Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-03-19
PROSPEROUS MEXICO.
Tho Model Administration Of Presidcas
Diaz.


Mexico is a republic in chancery; free
MS we are, but less licensed; happy, safe,
nrosnerous under the system whereby
we administer our homes; and proud or
the remarkable mau who has done what
no other ruler of modern times has even
dreamed of being able to do, and who
still keeps quiet, steady INST IN the
waistband of the youngster he has
taught TO walk
Within ten years the brigands OF Mex
leo have been simply wiped out. 1t has
been--to such as know the geographical
obstacles--a marvellous achievement;
and tho political difficulties were as
great. First, whatsoever brigand was
caught, and Diaz has way of catching
stood just long enough in front OF an
adobe wall for the firing party to crook
the right forefnger. There were no
hung iuries nor pardon governors. Sec
ond. the same hand So firm and swift
10 iustice-knew how to open an al
tentative door. Nowadays the bandit
needs not. There is something else for
him to do; and he finds 1t not only s'i-
luxurious. but more to his taste, to take
n part in the development of the patra
he was. proud of even when he was her
curse. lie would rather upbuild than
tear down, il he has chance, even II
there were no "Porfirio" and no rurales.
do not know anything in history
which fairly parallels these 20 years
in Mexico. No other man has taken n
comparatively dead sweight of popula-
ton and SO uplifted and transformed
IL. The wonder is all the more because
to this day every other colony OF Spain
in the new world looks to be the worse
off for the indepencia. Whatever we
NAV say of the theory of self-goyern-
7 ment, in practice not one of them was
, ever so miserably viceroyed or cap
D tain generated as it has been presi-
! denced four-ffths OF the time since 1871.
! Very much the same was true OF Mexico
: untilrecently. Ithashad patriotic rulers
o sometimes but that they were at last
$ sorry rulers the very roster OF them
: shows. Four presidents in year is
= hardly an index of prosperity.
d II is not far to remember when there
e was not a railroad in Mexico, and when
+ other material conditions were in pro
s. portion. The actual Mexico has 40 ran
If roads, with nearly 1000 miles of track
n and everything that that implies. It's
TRANSFORMATION facilities are practically
* as good as those Of our western states
l. md the investment is far more profita
ID BILE. 1t is Melted with telegraph line'
RS with the cheapest tariffs in America)
i. dotted with post offices, schools, cost
Or ly buildings for public business ant
a public beneficence. II is freer than
OF was ever before-wiih free schools, fire.
"a speech, free press. 1t ishappier than eve
MS before, and more prosperous than ever
g, the bonanza days of the magnificent 81
rs yer kings of Zacatecas and GuanaJuat'
'e- There are degrees, of course, by loc'
al variation of impulse or of opportunity
at. but there is progress everywhere-mi
a' terial intellectual, moral.
by If the visible prosperity OF Mexico,
he the face of certain of its circumstance
on shall seem enigmatic to sane peop
Ike whose sane views are based on RADICAL
Is unlike surroundings, yet only ignoran'
lite can deny the fact. Mexico is admiral
sui prosperous, in spite of seven year
d. drought, in spite of the CARA reyol
asst tion (kindled in the United States,
10 WAYS and for reasons too complicat'
wn to be reviewed herc); in spite OF
OF tional debt contracted when eXchan
an was at from eight to sixteen, and bell
not maid with exchange at from So to III
ioi- In spite even of cheap money. 1t h
I'M been miracle of craftsmanship b
n miracle which will never be repeat
eoh in dissimilar land.-Charles f. Lu
tne mis-, in Harper's Magazine