The record-union., 1895-06-29

/ the economic revival in question is the
| influence which they have exerted on
political affairs, AS long as the history
Of politics in Mexico was the history OF
! successive revolutions, one party after
! another laying Iawless hands on private
property, economic improvement was
/ impossible; for security, the essential
/ condition Of such improvement was
/ wanting Manufactures would not
flourish when the factories might be
/ plundered without redress. Goods would
not be transported when they might be
seized by one party or the other under
the pretext Of military necessity.
And the means for escaping from this
state Of things were not al hand. over
the territory of the republic, extending
| from northwest to southeast distance OF
| 1900 miles, and covering an area of 76S, 500
| square miles. it was impossible to move
soldiers and the munitions Of war with
! sufficient rapidity 10 prevent uprisings,
at points remote from the capital, from
! gaming numbers and prestige. Before
! the Federal forces could intervene local
! Government might be overthrOwn, and
the excluded authorities themselves be
placed III the attitude Of revolutionists.
Rapid transportation, therefore, became
necessary for the preservation of peace
and the maintenance of legitimate au-
thority; and this has been furnished by
the railways.
The reyolutionist has now not adequate
time to gather and effectively organize
his forces before he is overwhelmed by q
superior force acting under orders from
the Capital. Thus the first important
service which the railways have rendered
to Mexico Is TO make possible the mainte-
nance of civil order and the security of
property-by this means furnishing di-
rect incentive to industry and commerce.
And the demand for peace and security
is bred by peace itself. and grows stronger
and becomes more universal the larger
becomes the number of persons who have
accumulations at stake. Already the de-
sire for peace constitutes a phase of new
national sentiment In the words Of one
OF the most thoughtful writers on
economic affairs in Mexico, ''the MeXi-
can people DO not want to return to the
habits Of revolutionary days. They are
becoming accumulators Of wealth, and a
new generation has grown up COM
posed of young lawyers, planters and
men Of affairs who lead laborious lives
and are well fitted to guide the destinies
of the republic in the early years of the
coming century"
Revolutions have not only ceased to be
desired, but they have also ceased to be
feared. Those who know how firm the
hand is at the helm, and how complete is
the information possessed at the Capital
concerning the condition CT affairs in the
remotest parts Of the country, are conf
dent that no revolution could possibly
attain threatening proportions. They
are conscious, however, that for this
state of things the Nation is very largely
indebted to the sagacity and firmness of
one man, which qualities, together with
his marvellous command of the details of
administration, have made him master
of the situation, and the effective ruler
of the Nation under his authority.
Knowing these things. and, conse-
quently, how much depends upon a
single lie, it is only natural that many
persons should manifest anxiety with
reference to the succession to the throne.
The building of railways not only mad Q
possible the establishment OF peace and
security, but it also made perative the
demand tor them. Having granted GER
tain privileges which caused large
amounts of capital to come into the
country, the Government was virtually
pledged to maintain such conditions as
would not be an active cause of the loss
OF value on the part of that capital; and
everyone informed Of the recent political
history must confess that the Govern
meut has very generally lived up to its
implied pledge.
This was not easy, for, to quote from
an official publication, Lack OF order
immortality, in fact, crime was in Mexico
almost the rule Of the day, and this not
alone on the highways, but even in some
of the largest cities" 10 those whose
gains from highway robbery had not been
very great the railroad trains, with their
freight and baggage aud the ready money
OF the passengers, offered more fayora-
bic field for spoils than had previously
existed The Secretary Of the Interior
appreciated this tact for on one occasion
he said that in the beginning, immedi-
ateiy after the establishment of our great
railroads. attacks were made under new
form more cruel and atrocious than ever.
The ROBBERS used every means to throw
the train off the line, in order that when
this was once done they might possess
themselves of the baggage, merchandise,
etc"
The knowledge of the general designs
OF the robbers, and specific instance of
lrain-wrecking and robbery on the
Mexican Central, reused the Indignation
OF the better elements in the nation and
moved the Government 10 take decisive
action, which placed those who violated
the security Of railway property in an ex-
traordinary position. This position was
essentially that OF outlaws.
This fact becomes clearly evident by a
brief reference to the laws which have
been recently passed concerning this
matter The first twenty-nine articles OF
the Federal Constitution of Mexico con-