The morning call., 1894-05-20
TO EXTEND TRADE.
Opportunities on the
Southern Coast.
HEAVY TAXATION IN MEXICO.
Inland Transportation of Merchan-
dise-The Central American
States.

The Latin-American republics. so called.
are, politically speaking. paleTDal military
despOtisms. This opinion is arrived at
from a careful study of their social and
political economy during a long period of
residence in Mexico under favorable
auspices. 1t may also be added with equal
positiveness that this control is admirably
suited to the capacities Of those heterogen-
eous races forsself-government under free
Institutions on this continent.
On the European continent they would
all have been obliteTated as independent
States and long ago divided up among the
dominating powers, after the manner in
which they are now holding ante-mortem
inquests over the body of the whole dark
continent of Africa.
There are but two classes in our sister
republics, namely. the nonsproducing and
producing. Included in the former are the
merchants and the officials, in the latter
the mOZ0 or labOreT. While the lowest of
the latter are by law recognized and en-
titled to all the rights, privileges aud i'm
munities of The best citizen of the repu bic
yet their birth and condition are wholly
incompatible with the exercise thereof.
There is practically no tax on land or
personal properly, but con tribuciones-
what we would call licenses-exist there to
an extortonate degree on business of all
kinds. There is stamp tax inflicted on
every conceivable thing pertaining to
trade and commerce. Imagine oneself
entering newspaper Office in MaZatlan
with little advertisement costing twenty
i've cents to have published, but before
being accepted by the publisher 1t must
first be decorated with a 50-cent stamp.
The incident came under my own indi-
vidual knowledge. but the whole sy stem is
perniciOus, irritating and unequal. Even
the ledgers of business houses are COM
PEELED TO have each page stamped in ad-
vance.
These ridiculous methods were doubtless
handed down to them from old Spain, nor
could change be made to modify those
impositions and make real property bear
its share OF the public burdens. Any ad-
ministration that would attempt to bring
about such an equitable condition would
have to supplement the reform by an i'm
mediate escape from the country.
In round numbers about 1000 person
own ali the land and money Of the Mexi-
can republic, and from selfish motives
they desire to be let alone In the enjoy
ment thereof under those present favorable
exemptions to themselves at the expense OF
the other 100000 of citizens.
Think Tor a moment il the old firm of
Tillman 81 Bendel, for instance. were COM
PEELED to pay $500 per month license to the
city of San FIancisc; contemplate the re-
suit of refusal to submit to that extor-
ton which is always arbitrarily assessed.
The tenacity Of officials to enforce its pay
ment, who are responsible 10 no one for
" their positions or actions, can only be
understood by those who have witnessed
SUCH incongruous proceedings. Appeal
may be taken TO the Governor of a State,
but rebate or relief is exceedingly rare.
The only change is through successful
revolution, and it is very doubtful if an
he al m niarra pvouId la0t II, ~
having that object in view.
The old national right Of petition was
formerly made public by pronunciamento
and supported by an armed organization,
which proceeding with us would consti.
tnte rank treason. That is the way the