The times., 1898-06-26
ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE
Spanish Born MexicanS Display
Hostility Toward America.
But THEY COMPOSE A MINORITY
Reliable Papers Favorable to the
Land OF Republican, Grandeur
Experience Not to Meddle With
Affairs Outside Of Its PreroGatiyes
Ccorespondence Of the Chicago News.)

Correspondence Of the Chicago News-)
Chapala, Jalisco Mex, June 1S.-What
is the real senument-the internal senti-
ment-of Mexico regarding the war? So
1 am constantly asked by inqnirers in
the United States. After residence of
some time in widely different sections of
this republic I believe 1 can say that
Mexico is too overwhelmingly occupied
with her own growth TO be otherwise
than neutral AS for the great bulk of
The country, it is even a somewhat unin-
terested neutral at that
Everybody knows the attitude and the
sentiment OF the Mexican government. So
much Is patent 10 the world. That gov
crnment knows too well the business it
has in hand-it is itself the product of too
lurid q history; it sees too much depend
ing on its hanging TO the peace IL has
finally attained-in short. it is too wise
in its own interest to give any but a neu-
tral ear to the guns off Cuba. Is. then,
the sentiment of the country itself the
same2
In the United States we say newspapers
voice public opinion. First, then, look at
the newspapers of Mexico. You viii have
TO go to the capital TO find them. There
are few in other cities. bat they are few
indeed and of inferior type. Mexico City
has three printed in English and host
in Spanish. Two of these latter are "yeI-
low enough. They are IL TEMPO and
Voz de Mexico. Here are samples from
the former:
The principle of the brutal right of
armed force is part of the code of those
ferocious men Of the White House"
After Cuba, Mexico is their most desired
prize" Back, wretches, Back, inso-
Tents! open your eyes and you will see
that your war with Spain is unjust. Talk
not Of humanity, for your hearts are iron.
Talk not OF God. lest your hypocrisy turn
against yourselves. Talk not of succor
for your avarice desires the world. Cow
ardsi for only brute force moves you to
challenge a nation which by a thousand
titles has written its name in letters Of
gold among the illustrious peoples OF the
earth,'
These speak for themselves The Noz
Is but little behind. perhaps a trifle more
unsteady. The other Spanish papers in
the main preserve their dignity They
give the news-or some Of it-speak like
+ organs OF Mexico instead of organs OF
Spain. and indeed seem born Of The North
American spirit Of republic8Hisrn The
English papers are neutrality and fair
ness itself. The Mexican Herald. morn
ing daily. may be called the leader of
these Its influence is felt throughout
the country. and Is by no means con-
fined TO foreign elements Its editor is
wei known IN he United States. a worthy
offspring OF the Boston Herald. One
would expect his paper 10 be decidedly
in favor of the United States. 1t is so
only in the strictast justice. II * fair -
a marvellous frankness. 1t seems to see
what Is good and what is bad III both
SDauiards and Americans. and II plainly
says so II is for neutral Mexico and thor
Oughly independent North and South
america. The other English papers are
OF less Importance but equally lacking
! in any hing like hostility TO the United
! States. All The better periodicals appear
/ 10 consider the spasmodic TEMPO and
NoZ as singular geological specimens. So
much for the papers; and they count for
! less in a country just feeling its muscles
I than does the press with America.
We in America are likely to think
OF Mexico as the land Of the Catholic
/ What then. OF the church? A long time
ago the Catholic Church in Mexico came
4 crashing UP against the new American
! repubicaujs:1. Il was bruised and batter
4 Cd and afterward Tem5rselessly pruned BY
I that same reDublicaRiSm embodied in
! juarez. Since then it has fooled with,
/ politics IN Mexico no more. Il has caught
At last that new. Predominant principle
Of me republic-the principle Of strictly
/ minding its own business. II is looking
I after the souls and the war may manage
4 its own artillery.
Next. the merchants. the miners. the
4 agriculturists, all those classes belonging
TO the thousand and one industries which
/ growth Of Mexico Here are the people
/ whose sentiment itself IS potent. NV ex-
/ perience brings me 10 this conclusion.
Z With slight exceptions those men who
: favor Spain were born in Spain. The
rest. though their fathers had the blues.
/ Of Spanish blood have caught the breath
/ Of America and want no Europe this side
/ of Europe To say that Soanish-born
/ MeNicauS are in a striking minority Is
/ unnecessary. What proportion of the res
/ dents OF the United States were born in
/ England?
My frs news of the battle of Manila G
was then out of range of railways and
/ the press was brought me by an inteI.i-
gent Mexican architect a man in many
/ ways representative and more than half
( Of whose blood was Spanish He was in
/ intense delight. He described the battle
I with vivid effect. He sunk MOntiios :
/ ships with a relish so keen and an eye
/ so sparkling that l wondered where was
the spirit OF his European progenitors
! The next day I heard a man with real
4 passion condemning all Spain to perdi-
! don. slorying in her defeat praying that
I the American fleet would sink her every
ship. He looked like an intelligent for
/ eigner. / asked him if he We're not of
1 European blood He told me his father
! and mother both were unmiNed Span
( iards. born and raised in Spain.
! give these as significant instances. To
I be sure not everybody is so vehement.
But to fancy for a moment that the great
/ industrial classes the groundwork Of
Mexico, are hostile TO the United States
/ is in the last degree absurd. For them re-
mains the one potent fact: TIL past the
I middle of this century. during all OF
/ Mexico's interminable wars for hundreds
/ of years, industry of every kind was
| throtlled. At last there is peace, and
| peace which promises continuance If the
nation but keeps her nerve. There is
1 TO the north d country whose marvellous
/ prosperity is an object lesson to this of
/ the fruits of peace and the products of
| industry. Just over the Rio Grande is a
4 plain-writtcn proof of what Mexico can
be and is becoming Are, then. these in
I dustrial classes. with the triumph of the
great republic before their eyes. TO throw
/ away an atom of the peace which is the
/ first life they have had in many a score
4 of years? They are out of war and will
so remain. They are reaping the fruits
! of a final separation from that country
with whom we are at war. a country
/ they themselves unceremoniouSly flung
| away.
Next come the professions Here, of
/ course. are some speculative natures. But