The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-08-04

Kentucky, son of the Great Harry OF
the West" All through this war the
M~exicans fought well. 1t would de,
rogate from the truth of history and
the glory of cue own army to deny
this. But they were tor by civil war
among Intensely es, and their finances
were broken down, and too many Of
their generals were merely prominent
politicians. Gould President Polk have
succeeded liz his effort TO supersede
Gen Scott with a politicIan-an able
man, but not a trained soldier, Thomas
Fl. BentOn-no n car tell what would
have been the result. As it was, our
two armies were commanded by u
two ablest and best trained generals.
So great were the decisions among the
Mexicans that after the capture Of the
city of Mexico it was difficult to ascer
tain exactly with whom to make peace.
This was signed at GuadelOupe-Hldal
go (two miles north Of the city Of Mex
ico), which is noted as the place OF the
apparition of the Virgin. At the same
spot Santa Anna, who was five times
president or dictator and thrice exlled,
and who had belonged in turn to all
parties, reposes III the quiet Of the
grave after his restless life. By our
two treaties with Mexico we obtsintd
over half of the former territory Of
that country, paying twenty five mil,
lions Of dollars, however, for it, ap-
parently then a poor bargain, for the
coded territory at that time was not
much more than waste land-we hao
previously acquired Texas. The subse
quent discovery OF gold in California,
advent Of railroads, and the energy
and talent Of the incoming American
population have absolutely transform
ed the annexed territory and made 1t
the splendid country it is TO day. At
the time it was apparently a poor re
turn for the blood and treasure spent
in the war, exclusive of the purchase
money. Indeed. even now the enc
hundred and fifty miles OF Mexico next
to the United States is its most IN
promising and least inviting territory.
No 4 VINO has not passed beyond the
northern tier Of Mexican States can
have any idea of the scenery, climate,
or resources Of the country, which
steadily improves as one goes south
ward.
Returning by way of Monterey, a
run Of two hundred and fifty miles
brought me to the Rio Gfande at L ,re-
do. The river, which is crossed on e
handsome steel bridge with stone pill
lars, Is Of curse very much larger
here than at e Paso, where 1 had
passed over it on my entrance into the
country. The frontier at Laredo is
eight hundred and forty miles from the
city Of Mexico, and at Ell Peso iC Is one
thousand two hundred and twenty
four miles.
A tour TO Mexico will correct many
preconceiYed opinions of that country.
There Can also be seen the effect of
money being maintained ct its old
value, not doubled as with us) by leg
islative manipulation. Ii it be said
that Mexico Is still inferior to US IN
many things, then the greater Is the
just condemnation Of the men who by
their financial policy have made US SO
inferior in prosperity. If 1t be said that
MnvI0nn Ia hNrrrJ oro mid loo kLo-
ours, the answer is, How much worse
would have been their condition if Mex
leo had listened TO the agents of the
RothschiIds as we did and reduced cot
ton from sixteen cents per pound to
seven Cents2 And we may also ask
how much better eff the wealth pro
ducers Of this country would have been
if We also had repulsed the same temp
ter, and for the last dozen year or
more u farmers, like those in Mex
leo, had been paying their debts and
taxes by selling cotton at fourteen to
twenty cents, and wheat and corn at
81 to 81. so according to the season.
From Laredo l passed through the
Nueces section, the original bone of
contention between the two countries,
and then, crossing the N0eces, on to
San Antonio. Here the historic Alamo
still stands, in which one hundred and
eighty five Texans held at bay Santa
Anna with four thusand troops. The
latter at last took the fort, but not one
defender was left alive. The grand
but simple lines engraved on the build.
ing tell the heroic story:
"ThermOpylR had its messen- er of defeat
the Alamo had Lone"
1t was midnight when l boarded the