The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1886-10-22
Good Law and Courts, No Brigands,
and n Kindly Feeling Toward
the United States.

] have but recently returned from Mexico
and feel that ought to make some effort to
dlsabuse the minds of the people on this side
of the Rio Grandc Of the false impressions OF
the Mexican government AMI people which
seem to be almost universally entertained
here. Public opinion in Mexico, as we Under
stand the term, Is confined to the upper
classes The poems do not read books OF news
papers, nor In short concern themselves with
affairs which do not affect their immediate
pursuits. The upper or governing class 81!
Mexico, which does form public opinion com,
prses, on the contrary, highli'euucated and
travelled people, who read newspapers anu
keep themselves in the swim of events both ut
home and abroad; and they are not, OH the
whole. ininlcal TO the States. Naturally the
high-bred Mexican gentleman, with ismily
traditions-and by the way, there is no coun'
sry where family means mOre--tocs not care
20 ol en- his house and hume to every American
spcrulator who comes in his way. But he
recognizes fully the value Ia Mexico OF this
class OF Americans aud grants 10 them and
their enterprises full protection But 10 the
American Traveller OF his own class he is as
kind friend and hospiable a host us is to be
found In any country.
Among the Widespread delusions existing
In the States In regard to Mexico Is that that
country Is full OF hghwaymen. The idea Is
absurdly erroneous. There is greater per
centagc Of that sort Of people in New YORK
city than In Mexico south Of the Sierra Madrc.
Formerly bands Of disappointed revolutionists
did haunt the highways But President Diaz,
with the sword Of the law, aud the growing
railway system which has removed the temp
tation presented by mule trains OF silver aud
coach-loads Of well TODD people, have put an
end effectually to brigandagc. Mexico OF to-
day Is as safe for the traveller as Connecticut,
and the City Of Mexico Is 80 well policel that
the night wayfarer has nothing to fear North
of the Sierra Madre, on the border, II Is true
that there are lawless people. Stray Apacncs
from our own reservations raid into Sonora,
and on both banks of the BIO Grandc tie
horse-stcalcr and smuggler lind congenial
society. While this Is all true 1t is true in rs
great degree of the wild portions Of the
United States.
SO far as the administration Of the law In
Mexico Is concerned there Il little fault TO be
found for, although Americans, accustomed
t0 their own system Of Jurisprudence, natural.
~ prefer IL. still the procedure OF Mexico,
which is as in most Latin countries moditca-
tion Of the Code Napolean, is clear and loci-
cal, and the Mex lcan judges are generally men
OF learning and character. There are, It 10
true. certain countrymen OF ours, who, hav-
ing transplanted themselves. have gotten at
odds with the laws Of Mexico, and have then
appealed TO the accredited representatives OF
their own nation, and 90 been the cause OF
some ill-fecling between the two peoples But
such cases have occurred In every country and
their occurrence does not initiate against the
courts.-F Sheldon Collins, Ia Nep lor5
zritunx