The Indianapolis journal., 1885-10-11
MEXICAN JOURNALISM.
The Adventures and Tribulations Of Editorial
Life in the Land of the AZtecs.

II lived five years in the City Of Mexico"
said Mr.. Frederick Primer, teacher of languages
at the Business College, in the Vance Block,
"and the last year and half edited q newspa-
per there" Mr.. Primer has been speaking En-
glish only four months, and yet has, even in
that short time, acquired such knowledge of
the language as to make himself readily under
stood. 1.-THE paper was something Of novelty,
not in lis size, for it was no larger than the
Minute. of this city, but from the fact that the
editorials and news matter was given in four
anguages-Spansh, French, German and En-
glish-and thu advertisements were in any of
these four languages the advertiser desired"
The reporter asked the name of this unique
daily.
sit was, in Spanish, the Diario de los Foraes-
teros; in French. Journal des Etrangers; in Ger
man, Fremdenblatt and in English. Foreign
ers' Journal. The City of Mexico is cosmopoli-
TAM and the paper did very WELL so long as it
confined itself to articles on the climate agri-
culture and mining interests of Mexico, and
was victory for strangers. The last
six months OF my career as a Mexican jour
nalist the paper had political complexion. The
government of President Manuel Gonzalez, the
President who retired few months ago, to be
succeeded by Porfirio Diaz was one
of corruption and vile intrigue. Gonzalez has
all the vices and but one redeeming quality
personal bravery. His courage is unquestioned
and remarkable l began to publish series of
articles La Chronca Escandalosa de los Azte
cas-, 'scandalous chroniceso of the Aztecs, in which
presented the political vices and crimes of the
Gonzalez government under the guise of events
occurring in the time of the Aztecs The dis
guise was extremely thin, and in little while
began to receive warnings from high places.
knew was treading on dangerous ground. A
short time before, Frenchman editing paper
called the 'Colonie Franchise French Col
ony) had been arrested and without
trial a days dely been taken
to Yucatan. He had merely said something like
this: 1t seems that though Mexico is such a
rich country, she never has money But the
President himself has secret treasury The
man was never heard of after Was he killed.
Probably, by the Indians of Yucatan. If not,
the climate there would kill him, as it would any
European. Gonzalez was reputed to have stolen
forty millions of the government. Once, indeed,
at a banquet where the wine was passing freely.
he is said to have risen and proposed a toast of
congratulation to himself for having just appro-
priated million dollars. He had the hardihood
and recklessness of opinion to do thing
of that kind. President Porfrio Diaz
is very good man, and will do Mexico
all the GOOD possible 1t will be slow work, and
difficult to raise the Mexicans to the condition
required in republic. The Mexican is not am
bilious. He is quite contented if he has
ing. He will put all his wealth into sombrero,
or a pair of pantaloons with jingling ornaments
down the outside seam. With these things he is
in elysium.
There is no freedom of the press in Mexico,
and there is an article in the Constitution Article
49, which prohibits any stranger from writing
anything against the government and it depends
upon those in power to fix the penalty. Human
life is not held at any high rate in Mexico.
The father of Rodriguez Alvarez, friend of
colonel, was arrested one night. The son next
morning found that he had been shot to death
IN prison, and not even reason given. 1t was
political murder, contrved by Gonzalez and
executed by his orders. The son of Gonzalez
was in love with bea utiful modest and virtuous
girl. The father himself fell in love with her,
arrested the son, and took possession of the GIRL
with the design of making her his mistress
He did not succeed, as her friends came to the
rescue and saved her as by miracle. You
there was no lack of material for the scandalous
chronicles of the Aztecs One day friend Of
mine, Castaneda, in the Office of the Minister of
War. said to me, warningly, Ihear talk of you and
your paper Shortly after that l was arrested
and sent to the prison at Belem, which is about
four miles out of the City of Mexico. was only
in prison few hours when late at night, an
officer of the prison conniving ut my escape, I
scaled the wall. An alarm was given, however,
a cannon ball being fired, and horsemen and
footmen came out. I jumped into a deep ditch
filled with water and bad smelling refuse. and
was in for some time Up to my chin got out
after the searchers had departed, and cleaning
my clothing as we'll as could, made my way
to an Indian hut. From there 1 was taken to
the place of a wealthy Mexican friend who owns
seven haciendas, and by his aid, covertly fur
nished, was enabled to get out of the country
into Texas"