The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06
AFFAIRS IN MEXICO.

Our sister republic Is Just now gong
through the .throes which naturally
precede change of administration in
The administration of Gonzales has
been a weak one, and hope leads toward
brighter prospects under Diaz, the
incoming president. The merchants
have complained of an oppressive
stamp act, the bankers tremble at the
five per cent tax law, and hope col
lections under it may be averted,
while the railroad companies look for
ward to the payment of subventions,
on which the government has HERETOFORE
defaulted. 1t is questionable whether
the merchants and bankers will get
the relief they wish for, but the rail-
road companies must certainly be
satisfied, for it was DiaZ who engaged
in securing most of the subsidies for
the American companies, and it is
understood he has an interest in their
payment. If this be so, and there can
be very little doubt about it, Presi-
dent DiaZ will see that ways and
means are devised to make the rail-
way payments according to the stipu-
lations of contracts, secured largely
through his own exertions as attor-
ney for the American organizations.
The English bondholders appear salts
fed about matters in the future. 1t
is thought DiaZ will adopt some sys-
tenn of refunding, for evidently to eff
feet payments he will desire to make
he has got to negotiate new loans. and
this cannot be done without satisfy
ing the demands of those to whom
the republic is already indebted. 1t
is possible he may work up a feeling
of confidence among English money
lenders, and secure from them all the
money needed to pay back, present
and future dues to the railway COM
panies. The report which has been cir
culated, that the president-elect
is arranging to sell the state
of Chihuahua to the United States for
$60,OOO,OOO, is pronounced by this very
exalted parsonage to be a declaration
beneath his notice. 1t may be recollect-
ed that about year ago there were
several nickel riots among the sup
porters OF. "God and Liberty" but the
scarcity of small change has broken
down much of the opposition to the
miguel" and it is possible that the
coinage may even be increased. The
rebels who conspired, some time since,
against the outgoing and the incom-
ing administrations are no longer
filled with undaunted patriotism their
leaders, Generals Rimirez and Mejia,
are inside prison walls, and nobody
appears On the outside to inflame pent
up patriotism. A good many of the
lesser rebels are also languishing in
prisons, and why they have not all
been taken out some fine morning be-
tore sunrise and shot is not
told. The terrible drouth of this
year i'll northern Mexico has de-
stroyed whole herds of cattle and
nearly all the cereals, while
all the southern portion of the repub-
lie has been ravaged by locusts. Sure
ly God has abandoned the land and
liberty is mockery. Our opinion is
that Diaz will inaugurate fictitious
period of prosperity, that he may carry
out his personal schemes of acquisi-
ton. If the country develop rapidly
he may be able to bridge over the
chasms, which would otherwise open
under him. He has powerful allies in
this country, who will do all in
their power to aid him in the
accomplishment of financial schemes
for through his success in this respect
they are to get their pound Of
Mexican Eflesh paid them. The
condition of the country appears to
be deplorable, and the future Is in nc
respect bright. Diaz may rule, fol
rule it is in Mexico, with apparent
credit, but his people, God deliver
US from their condition.