Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1884-04-05
HUBERT HI. BANCROFT'S TRIP
TO MEXICO.

IL. II. Bancroft, the historian, mas
lately returned from trip to Mexico,
which country be has been studying
for several months. In conversation
with a San Francisco newspaper re-
porter. he gave his opinion that Mex
Ican society was gradually improving
but says that the woes of the work
ing classes are pitiable in the extreme.
In the cities they are the servants of
servants; in the country they are
bound by habit, debt, and family
ties to hsciendas, and mines in
state of serfdom. What Is needed
in this country 10 middle class.
The upper class of Mexicans in
points of ability, education, wealth,
luxurious living, and refinement,
are superior to the estimation In
which they are held abroad, and are
not at all behind the other civilized
nations of the world, The leaders
of society and politics are exclusive,
and reticent, making very little pa
rade of their resources and abilities,
but the foreigner who thinks ne can
take them in by superior shrewdness
or trickery generally finds himself
,worsted. The equalization of these
two classes and the forming of
middle class will In the end put the
country in an infinitely more pros
porous condition. Trade in Mexico
is divided, being principally in the
hands of foreigners. Thus the Span
iards are conspicuous in produce and
groceries; the Germans in general
merchandise the French and English
in foreign dry goods; the French and
Italians in hotels and restaurants
and the English and Americans in
banking and manufacturing. Many
OF the Mexicans are good miners,
particularly where mining is carried
ON in the old-fashioned way. Amer
leans are held in fully as high esteem
as they deserve by the Mexicans.
Few of our best men and women
have gone there yet, and the Mexi.
cans who are prejudiced know little
about them. A person making an
extensive trip through the country
still would be obliged to have mule
along to pack his purse as the con-
venincies for exchanging currency
are not yet perfect. In speaking of
General Diaz Mr.. Bancroft remarked
that he was man of sterling ability,
ill understood abroad, and whose
services are not fully appreciated at
home, by his own people. He is less
Mexican than most Mexlcans. Not
that he is less loyal, but that he is
higher. minded and more advanced
and liberal IN his views. Considera-
BILE attention is being paid to educa.
ton. There are public schools, law
schools, litrarys, etc, one library
containing as high as 10000 vol
umes. There is also q school of
mining, an academy of fine arts and
a conservatory of music, and charit-
able institutions without number.
The chief trouble the Government
has to contend with at present is its
finances. Although the revenue is
constantly increasing. expenses in
creases still faster. The nation is in
debt at home and abroad, and there
are so many demands on the revenue
that the Government is often in ar.
rears with its own servants. The
army cannot be depended upon un-
less it is paid, and the people refuse
the nickel because it is sold by the
Government in large amounts at a
discount while it is made legal ten
der only for small amount. There
is here the same evil that We are
laboring undsr-spoilatiou. But
there is this difference in the north
ern republic-the people, being the
power and on the watch, will not
permit the higher officials to steal to
any great extent, so that the more
-: 4 l.