The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-28

To the Editor Of the World:
The reading which l did preparatory
to my visit to Mexico revealed to me
how little / had known of the history
of that country. past and current In
this connection acknowledge my in
debtedness to Senior Romero. the Next
can minister at Washington, for ad-
vanced proofs of his book Just issuing
from the press, descriptive of Mexico
at the present time. Senior Romero-
besides being a student of great in
dustry and research, is thoroughly IA
miliar with our language, and his
book will be of great value to both re-
publics. in that it gives to the Deqple
of the United States full and authentic
information with regard to our nelgh-
Dor on the south. The readers OF the
World may be interested in a brief
reference to some of the facts which
came under my observation during a
three weeks stay in the land of the
Aztecs.
! found:
First.-That Mexico is a delightful
place to visit. Travel on the main lines
is as safe, as comfortable and as cheap
as in the United States. The City OF
Mexico is within four days ride OF
Kansas City, and can be reached by
three routes The Mexican National
leaves the Rio Grande at Laredo, the
International at Eagle Pass and the
Mexican Central at El Paso.
The weather is dry and pleasant
during the Winte. months. and the
temperature high enough to be inviting
u those who find the colo Of the north
too rigorous. The descent from the
City of Mexico TO Vera Cruz can be
made between sunrise ard sunset, and
in the course of the da.r the traveller
has an opportunity 10 compare the
flora of two zones. As both the Next
can and the Interoceanic railroads con-
meet the capital with this seaport, the
tourist is enabled 10 vary the scenery
without loss of tina. The neT rail
road which is bui. ling from the City
of Mexico to Acapulco rises 1850 feet
almost witht- sig'l. of the City or Mex
leo, and then drops 800 feet 20 Cuer-
naVaca, the present terminus. The
three snow-crowRed peaks. Popocata-
petl, IZtaccihuatl and OriZaba, are
magnificent mountains. The first
named the largest of the three. nre-
sents TIE best view from Cuernavaca.
All three can be seen from a point on
the Interoceanic road, near Pueblo.
Cathedrals built before the landing of
the pilgrims. huge public buildings,
different entirely in architecture from
our own; unique Chapultepec, ma
tional art gallery filled with rare and
valuable paintings, and a museum con-
tanning innumerable relics of a civil
lization which antedates the discovery
of the continent by Europeans-all
these combine to interest and instruct
Second-That while our nation has
more inhabitants. covers more terri
tory and possesses greater wealth, we
cannot surpass the Mexicans in hos
pitality or in the courtesy which thav
extend to strangers
MEXICO FRIENDLY TO THE UNIT
ED STATES.
Third.-That the Mexican authorities
entertain a very friendly feeling to-
ward the citizens of the United States.
and heartily desire a continuation of
the amicable relations now existing be-
tween the two nations.
Fourth-That Mexico is as firm as
the United States in the support of the
Monroe doctrine. having. realized over
80 years ago the dangers attend9nt
upon an attempt TO extend monarchial
institutions upon the western hemi-
sphere.
Fifth.3That President Diaz is entire
" deserving of the encomiums be-
slowed upon him by his own people,
by resident Americans and by visitors.
He has a genius for public affairs un
derstands the condition and needs of
his people, and has their confidence to
a degree seldom enjoyed by an eXeeu-
tive. either hereditary or elective, while
the advantages of a stable government
are now so generally recognized that
his death or resignation would not
disturb the existing order of things.
yet his qualifications have been so
amply proved and his administration
so completely successful that his peo-
pie are unanimous in the hope that he
may yet enjoy many years of official
life.
Hidalgo. the warrior priest. who led
the movement which resulted in indie
pendence. is called the Mexican Wash
ington; Juarez, who successfully de-
Tended his country against MaXimil-
ian, was the second great Mexican
leader of the nineteenth century; Presi-
dent DiaZ himself q brave general, by
restoring order. establishing the SUI
premacy of the civil war and perfect
ing the system Of public education, has
earned for himself. and viii enjoy in
history, place by the side OF Hidalgo
and Juarez.
Sixth.-That the public men of Mex
leo are not inferior TO our own in in
teliieence. education and general in
formation. Senior MaTiscal, secretary of
foreign affairs adds to great ability
long expe%ience as a diplomat. and as
mieTs of the leading nations of the
world. Senior Limantaur, secretary OF
finance, is 4 most accomplished gentle
man and has exhibited superior skill
in the management OF the fiscal affairs
Of the republic. The other cabinet Of
hcers, governors, members of the ma
tiorai and state congresses. mayors,
etc. whom ] met We're. without eXCep-
ton, men Of refinement and scholarly
attainmentS.
Seventh.-That the English language
is being taught more and more eN-
tensively each year. and is now under
STOOD and spoken by most of the public
men or by members OF their families
! was informed that d majority of the
members Of the federal congress could
understand i speech delivered in our
language The leading hotels and stores
have clerks who can speak English. so
that travel and traffic are made easy,
ADVANCES IN EDUCATIONAL AT
FAIRS.
Eighth.-MeXico is making substan-
tai progress in education. The public
schools are free and attendance is
compulsory. The president and those
associated with him in authority are
putting forth every possible effoI- to
improve the system Of instruction and
to bring all the children under the in
fuence % the school teacher. As an
illustration, in TIE state of Mexico the
number Of schools has increased more
than 100 per cent within the last ten
years. and the number of pupils in
attendance shows an equal Increase.
The girls and boys enter school upon
an equal footing. and the ambition OF
the pupil is stimulated by the offer of
rewards os merit.
T.