Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-19
PREDICTS A REVOLUTION.

Mr.. Shearman Thinks Revolt Is Coming
in Mexico-President Diaz Expected 10
Run for a Second Term in Violation Of
the Constitution.
r. Breed Shearman, of Caxaca, Mexico,
is stopping at the Schlosser. He is young
man engaged in railway construction in the
old land of the Aztecs. At present he is
attending the Consistory Of the
Scottish Rite Masons in Pittsburg
Mr.. Shearman thinks it is only a question
of year or so before Mexico will be in the
throes of a revolution. President Diaz
wants second term, which is for
hidden by the Constitution. He is popular
with the masses, but distrusted by some
of the older Mexicans, because he is too
| progressive for them. 1t is believed that
when the time comes that Diaz will defy
the Constitution, and a revolt will result.
There have been runners of an expected rev.
olution, but the reports have been denied.
Mr.. Shearman says Diaz is very honest
man, while the Mexican politicians are
probably the most corrupt on earth. The
President is all powerful, and the Govern
ment is practically under the control of the
military. Diaz could be elected again seven
years from now, which is the length of the
Presidential term, but he is ambitious for
his country and dislikes seeing his work
discontinued by possibly less able sue
cessor.
Mexico is coming country" continued
Mr.. Shearman. "On the surface the people
are polite and profess considerable love for
Americans, but in talking with the older
inhabitants 1 often discover an undercur-
rent of bitterness against the Yankees. We
conquered them once by the sword, and now
We are overcoming them with railroad.
Railway construction has progressed won
derfully in Mexico The Vera Cruz, Mexi-
can Southern, on which 1 am engaged now,
and the Inter-oceanic lines are owned by
English capitalists. The Mexican Central,
the National and International lines are
now on a paying basis. In the old days of
pack mules number of small cities were
developed as distributing points for the
surrounding country. The railroads have
tendency to centralize the business in
few places. like Mexico and Puebla for ex-
ample. The trade of the smaller cities has
decreased and this makes the people
sore against the railroads. A man
like Frank Carpenter, who never went into
the interior, wouldn't learn much about
the Mexicans. They are not dangerous
class, at least have carried money through
the mountains, and never was molested.
Along the border they are a little tough.
lne old aztec people nave ueterl0rated,
and the Mexican Indians live like dogs. |
They are ignorant, and work on the rail |
roads for 60 cents dav. You can hire farm |
hands for 25 cents. L think reciprocity be- |
tween Mexico and the United States is |
almost impossible. There is no free trade |
between the Mexican States. Each one
charges a tariff In going to Mex
leo man must pay three duties
before he can get his trunk, a tax to the
Government, State and city. With such an
arrangement it would be hard to establish
reciprocal relations with the central
power"
The Mexican Southern is projected to run
from Puebla to Tehuantepec on the Pacific
side At present the road is being built
through canyon to reach the Caxaca Valley,
which Mr. Shearman thinks is one of the
richest in the world. Three crops yearly
are possible with little cultivation or eX-
pense.
In the City of Mexico considerable Amer
can capital is invested. Around the lead
ng hotels Mr.. Shearman says English is
spoken extensively. Most of the Mexican
purchases ara made in Europe, and there is
great opportunity down there for the
Yankees if reciprocity could be arranged.