
and whose ideas were in opposition
TO any advancement. He thought he
could see great change among the
people. too. They now move about
as if they had an object in view be-
fore them. All sorts OF trades are be-
ing established, and the business-as
far as carried on-seemS to be pros
porous. He judged that, with the
mass Of the people, ex-President Diaz
was one of the most influential men
in the country. The internal inn
provements now in progress were be-
gun under his administration, and if
they haye the support in the future
which they have had in the past, he
feels assured that Mexico would adj
vance more rapidly than any other
country ever did. Their soil and
climate give products that are very
valuable in the worlds commerce.
and the people are industrious and
ready to work whenever they can find
employment and receive their wages
regularly. He hoped this new state
of affairs would he brought about by
American capital and under Ameri-
can ausDicies, because he wanted TO
see strong. self-sustaining republic
near the United States. He wanted
to see the closest commercial relations
established between the two repub-
lies, believing that it is to our mutual
interest. Mexico is the complement
of our own country. She can produce
everything that is required for mans
use which the United States cannot
produce, and the two together are
capable OF everything that grows un.
der the sun. We are now very large
consumers of tropical anil semi tropi.
cal products, which we receive from
countries that take little or nothing
of our own manufactures in return,
and these same countries collect
large portion of their revenues
from their duties on exports. Mex
leo can produce all of these ar
ticles, and she ships them free
of export duty, and in return for
them We can expect 10 pay in whole
or in Ian &c part in the products of our
manufactures and soil together. In
regard to his railroad, General Grant
said that after he had corrected the
erroneous impressions which prevail
ed in Mexico in regard to it, he Sc
cured the firm friendship of President
Gonzales and obtained from the Mex
lean Congress concession, as sub
mitted, with one amendment-that
the railroad guards should be native
Mexicans. Four sets Of engineers