Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-31
THE LAND orMOSTEzUMA.
The Fcver-plagued City Of Guaymas-
A Great Commercial Pert Of the Fu.
ture-What Mexico will be Some Day
different Views OF the Mexican
Character.

Great Com nlercfal Pert Of the Flu.
ture-What Mexico will be Some Day
different Views OF the Mexican
Character.
Correspondence Of TIE EVENING STAR
BORDERS OF MEXICO. January 18th. 1856.
Your correspondent, after traversing the mag
nifcent domain which extends from British
Columbia to the Mexican borders, and havi ny
embodied the results Of his observations in brie
letters from time to time, to THE EVENING STAR,
has to-day sezed an hour from other duties to
indite few lines on the land of the Montezu-
mas Starting at the town of Benson, more
than thousand mile, below San Francisco on
the southern Pacific, the Sonora railroad in less
than twenty-fOur hours carries you with COM
fort to the city of Guaymas. the chief port of the
state of Sonora, situated on the gulf Of Califor-
MIA. This important Mexican city is shut in
from the breeZes of the gulf by succession Of
rugged or barren hills, which In the hot season
reflect the burning rays Of the sun upon it until
the heat is like unto that Of huge oven. The
country around for a semi-circle OF hundred
miles is dreary desert, destitute alike of wood,
water. and grass, and only capable OF supporting
feeble growth of cactus and mesquit. The
harbor of Guaymas il one of the finest on the
Mexican coast and but for the frequent visits of
of the yellow fever the city would be the center
Of immense traffic and travel. Despite OF this
dreadful scOurge, however. 1t is destined to con-
troll a vast trade on the completion of certain
trans-cOntinental lines. and especially, when by
the agency of ocean steamers it is brought into
close commercial relations with Australia and
China.
MEXICO'S FUTURE.
But without dwelling longer on the mere de-
tails of prominent localities, let me observe in
general terms that Mexico Is a mighty empire
lying on our southern borders and that under
the new cvlizing forces which are now thrOb-
bling from centre to circumference its future
growth and grandeur will astOnish the world
In round numbers its present population ranges
from ten to twelve millions. One-half of which
consists OF Mestizos or mixed" people, and the
other half is composed Of CreOles and Indians.
When CorteZ conquered this country in 1921
there followed q cOmmingling of Spanish and
Aztec elements of character. SO that the genuine
Mexican is mOngrel, with the blood of both the
Spaniard and Indian flowing through his veins,
and. as some have said, embodying the vices of
both races with the virtues OF neither. But this
broad statement requires qualification. These
are two extreme views of the Mexican, with the
truth occupying the golden mean between them.
The English traveller. Ruxton. represents the
lower extreme. He saws: 1.-THE Mexicans az
people rank decidedly low in the scale of human
ity. They are deficient in moral as we'll as
physical organization they are treacherOus,
cunning, indolent, and without energy and cow
ardly by nature. Inherent. instructive coward
iCc ls rarely lnet with III any race Oh heH, YET
affirm that in this instance it certainly exists
and Is conspicuous" The other extreme is
sometimes advocated by the civil and eccesias-
tcal rulers of their people. who claim fOr them
the highest type of civilization, which in point
of fact they do not possess. Many of their social
habits and religious rites are to me simply re-
voting, and in their present state of intellectual
and moral culture | certainly would not desire
to dwell among them. But then all reasonable
allowances must be made for their early educa-
tiOn and existing circumstances,
ANOTHER VIEW OF MEXICAN CHARACTER.
BrantZ Mayer alludes to them in the following
well-considered words: 81 think it. ;" says he lex
ceedingly reasonable that the Mexicans should
be shy of foreigners. They have been educated
in the strict habits of the Catholic creed the Gus
toms Of the country are different from others.
the strangers who visit them are engaged in the
eager contests of commercial strife, and besides.
being OF different religion and language. they
are chiefly from those northern nations whose
tastes and feelings have nothing kindred with
the impusive dispositions OF the ardent south.
In addition to the selfish spirit Of gain that per-
vades the intercourse of these visitors, and gives
them no character by permanency. or sympathy
with the country. they have been accustomed to
look down on the Meyicans with contempt tor
for their obsolete habits without rejecting that
they are not justly censurable for traditional
usages. which they had no opportunity OF i'm
~ ofluR ny comparison Win tilc Bfo4}tSS Wy
civilization among other nations. Yet, treating
these people with the frankness of person ac-
custOmed to find himself at home wherever he
goes. avoiding the egotisms of natural preju-
dices, and meeting them in spirit of benevo-
lence, have ever found them kind gentle hos
pitable, intelligent, benevolent. brave. speak,
however OF the juste milieu of society. where
in resides the virtue and intellect of a country"
When you meet Mexican at home you are sure
to be greeted with his familiar phrase 'my house
and all it contains is very much at your disposal.
sir; kindly sentiment which those of pro-
fessedy and higher civilization might more often
cultivate to their credit.
RAILROADS AS CIvILIZING AGENCIES.
The vast and comprehensive railroad system
OF Mexico is proving one of the most powerful
civiZing agencies by affording direct and speedy
transportation for all kinds of imports and
exports. and thus bringing the population into
contact with the various forms of foreign govern
ment and education. Those who enjoy the
facilities Of these great highways Of travel nat
urally acquire principles of taste and habits of
dress and department which tend to elevate
and liberalize the public mind No people can be
thoroughly civilized apart from physical as well
as moral cleansing. Windsor soap Is one of the
best cvlizers Of the world. A religion Of dirt
is always degrading. There is a great deal of
is next to goodness" Those American cap
italists who have expended $4,000, 600 in the
construction of Mexican railways, whether they
reap rich dividends or not from their invest
ments, have certainly contributed largely to the
promotion Of useful knowledge, and sound mo-
rality among the dusky denizens of that country.
w.
DIVORCED JUST BEFORE DEATH.
A Peculiar Contest to be Made Against
the Will of Charles e. Hill.
SYRACUSE, N. Y. January 80. 18S5.-Mrs.
Elizaheth Hill NJ Svranusa N " wifo IF