Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-02-04
ODD OLD MEXICO.

Is moro prO1luC5 tn8n rcVOlGLlDnSN IL Is
peculiarities. The peculiarities of that
country are many and astonishing, not
that viewed this people from a narrow
standpoint, says q writer in tho Chicago
Times, much as tho average English
tourist views America, for wo Amcri-
cans arc too familiar with representa-
ives OF every elmo and nation to be
guilty of such insular prejudice, but the
american dweller IN Mexico will find
tho peculiaritics of that Nation too
marked to be overlooked. For instance,
what would, any civilized people on
earth other than the Mexican think if
their persons and property were placed
undcr the guardianship of convicts?
Yet such is the case there. Police duty
throughout tho country districts and in
large cities like chihuahua is performed
by the soldiers of tho regular army, said
army being recruited from the convicts
of each State. Complaint as to their
incfiicicncy or dishonesty, however, is
rarely heard, though it is an open secret
in Mexico that q small bribo to tho ''of-
ficer" is sufficient to secure immunity
from arrest, but this. fact, so far from
being made n ground for complaint,
seems rather source of congratulation
than otherwise. How far VIC arc in ad-
vance of this system of recruiting the
ranks of tho police, especially in Chica-
go, 1t is difficult to say; thcre may be
SOmc who would extend to US tho advice
about not throwing stones; however, DO
it said to the everlasting credit of tho
MeXicanS that their police arc natives
Of tho country in which they WELD tho
baton.
From the police ono naturally turns,
especially in this case. to tho criminal.
In Mexico tho burglar is positively UNI
known. The houses, constructed as
they arc, in Wow of uprisings, rcvolu-
lions. etc, present to the would-bc-bur-
glar but small chance of success.
What with blank walls, barricadcd win
dows, and solid wooden doors, the
dwc1lcr within tho average adobe is pro-
pared ut nighLfall to withstand the siege
Of q regiment.
The phase of robbery most popular in
Mexico is of the Dick Turpin pattern.
Dick, however, from all accounts, usual
~ gives voice to that timc-honorcd com
mand: Your money, or your lifc,"
whereas, tho Mexican brigand invaria-
bly, demands your money and your life,
and no amount of plumber, pleading, nor
promises will avail to save tho latter
should tho opportunity he favorable TO
tho 'rObber for taking it. The cause of
this is simply that the laws OF tho coun-
try provide that tho highway robbor. if
captured, shall suffer death, thus fur
niShing tho incentive for his invariablc
bloody accompaniment to his original
crirnc, that he may forever silence tho
witness Of the decd.
The Mexican IS the only ndtural-born
bred 'in-thc-bonc socialist in tho world.
lie DaS never read up Oil the subject; he
mover hears our long-haircd rantcrs
vocifcrating about tho beauties Of their
system. nevertheless he is the ideal So.
cialiSt, and, although no iSEot up to the
average in arithmetic, he knows tho rulc
IF division to a niccty. Tho average
Mex can will share his blanket and his
last loaf or penny with you, should you
mood it, but if you have any thing you
are expected to be fully as liberal: if
yOu don't, he cOmpCls your libCrality by
taking your pos SC Ssions away from you
forcibly. In short, if you have not, nc
gives: if you have, he takes, whether
or 40.
Ono side Of this characteristic of tho
Nc Xicans is best cxcmplificd by their
proceedings in the event of the marri-
age of ono Of thCir daughters to an
American. The Mexican, bear in mind,
IS possessed Of the inCraIicablc idea
that Americans arc all rolling in wealth.
This idea is II source Of ncvcr-ceasing
envy on the parto one Sex and satisfac-
ton TO the other. When an American
marrics Mexican girl her whole fam.
lily, her sisters, COUSINS, aunts, etc, and
all their sisters, cousins, aunts, etc, fol-
hundred miles around arc invited tc
tho wedding. This includes every blood
relation to the very rcmotcst. They
not only come, which IL bad, but they
stay, which is worse. There they camp
md until every ounce of food and every
lollarin sight sgonc there they tinuC
a 1,ntpr and uhnulI tbn Il, IL,