The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-23
For the Farmer and Mechanic
M~exico--Hatuev.
RY a LAWYER.

: Take your map and turn to Greece
4 The Isthmus Of Corinth connects Ill
t Peloponnesus with the main land an
J also separates the Gulf of Corinth fror
the Fgean sea. The ancients endeav
orcd to construct a canal across th
Isthmus but failed. They then provi
ded a kind Of tramway by means 0
which their vessels were conveyed from
the gulf to the sea.
Now turn to Egypt. Across tn,
Isthmus of Suez which separates tn,
Mediterranean from the Red sea, the
men Of our own time have cut a canal
What an immense distance is saved tC
a ship going from Co~nstantinople Oh
London to China by this canal. Tho
entire journey around Africa and the
Cape OF Good Hope is dispensed with.
a saving in distance is a saving in time.
What does this package contain said
Gov. Seward to 4 gentleman who re-
quested him to carry q small parcel 20
his Son. "A watch' the gentleman re-
piled. How old is your son - inquired
the Governor. Seventeen years old. 4"
responded the gentleman. "Well SIR
said Gov. Seward, you ought to have
gwen him one long ago. / give each
OF my boys a watch as soon as they
know how to wind one, in order
that they may learn the value of time.
Distance is nothing. it is the time saved.
that is everything"
Now turn to Mexico. Across the
lsthmus of Tehuantepec. it is proposed
TO construct not n tram, but a railway
to convey ships from the Gulf of Mexico
r. fhn pariHn ii++1o ,r@Lo.- -
the map is the Isth,nus of Panama.
across which it is proposed to cut a
canal to connect the Pacific with the
Caribbean Sea. If one or both OF these
great enterprises are conducted to sue
cess what a saving in time from New
York to California! The completion
OF either will be the dawn Of a new Era
Tor Mexico. Unhappy Mexico! There
IS no sadder story in history than hers.
When Cortez conquered the country
lis inhabitants were a great and rich
and happy people. The city of Mexico
contained five hundred thousand inhab-
ltants. They had an Xcellent police
system, hot and cold baths, barber
shops and many other modern conven-
fences. COrtez entered the city with
less han five hundred men, a feat well
nigh Incredible! But the poor Monarch
MonteZuma was the victim of a super
stition which rendered him powerless.
When his mobiles Indignantly protested
against his acknowledgment of vassa-
lage of Spain he said in a voice broken
with emotion:-
II speak as the gods direct. Our
prophets have told us that a new race
lS 70 emma 70 Snprlapt mn. ANN M
hour has arrived. The sceptre passes
from my hands by the DEGREES. of fate
which no one can resist"
The past of Mexico has been dark
and unhappy but a bright future, a fu-
ture OF new ideas, new hopes and new
greatness awaits her. The Spaniards
possessed a combination of cruelty and
piety, and Of manliness and meanness in
comprehensive. L will close this article
an illustration of the TWO former
Enthusiastically and cruelty. We
a Spanish ~adventurer, organic
an expedition to conquer Cuba.
One brave Indian Chief resisted. His
was Hatuez. His followers were
put to flight, and himself taken prisoner.
Velasquez ordered him to be burned
alive but wished to save his soul. A
priest was sent to convert thy chief.
II you will embrace our religion" said
he priest, las soon as the fire has con-
'umed your body you will enter heaven
be happy there for ever"
Are there Spaniards ir that happy
of which you speak," inquired
Iatuey, the chief.
Yes" replied the priest, such as
re holy"
Then l will not so there" Hatuey
ejoined, Il will never go to a place
where | shall meet one of that cruel
Cortez who conquered Mexico
vas secretary to Velasquez, and he
proved an apt scholar.