The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-01-19


being number of orders for it, it is
reproduced this morning to meet
the demand.
IAPACHULA, STATE OF CHIUPUs,
Mexico, Nov. 30, 1881. {
What is Socomesco? AS this ques-
tion may often be asked by the read
ers of the journals of the United
States, as well as of other countries,
now that the United States has been
solicited in the matter of dispute be-
tween the republics of Mexico and
Guatemala, on the question of So
comesco; also, why the United States
should be selected as the arbitrator,
we rise to explain, and speak from
our local standpoint, situated as we
are upon the disputed territory.
Socomesco is strip of land lying on
the Pacific coast, southeast OF the
gulf of fTehuantepec, extending from
the bay of Tonula to the bay
of di Ocos, on the present line.
of the republic of Guatamala, dis
tance of about two hundred miles,
and back to the summit of the
mountain range, from forty to fifty
miles, containing about eight thou
sand square miles, and including the
entire Pacific waterfront OF the
state of Chiupas, Mexico, extend d.
ing clear across the sides of the state
and only pointing up with one end,
Joining OH to one corner of Guata-
mala, forming perfect panhandle
to the republic of Guatemala,
and carving every foot of the
same out of the undisputed ter
ritory of Mexico, who has been in
quiet possession thereof for a period
of about eighty years, or since the
treaty with Spain at the close of
the Inquisition. This strip of
land is not all of the ter
ritory of Socomesco, for there is
about an equal amount of this
celebrated table land on the Guate-
mala side of the old division line be-
tween the two republics, which is
known as the Huchuetemango dis
trict, and extends from Muzate-
mango, on the Pacific coast, to the
river de la Passion. All of this par
ticular belt of table lands were cele-
brated by the Spanish people before
the Inquisition for its heavy produc-
ton of coffee and extra quality of
chocolate, and one of the stipula-
tions of settlement at the close of the
InquisitiOn, was a reservation by the
Spanish government of the exclu-
sive rights, to purchase the cacoa or
chocolate crop of the Socomesco
country, for the crowned heads of
Europe. There being no such
chocolate in the world as that raised
here, and that is the case yet. Until
recently the natives of this country
supposed they had no right to sell
chocolate to any other than Spanish
merchants, for the crowns of Eu-
rope. Guatemala is a thickly set
tied country and those valuable
lands are all taken up and cannot be
purchased, only at very high prices.
The product in coffee, chocolate,
sugar, rice, cotton, vanilla and indi-
go is becoming of immense value to
the country. building up her cities,
beautifying the country and enrich
ing her commerce. Realizing the
great value of such rich
country, referring back to her
old treaty with Spain, she finds
that the Territory of Socomesco is
therein conceded to her, and there
upon makes demand of the repub-
lie of Mexico to deliver up posses
sion, and makes her complaint to the
UnitedStates'secretary of state, elicit
ing from him, upon,their represen-
tation, a letter to Mexico, which has,
;,,,.l,, hoa,, tho cnl,ioot Of rnuoh crit
icism, and which has brought forth
an able defense of the rights of the
Mexican government, by the Ameri-
can minister to Mexico, Hon. p. I'll.
Morgan. 1t is right and just that
the United States government
should act, if requested to do so, in
this matter, and act entirely impair
tial, after an examintion of all the
acts, which, when fully investigated,
it will be found that in their treaties
with Spain both republics are enti-
tied to Socomesco territory, the
treaty with Mexico antidating that
of Guatemala nearly two years.
Also the same specified right to the
purchase of the superior chocolate
of this particular country for the
crowned heads of Europe, in the
the treaty with Mexico. Hence, it
will readily be seen that the long
possession of their part of the terri
tory, with the same and prior dated
concession by the mother coun-
try, gives this territory. without
question, to Mexico, and doubtless
the corps of surveyors selected by
the Joint stipulations of the two re-
publics acted upon this informa-
ton last year when they were
sent out to establish this
division line, for they followed the
exact line OF the old survey and
erected their mounds from the Pa
cifie clear beyond. this SocomGsco
tract. Since which, Guatemala COM
plains of what she agreed to stand
by as soon as this settlement of the
boundary line was completed be-
yond the Socomesco lands. The
president of the republic OF Mexico
made a concession of all those yalu-
able lands in the state of Chiupus
to DIR. Edward G. Wise, of Virginia,
and others, who have organized a
colonization company for the pur-
pose of cultivating all of said lands
in coffee, chocolate, etc., and already
there are a number of Amer
leans on. the ground, an Amer
ican city laid out, and a
display of Yankee progress and inn
provement that will, in few years,
make this end of the republic the
golden bank, from which will flow
streams of wealth, filling the vaults