The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1881-05-14

From the New Orleans Picayune.
But few months have elapsed
since the railway magnates com
menced to fully utilize the conces
sions which had been granted then
by the Mexican government. 1t il
true party of track layers had beer
engaged previously extending road
out from Guaymas ION the west
coast) to meet the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe railroad, but the strug
gle for control of the routes between
the cityof Mexico and the Rio Grande
began only a short time since. The
report of Gen. Palmer indicates with
what wonderful rapidity the new lines
arc to be pushed through. Fleets OF
vessels are bearing to the Mexican
coast railway material, and an army
OF workmen is approaching the Rio
Grande larger than the bodies o.
soldicry which our generals led to
the conquest Of that Republic. 1t is
not onl y a race for control Of traffic,
but for subsidies.
Mexico has extended the national
aid to these railways to the extent of
about 5000, 100000. There is a sub
sidy promised Of $4,000 to SIS, 900
per mile. The Could line from Laredo
to the capital will take $4,000, 600
out Of the Mexican treasury within
the next two years. The other cor
porations will come in for as much
more. 1t is not unreasonable to esti-
mate that railway subsidies earned
before 1883 will reach So, 900 900,
and perhaps 500, 100000. The dis
bursement of such sums by country
that has an annual revenue of about
$50 100000 must bring on either
bankruptcy or enormous taxation,
breeding discomfort and hostility TO
American enterprise and Northern
institutions.
In their desire to advance the pros
perlty of their country, we fear the
Mexican statesmen have put too
heavy a mortgage upon its future.
They have too heavily discounted
the progress which will follow the
introduction of more economical
methods Of transportion, and paid
too dearly for the development Of the
country in one direction.
The reaction appears indeed to
have already set in. The railway
who recently visited the
capital were coldIy received. Gen.
Grant is called upon to defend the
motives which led him to visit Next
co, Oh account Of reports set afoat
concerning deeplaid schemes to over
turn the government, or annex the
country to the United States. The
masses are already apparently grow.
ing suspicious, and fear the encroach
ments of the Northern capitalists.
When the millions and tens of mil
lions Of money are drawn out of the
country to help pay for these improve
ments, the Administration which
favors these schemes will doubtless
lind powerful party arrayed against
1t. The United States government
will be called upon to protect it's
citizens in their contracts, and pre-
serve their property from destruction,
and conquest will be likely to FOLLOW. |
But even if these anticipatiops are
aot realized, the railway will ere long
10 mingle the two pations that cop
'olidation will be assured. With |
he influx Of the NorthesA races will
grow up q party which seeks the
protection and advantages Of the
great republic. Ii Mexico is bur
lened with debt this will become an
Incentive for the people to abandon
Independence, and the bondholders
will labor to have their obligations
by the United States.
IT would appear, therefore, that in
he not distant future there will be
II ample field for the spread of
'outhern principles and Southern
alliances across the Rio
irande in the galaxy of States that
/, III Ia, |