Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-02
THE REPUBLIC SOUTH OF Us.

| For what il it all but dream?
THE REPUBLIC SOUTH OF Us.
MONTEREY, Nov. 2.-The strained re-
| lations between Americans and Mexi-
| cans, observable in this place for sew
| eral months past, have greatly relaxed
| of late. The completion of the Next
can National Railroad to Snltillo, the
capital of the State of Nuevo Leon, has
had some effect in bringing this about.
1t has removed from this neighborhoOd
a body of roughs of both natiOnalities.
Somehow, the Mexican National people
have pot been so fortunate as the Mexi-
can Central in the ofnposition and
management of their working forces.
In the construction of this road, the
working forces have excited hostility
among the natives by their conduct. In
my travels through the States of Chi
huahua and Durango | do not find the
same thing to be true of the Mexican
Central's forces. The common people
up there have a saying which charac-
terizes that line as tho railroad of the
gentlemen" Down here the character
ization of the Mexican National is both
untranslatable and uncomfortable.
Very much of the anlmOSlty that is felt.
whether expressed or restrained, against
Americans had its Immediate inception
in the rough character and acts Of rail
road men. This Is passing away. Be-
hina it there is, of course, the Mexican
Chauvinism, which finds root in patriotic
self love. Monterey was captured and
occupied by the Americans. That is ey-
PLANTATION enough.
Still ii must be acknowledged that
there il very much better feeling
toward the United States, even in Mon
terey, than there was three months ago.
One striking proof of this is the fact
that La Reristd, the bitter antagonist
and critic Of our countrymen, Is re-
ported and believed to be about to
change its policy. La ReriStd is owned
by a French firm and edited ty Ger
man. Like most of the Mexican pa
pers. it is not q Journal of news. bat Of
opinion. political or clerical. Its anti
American cour5, was simply and purely
q business venture. Apparently 1t paid.
There is no question but it.w.s ably
done. From being au ObSc ure sheet 1t
came to be widely known. 1t grew in
size, was much talked about, increased
its force, became the voice of n bitter
antagOnism. and WAS made the skeleton
on which all the Texas newsmen sta
toned here and at Laredo strung their
dispatches. In these communications
they did their level and little best TO
add fuel to the flame of hostile feeling.
La Repista's change Is therefore I'M
portant. A paper started at the City of
Mexico on the line of hostility that our
Monterey paper retires from, turns out
to be an egreyiOuI failure.
Monterey is fairly prosperous, es-
pecially in the retail trade. The rail
road is no longer bringing tourists in
any considerable numbers, who are too
commonly Indifferent t. the prejudices
or even personal rights Of he Mexican
people. but there is a steady accession
of business men. who are looking
soberly and quietly ut the chances Of
successful Investments. The principal
Wholesale merchants here and here
abouts. who are not too old to change,
have stopred kicking ag ,inst the pricks
of a new commercial system, while the
| Increasing prosperity of the retailers is
making frieads for the railroads, and.
ofceurse, for the Americans. We hear Of
crimes and assaults occasionally by
both Americans and Msxicans against
other Americans, but for myself, after
several months sojourE III this State and
Durango, Chihuahua, Sonora. and Siua-
| loa, have encountered none of it, met
no dangers except from the Apaohes
| on one occasion, and have always 70 nd
the Mexican people hOspitable and
| peaceful.
Some months ago it certainly looked
as il the ensuing Presidential contest
would be accompanied by great disturb
ances, if not by open revolutionary
efforts. At this writing the contrary
\ appears to be the case. Gen. Porfiro
Diaz il without question popular. He
is certainly feared and respected in
equal degrees. ! have heard it whis,
pered that after all he may not be a can
didate. but that President Com .les, the
present incumbent. will be put forward
for reelection. This idea is based on
the ground that Diaz is tao deeply in
terested pecuniarily to permit his am-
bition to put his purse in peril. He can.
| of course, remain as he Is. the ruling
spirit OF the Gonzales administration.
| Understanding the sensitivess of the
narrow Mexican patriotism, in which he
to some extent shares. Diaz may fear
that railroad and other capital now flow
ing in would OF necessity be greatly dis
turbed if there should be serious cleo
ton disorders.
Bat whether it be Diaz or Gonzales.
the real power would be Diaz. Trevino
is out Of the ring. Romero does no.
see his way TO the Presidency: perhaps
be does to the Supreme Court and its
chief post. General Fuera. now COM
manding in southern Mexico, Is too
Young for Presidential aspirations.
though he would like 10 be Governor of
Chihuahua. Terrasas, the presen, Gov
ernor OF that State. who would like 70
be President. is too old and too corrup:
| for success even here.
| 1t must be remembered that the Liter
| leaders Of Mexico are nearly all from
the northern section, and they all have
more or less Indian blood in them.
| This ia very i'm portant elsueus 10 Mex
loan affairs. The Spanish Mexican Is
fast Lecoming, il he il not already. a
secondary and subordinate factor. The
distribution of races may explain this
There are now nearly ten and hall
millions Of persons In Mexico at this
writing When the last enumeration
was had TIE number was l0,Oi.>... d.
vidsd as follows:
Indian blood. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. -, ts',ot.
Spanish blood. s3,oZ-
II is the Indian and the mixed races
| and p<,ople that are rising now. The