St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-03
THE HOTEL SKiRMiSHER.

At the Ryan yesterday I fell i'll with
a nobby-lcoking chap who has just
returned from Mexico. His name is
Tom Logan, and when in the land Of
the Greaser he lives in the province Of
chihuahua. His native home IS In
Lower California. Mr.. Logan fpro-
nounces the name of his provincessas if
it were spelled Che-wau-wau. s He
talks Interestingly of it's mineral re-
sources and live stock industryt but
says they must have more railroads pc
fore that rich portion of Mexico, winch
is largely mountainous, can pc de-
veloped to any great extent. cues
toned as to the prospect of early war
between Mexico and Guatemala MI
Logan laughed in quiet, incredulous
fashion before he replied: w ar!
Why, | do not think there is really
any danger of war. What would DE
the object? Mexico could not gain any
glory by whipping Guatemala. The
one is a powerful country, with very
good army, while the other is dlsor-
ganized body of people recognized as
nation merely by courtesy. Dispute
has been long continued over small
piece of territory that has been made
valuable only because some suspect II
is rich in mining possibilities. But
the matter would not receive passing
notice today were it not for the nat
ural jealousy OF the border people OF
the two countries. This quarrel SIM
ply demonstrates what serious results
may come from the boasting or the
taunts OF irresponsible people. But IL
war should come Guatemala might De
wiped off the maps as distinct ma
ton. To actually drive the population,
army and all, into the sea, would be no
great task for the troops that Presl-
dent Diaz could pour into the enc
my's country"
''NIr. Logan, what do you consider
the strong and the weak points OF the
Mexican character"'
"Well, sir, the strong point OF the
real Mexican is patriotism. BE ne ever
so slow and lazy, apparently thinking
more of his siesta and his clSafette
than of his home and country, once let
the call to arms be sounded, and your
doing dandy or careless labofef De
comes the embodiment of patriotism.
OF course, there are exceptions as 10
classes of the population; but taken
generally the MeXicans make 1mpetuous
and brave soldiers. They are Vehe-
as rule, and these qualities enable
them to act fearlessly in the face OF
danger and bear pain, even to torture,
without finching. Their weak points
are superstition, jealousy, and procfaS-
tination. To avenge q fancied slight
or to get the advantage Of successful
rival, your true Mexican will take ire
mendouS chances, and no peace Will be
POSSIBLE to him until he knocks out
his man, as you would say here, or is
stilettoed himself The SuperStitlouS
side of his nature, especially among
the lower classes, is a deplorable fall
ing. cannot readily be analysed; but
perhaps this same trait is mainly re-
sDonsible for their dilatory, happy-go-
easy methods of living and of dealing
with strangers. On the whole, how
ever, the Mexicans are not a bad or
vicious people. Especially is this true
of those who follow pastoral pursuits.
Mexico is progressing rapidly toward a
higher place in the estimation OF the
outside world under the strong, but
wise rule of DiaZ, and [ should be very
sorry to see her become involved in
war over such trivial cause. Yet L
do not look for bloodshed, because the
iron president is as cool-headed as he
is brave and self-reliant." ~
While in the East recently, Mr.. Logan
was Swallowed by trio of South Amerl-
cans for two days. Il do not know
why" said he, ''unless possibly they
thought 1 was an agent of some sort
for the Mexican government, which L
am not"
N. Solomko and family, from Russia,
were registered at the Ryan yesterday
Mr.. Solomko is a Russian army officer
stationed on the Alaskan frotier He
is on his way East to visit Russia.
A telegram came to James j. Corhatt
at the Ryan yesterday, from his broth
er Frank, stating that the champion S
father is seriously i'll in San Francisco.
When Frank Belcher brought him the
telegram Sim scbered down in 4 mo-
ment, and at once dispatched q request
that he be kept continually informed.