The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-11-01

From ne 81. fa,a Press.

rrO" n'e 81 PdiH Press.
President Diaz, in his message TO
the American Congress, refers with
Justitiable pride TO the progress which
has been made in the Republic in re.
cent years, and commends the ap.
preaching three Americas Congress,
to which Mexico will send representa-.
tives. Our relations with Mexico are,
indeed, much pleasanter than they
were few years ago, when the border
raids threatened TO provoke conflict,
and when our sister republic had not
become absorbed in works of improve
ment, and the people had plenty of
leisure to brood over the embers OF re-
sentiment growing out of the Mexican
war and think bitter things of Ameri-
cans. To-day the boundary question
is not settled, but it is 10 a fair way TO
settlement American capital has add
ed several thousand miles of railroad
TO the old English built Vera Cruz and
and City of Mexico Line, and millions
of capital have been invested iu various
industrial enterprises. Mexico, in fact,
has awakened 10 useful activity, and
the era OF daily revolution seems to be
past. The last notable railway project
under construction is line from the
Mexican Pacific, which is projected
from Topols, on the Pacific, to Front
era, on the Cuff of Mexico, into Guata-
mala, and southwark to the Nicaragua
Canal. This road will form a long
link in the rail connection to be be-
tween the North and South American
continents, 80 that it will be possible
to go in the same car ere long from St.
Paul TO Valparaiso, Chill, or Rio
Janeiro, Brazil. Mexico itself, rapidly
developing, ought to be supplied en-
tirely by the United States with the
goods needed. There is convenient
railway and steamboat communication
now. The country is exceedingly rich
in natural wealth, which the Spanish
appropriation of several centuries
merely scratched Yet trade is re-
stricted. The opportunity of securing
reciprocal trade relations was lost by
the refusal of the Senate to rstify the
treaty. Recently the Mexican Gov
ernment levied heavy tax on Ameri-
can cattle in retaliation for the action
of our government against the impor-
tation of Mexican ores. Tariff wars
are very injurious wars, They pro-
woke animosity. They kill the geese
which lay the golden eggs. There is a
puerility about them which i'll becomes
digni6ed and civilized nations. The
absurdity of tariff retaliation is seen
in the fact that the drouth in North
ern Mexico has played the mischief
with the cattle and the people are CON-
PEELED to have American cattle and
pay the high duty. The whole of
Mexico is naturally tributary to this
country, commercially speaking. As
much so as the territory we acquired
by the annexation of Texas and the
war with Mexico. That was a vast
acquisition, embracing Texas, New
Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada,
Utah and parts of Colorado and Indian
Territory, something over 100000
square miles, which cost us only $751;
100000, beside about So, 100000 debts
due from the Mexican Government to
American citizens. This great pur-
chase, an empire in itself, from the
time of its acquisition, has kept step |
with the progress of the Union, while |
old Mexico, from which it was severed |
is just awakening, under American in
fuence, to an appreciation of the posi- !
bilities awaiting her.