Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-09

3 "a 'HC SNuuLtNs ana iNaJ all feAdttOOS
between the two countries were broken of
Tor many years, and We're but lately re-
new d. The Frenchman is liked by rich
and poor, by educated and ignorant alike,
Whle the average American IS liked by
none. The reason is that the Frenchman
Inere IS always a gentleman, Like the
German. the Italian, and the Englishman,
all OF whom are so liked, he enters the
country thoroughly impressed with the
idea that the country belongs TO the Next
cans; that they haze right To be just as
3 low, as ignorant, as peculiar as they
Please; and that he has perfect right to
stay at home If he does not like them.
The Mexican papers often talk of I0n-
keeiSmO. 1t is useless to deny the eX-
iStence of such thing in Mexico. The
American bristles with it at every turn.
II consists in Affecting ofinfnite superior
ity which is never at a loss for wav to
show itself. Its milder manifestations
are a supercilious, arrogant air, impa-
thence with the natives slowness and
LACK Of familiarity with our business
methods, and general contempt for every
thing that is not up to our ideas Of
progress. 1t some ATTEMPT may be
made TO conceal this the effort is COM
monty too Slight to succeed. In its gross
er form Idn6ee(SDl0 is a feeling that the
whole country really belongs to the United
States, aud that 1t is only matter of a
few years at most until we shall possess
it, and that in the meantime it is in the
temporary possession of a set of barbar-
ians who are entitled to no consideration
from the real owners. This is the form 1t
generally takes with the lower class OF
Americans whose sole pride in their coun-
try is in its power to whip its neighbors.
nave said the acreage American is not
liked. = migbt no nNnpOfph fbprD a
many in Mexico who are Just as much
respected and liked as anybody. No one
recognizes gentleman more quickly than
the Mexican, and no one appreciates one
more. Some OF these Americans have
lived there many years, have well estab-
llshed businesses, and own property;
others have but lately come in with the
railroads, or are connected with them,
and have entered the country to
stay. The testimony of all these
is unanimous that an American who
attends to his own affairs, Obeys the laws,
and acts as he would in any other for@gn
country, is as well treated as anywhere
on earth. My observation has gone even
beyond this, VIZ: that an American who
does not behave himself is not treated
half as badly as he deserves. Americans
would not dare to behave in any other
foreign country as the most Of them do in
Mexico, yet their impudence and intOler-
able sWagger are patiently endured. If
they do not in some way break the law,
they are not mOlested: and ifthey do, they
often escape with halfthe punishment they
deserve. Some of the Americans are
coarse, vulgar lOafers whose looks con-
denim them half a mile away, whom it is
safe to arrest at any time on mere sus-
piciOn; others are rOughs and refugees
who are much "wanted" by prosecuting
attorneys in the United States; others are
genteel dead-beats who, perhaps, bring
good letters of Introduction, borrow
money, and get credit upon them, and
suddenly disappear; others may be hon.
est and industrious enough, but simply
ill-bred.
OF all the Americans traits, his pecu-
liar style of getting intoxicated most pro-
vOkes the Mexican. The Mexican has no
objection to mans taking too much. He
himself occasionally mistakes his gauge.
But he does it at home, or if not, he gets
home or to the calabOOse with all possible
dispatch with the aid of a friend or pO-
liceman. He makes no noise, disturbs no
one, and generally goes to sleep. The
Americans style is just the reverse. He
makes all the noise he can, disturbs every
body, and stays awake all night. This is
his sole conception of a "high time" The
Mexican generally gets intoxicated acct
dentally, the American Intentionally and
with intent to paint the town." which he
here does in royal vie.
A much better class of Americans is
now entering Mexico. and the MeXicans
VIII perhaps soon presume an American
to be a gentleman until they learn other
wise, instead of the contrary. Still, too
many even of those who should know bet
ter behave in Mexico too much as they
in To viii ~, boTr
country. Last wiHter an excursion party
Of some 40 or 80 young men and women
from San Francisco went down to Mexico.
They were all over 81 years of age, and as
they Travelled in two special Pullman cars
and We're fashiOnably dressed, it is fair
10 presume they bad been brought up
by somebody and educated somewhere.
AT PasO del NOrte some of them Clipped
Off pieces of the church to see what it was
made of, and shook hands with the figure
OF the Virgin Mary. At other PAGES they
walked into houses and looked about as if
they were ancient ruins, without asking
permission or saying a word to the in
mates In others they felt of the peoples
clothes to see the quality Of the fabrics.
Everywhere they stared at native ladies
and gentlemen infinitely their SUI
periOrs in education, refinement
and wealth, much as one woul
Gaze at wild animals. In true American
style, it was assumed, of course, that
none of the natives understood a word of
English, and comments of all sorts were
exchanged in full hearing of the objects
OF the comments. All such actions are
patiently endured by the people, who gen
orally attribute them to Ignorance and
bad breeding, though there are plenty who
are acute enough to know that they are
thus treated simply because they are Mex
leans, and that Americans would not
think Of thus acting the hCodlum in Eng
land, France or Germany.
There is no ground whatever for the inn
preston that an American as an AmcTi-
can is ill-treated in Mexico. Ilill-treated
at all, it will be as an individual and gen.
orally because he deserves it. The two
Americans who were imprisoned by Presl-
dent Gonzales last year really deserved
few days in Jail, illegal though their con-
tiuement was, for they sent TO the Presi-
dent by his own servant a message that
no gentleman ever sends TO another, es-
pecially to the ruler Of a country. AT
Calera and one or two other places where
the hoodlum element has been most
abundant and annoying, few have
got in trouble by getting caught in bad
company, but have been quickly released.
THIS might happen anywhere, and is only
the application of a very natural and very
safe rule. But no one need be afraid to
travel in any part of Mexico if he behaves
himself and obeys those natural dictates