New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-17
MEXICO.
HOW AMERICANS COULD INCREASE
TRADE WITH THE SOUTHERN
REPUBLIC.


rule are sunposed TO be acquainted with each
| others conditions, but. taking the United states
| and Mexico as a in point. this assertion APP
nears erroneous This republic knows little about
! -. ,ro., northern neighbour and the mass OF the
,r,arican people know less Of their southern SIS
| ter To the average citizen OF the tnited ota.eS
! this country has misty ana unpieasan' "o'o
rety They generally will concede that she 10
rich in silver mines and bandits especially 'ne
latter In fact. the judgment passed on present
Nexico is what might have truthfully apphed 10
her half a century ago. To-day this republic sur
fers from the unsavory renown she won iai D'0N
In the forties. ,
However. Of late years Americans have SHOWN
= genuine and laudable desire to become more
acquainted with the wonderful ana natura' IN
! ber,tance of a nation so close to them ana most
certainly they are showing some attention 10 ue
developing and harvesting Of the same by an
Geographical political and physical conditions 'he
| United States should be the country 70 supply
! this Republic with all the capital she may desFe'
to assist her in turning to account her eAuao
| binary resources Unfortunately both FOR Mexico
| and her northern neighbor. sporadic enterprise
| only has been evident here-that Is 10 say Only
| the wandering and adventurous American mas
| turned his attention to Mexico's latent wealth.
| The American people collectively have never even
| considered this near and profitable field FOR IN
vestment. True 1t Is we are overrun with toursts
and others of that sort. but they bring no dement,
either to the country they visit or to the country
Il
J utterances of theirs. which from time to time APP
| near in the United States press they return filled
with silly and romantic visions. or they abuse the
Mexicans as uneducated barbarians. too often
founded on some foolish trviality, such as a hack
| driver not understanding their wants. although
| the same were announced in English. with yell
| that would do justice Apache warrior; for
often with tourists impression prevails that
| the Mexican understands English. but deafness,
| combined with inherent "cussedness, prevents
| him from hearing.
| What is needed here are hard-headed men of bust
ness who recognizing that this Is foreign country
will take the trouble and also the time to under
stand the people find out their needs and modes OF
doing business. and then, thoroughly knowing the
REQUISITES OF the inhabitants. contribute 10 ther
| wants and desires from common-sense point Oh
| view Now Europeans have the cream of Mexcos
| trade first because they cater to their customers
needs: secondly because they allow long credits;
! thirdly and Lastly. because they make an EFFORT
strong and brave TOO. to get what they started
out to obtain. The American can do as well IL ne
80 wishes The first is easy. the second only mat
| ter OF bank arrangements or the establishment OF
such institutions organized overcome this Sffi-
Guilty for failure to pay bankruptcy l. almost an
| unknown quantity here. the last requires only
| energy and tact The visiting American commercial
| man too often thinks otherwise: he is generay
ignorant OF spanish. he Is unused 70 foreign COM
! petition and only has met IN previous markets men
Ike himself; he thinks with the impudence born of
provincial experience that he has on.y to be seen
and that seals the TRANSACTION. 1t has not been oy
such methods that Germans push their trade or
England holds hers. BY all rights this market be-
longs TO the United States. and 1t Is the fault Of her
peop.e that she has not the monopoly Of IT,
| Possibly the only country In the world
that has been benefited by the fall in the white
metal has been Mexico. Essentially silver eoun-
try with silver coinage and untold hoards of the
native metal in her vast mountain chains. Mexico
| do fha
| modify in question They are not cursed here, as
| in the South American republics. by debased
| paper issue. Here there Is no Government paper
currency IL that the banks purely for con-
| venience. as there gold coinage) issue bank
| notes but always redeemable for good, hard, hon
| est silver Mexican produce and manufacture nave
not risen in value. dollar still purchases what 1t
| did when the white and yellow metals were at
| par: food products are still cheap as ever The
only difference is found in foreign merchandise.
| which Is generally luxury.
The position Of the white metal has ndeed made
meet de 5rea 45 9r tns on gold
debt. But even with the unfavorable exchange she
| she has met every obligation. while many of her
Spanish american sister republics are repudlating
Mexican bonds are steadily but surely rising In the
| foreign markets. clearly showing the confidence ex-
s'ns abroad IN dest"k and She
Of with Guatemala so widely circulated there
has been no drop or tendency to a fall In Mexican
ore Individual IN this republic who is actually
pens TO the white metal s me tropical cultivated
! the eathcrer OF "chice' chewing gum, dyes
woods drugs and fibre. he pays for his labor IN sill
| paid In gold 4 rapid development has In conse-
auence resulted in all portions OF this republic
Cultivated if' which BIDS tair p silver Continues low
to cause such an cxportaton OF valuable and mar
| silver. which is now and has been for centuries
nysuc arsc in ropca lands an i foreigners
! too. are prone to see the advantages or a system
Among them are many shrewd Americans Great
areas OF coffee lands which In two years have
American land companies. generally with head Of
nces in the Westgrn st STAT ep they haye ak or
! the land for sale and not cutvatns It, and
lean is naturally so conservative. that he will nor
become enthusiastic upon any future or possible
| present opportunities.
There Is a vast field FOR profitable plantation IN
for the young American Of the better class who
has some capital naH MsTcG 9s TSeI is
are few of the dIscomforts that are encountered
jects and has none OF that terrible newness often
tres OF civilization The educated settler does bet
ter here than the rough; hardy laborlng man The
naturally polite and are wonderfully courteous and
the rude and vulgar manner OF the lower class for
stand. and barrier Is at once raised Many
young American fresh from TSeE Sars ms
live life here that contrasted with the daily strug-
| gle In an Office would be az heaven to hades There
| are of the bruta.izng features OF ordinary
farming here; customs may be crude, but rough
ness and coarse vice unknown In the remote
| rural districts. II is a necessity to have some
| knowledge of the vernacuar but Spanish Is easily
| acquired especially by educated man. who Is
| usually already well grounded In Latin or French.
| The writer has known well what sheep farming
| IT, both in Australia and in the Argentine pam
| pas: Western and Texas cattle ranches, Manitoba
| wheat farms, have all come within the bounds OF
his specu!a lions but the only life he recalls at all
| like 'plantation life" in Mexico in the old
| days OF coffee growing IN Ceylon. with this adj
| vantage for Mexco-that II Is douby profitable.
| TO an intending settler advice to location
can offered districts are better than others
| and being governed by local causes.
| II Is better to come and for ones SELF but.
| above all, avoid all land agents.
| The bottom has about fallen out OF the Guae-