People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1897-03-12
A FINE Pen Pen PICTURE.
MRS. REED GIVES A GLIMPSE Oh
MEXICO AND HER CUSTOMS.
Tells of the Fine Opening for Manufactur-
ers and Men With MOney-A Land Where
the Poor are DOubIy PrOtected-Ameri-
cans Lead in Business.

the Poor are DOubIy PrOtected-Amerl-
cans Lead in Business.
Especial Correspondence Peoples Party Paper.)
Cry. OF MEXICO, Feb, 25, 1897.
2O7 PAsEO DEL REFoRMA,. J
One is prone to make a superficial
and therefore incorrect, estimate OF a
country and it's people on slight ac-
ouaintance, and for that reason 1 hest
tate, as yet, to go deeply into the sub
ject of Mexican life, character, her
measure of civilization and the trend
of her present remarkable develop
ment.
That this development is extending
along all lines, moral, educational and
commercial is patent to the most care
less observer
President Diaz is a strong, courage
GUS man of progressive and liberal
ideas, and he has an able body OF CO.
adiutors to assist him in the govern
ing and upbuilding of Mexico. He has
been called a military despot, but he
has brought law out of disorder, system
out of chaos, and peace, prosperity and
liberty to nation that for centuries
was the mang1ed football of foreign
powers. Since he represents the Lib
eral Party that, under Juarez, forclbly
despoiled the church of its enormous
wealth and power, ne has, OF course, a
stealthy, watchful enemy in the Church
Party, but, holding up the hands OF the
present government, are the interests
of foreign capital, the influence of all
business and the self-interest of every
class of reputa BILE citizens. Dlaz gov
eminent offers the most liberal con-
cessions for the building of railway and
telegraph lines, as they are the arteries
through which the power of the gov
eminent would be transmitted in case
of war or insurrection. Judging from
an observation of two months in the
country, should say that Mexico is
now safe from either internal disturb
ance or outside invasion.
The Indians. men, women and chill
dren, love Diaz because he is one OF
them. l feel great respect for the
Indian races that have produced such
men as Montezuma, Juarez, and Dlaz,
and great disgust that the effete
blood of Spain should have fastened
onto Mexico by brid race that has the
virtues of neither the Indian nor the.
Castilian. An American lady of many
years residence here says: '"The Next
cans are treacherous, insincere, indo-
lent and utterly unreliable" should
not like to endorse her statement be-
cause have not been here long enough
to judge for myself of the moral side OF
Mexican character. All with whom we
have come in contact have been kind, |
frie2oly and courteous i
THE AMERICAN COLONY.
The American colony is assuming
large proportions in this city. Socially
it keeps to itself, as do the French and
Spanish colonies. except on the occa-
sion of Diaz' receptions, to which large
numbers of Americans receive and ac-
cept invitations.
1nG SludllCI l1nOS VI dLC Ill oiiO
hands of Mexicans, and their stores are
small. ill-lighted, poorly arranged and
their methods of barter worse than
that of the worst slandered Jew. There
are no Hebrew merchants in 1exico
because the Mexican can outjew the
Jew. The most attractive looking
grocery store is kept by an American,
the best place to buy shoes is at an
American shoe-store, the best lodging
house is kept by an American lady and
the only good hotel, The Sanz, has
New York city proprietors.
The clerical departments of all bank
ing institutions are in the hands of
''native talent" and are slow and cum
bersome to a degree. Bank failures
are, however, unknown, for a failure
means the sure and prompt confscation
of all property of officers and directors,
and their Imprisonment.
There are no laws favoring the rich
in Mexico Corporation attorneys
would find barren field here. All
business is taxed, not even the smallest
receipt is valid in law without the gov
eminent stamp on it, but the rich man
and his pleasures bear the brunt of the
burden of taxation.
LAW FAvoRs THE POOR.
If any class favor is shown, should
say that the peon, dirty and mean as
he is, has the advantage, but that opin
ion is due to the contrast offered by the
States, where the rich and influential
employer has the ear of the courts and
an unwritten law of privilege every
where. In Mexico should the carriage
of an aristocrat run over the lowest
human vermin in the streets, nothing
could save it's fine occupant, even
though lady, from being Immediately
conveyed to police headquarters to an
swer for the offense. A charge of theft
must be proven, or the accuser stands
accused, and this in the face of the fact
that Mexican servants are, almost
without exception, the worst of pill
ferers,
The cost of living here can be much
less than in the States. Vegetables,
fruits and meats are abundant and
cheap. the cost of fuel is nothing for
heating purposes and only few cents
daily for charcoal to cook with; wool
garments are not expensive, Mexican
shoes cheaper than ours, servant labor
as cheap as it is poor, rents reasonable,
street car and railway fare not high
and nothing exorbitant except drugs
and stationery. Merchants take life
easy, closing their stores from IL to 8
o'clock p. M, and on all feast days .
No bargains are advertised, either
thro11nrh tho Z