Wichita eagle., 1889-12-14

try. Brigandage was more rampant in
Mexico than it ever was in Italy, Corsica or
the half-civilized countries of the Mediterra-
mean. Losages the bandit, was greater than
Diaz, the president, for with his merry men
the former would upon frequent occasions,
sweep down upon the cities Of Topic and
Guadalajara and place them in bondage until
he was paid a certain sum OF money.
A mild form of terrorism prevailed
throughout the states of Jalisco and Guiana
juato, and the people submitted without
seeming protest. As a result, the business Of
a large section of the country was nil, con-
sentative capital refused to develop the rich
resources Of the land, and Mexico was q by
word and reproach among the nations Of the
earth. The robbers were low and vulgar;
they had none Of the chivalry or romantic
interest which attaches to the memory Of
picturesque Robin Hood or Claude Duval.
They would steal the pennies from an old
mans kerchief and strip woman of every
garment she possessed. Many time has
handsome senorita, after suffering the indig
mites OF the brigands, been compelled, like
Lady Godiva Of old, to enter the portals of
the city of Topic in state of nudity, and as
She moved along the people would close their
blinds, the passers-by would turn aside, as in
the days Of Coventry, until the startled,
helpless creature could reach a place Of
safety and conoealnlent or secure attire.
All this, however, is a record of the recent
past brigandage which no longer thrives
along the Pacific coast. You can travel
through Mexico, from this busy little town
of San Bias, up the mountains and across the
plains to Mexico city, and you will not be
harmed The country is quiet, the govern
ment is supreme. Law and order have taken
the place of pillage and rapine, and Mexico
begins to feel the greatness that is within her.
This regeneration has not been accomplished
without effort and without possible injustice,
but it has been accomplished, and perhaps
the end justifes the means
Gen. Martinez, a member of the cabinet
family Of Diaz, and close personal friend Of
the president, undertook the mighty task
and was given unlimited power. He sur
rounded himself with troop of cavalry, the
very flower Of Mexican soldiers. They were
a magnificent set Of men, full of physical
bravery daring, dashing and obedient. Led
by Martinez, they would so anywhere, and
what he declared should be done was done,
whether it was right or wrong. With this
body OF braves he began his mission TO purify
the land, and he successfully carried out the
work. The treatment was heroic and terri
ble but the disease demanded ii. Martinez
war on the malefactors was absolutely re-
morseless. He butchered them by the score
Upon the trees of the highways he would
hang their bodies for the birds to peck at,
and if a wretch was suspected OF SO much as
stealing a chicken his life paid the forfeit,
without judge or jury. His watchword
seemed to be- Better q hundred innocent
beings suffer than one guilty man escape"
and he inaugurated a reign Of terror for
thieves SO awful that humanity shuddered at
the legalized wholesale murders. Today the
very name OF Martinez sends a chill to the
heart of the evil doer, who feels that robbery
and death are synonymous And so it has
come to pass that within half a Gozs years
Mexico is safe for the traveller, safe for cap
itl and for womsnhood, and ready for the
march of Improvement
1t SO happened that | met Gen. Martinez
and Travelled with him for three days. A
stout black bearded man, with a restless.