New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-01
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
MEXICO AND THE TRANsvAAI..
PRESIDENT DIAz AND PRESIDENT KRUGER
COMPARED-A NATU AL STATESMAN
AND A NATURAL POLITICIAN.

AND A NATURAL POLITICIAN.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir; II the measure OF successful craftsmanship
be the degree in which the statesman has benefited
mis- country what Will be the verdict OF history on
president KRUGER and President Dlaz?
Both came TO be the heads # their respective
peoples about the same time-something like twenty
years ago Both had had a mixed military and
ciVi career Each was distinguished for skill and
bravery In the field and for sagaclty in negota-
ton Each 10y this same sagacity. has been able
10 rule his people with almost absolute sway
since he was placed at their head.
Al the end OF this twenty years OF rule what APP
pears The one people are on the verge OF dis
astrous war which can only end In their Obliteration
as nation The other are enjoying period Of
peace and prosperity such they never knew
oeiore, and as Il nation stand higher in the world
imam at any preceding period
when Diaz came into power he found a people
VINO mad only united TO repe foreign invader.
ana when this invader was driven out the old in
ternal dimensions renewed The country
was without railways. without ielegraphs, almost
without roads: brigandage hourished trade was at
the lowest ebb; provincial Instructions were rec
ogmzed institution; the national credit was a scof
IN the money markets of the world
When President KRUGER came into power ne TOO
round people who had united only to secure in
dependence. The country was poor It was without
rahFoads or telegraph lines there no manu-
features; exports and imports were almost moth
ing no school system existed and the national OBJ
legations, which had formerly sold at 25 cents on
the dollar had only been brought into credit
through the British annexation.
IN Mexico and in tho South African Republic
there was equally Il progressive and conservative
party The way was open equally to kruger and
10 Daz to place themselves at the head of one or
the other D.az chose to lead the progressivcs;
KRUGER the conservatives; and the commanding
influence OF each has made the party he iden-
tilted himself with the dominant power since.
When Diaz came into power there was no love
Tor their powerful northern neghbOr among the
Mexican people, despite its recent Intervention in
their behalf The memories Of war existed and
the losses Of territory which went with it. Diaz
would merely have placed himself i'm line with the
prevailing public sentiment Of Mexico had he
pursued policy of sullen opposition to every,
thihS that made for a closer union with the people
Of the United States. He did just the opposite
Rising superior to race feeling and TO popular
prejudice, he saw, broad minded statesman,
that the good Of the country could be best served
by drawing Mexico as close possible to her dom
inant neghbor; and with care and prudence but
with never relaxing perseverance. he has pursued
this policy throughout. He has encouraged by
liberal subsidies the building Of railroads and
telegraph lines. he has put down brgandagc; he
has decreed the constitution of public works: he
has abolished the old and vcxatious systems of IN
ternal customs taxes, he has established public
school system. ana made the teaching Of the Eng
Hsh language compulsory knowing that Mexico
must live In the future by blood from tho
English speaking race. he has reconciled all the
warning factions OF the population by his consum-
mate sagacy and his broad llbcrality. and he has
SO; SO raised ne financial credit Of the country
out IN the United States was the Mexican refund
ing loan recently offered and taken In this city.
Dla1 mas done these things not only with no ad-
vantages derived from the discovery OF
natural resources In the country, but in the face
If what to Mexico was a great economic calamity
the fall In the price Of silver, which was at once
currency. And he and his country at peace
with all the world
described as a great natural born diplomat? Kri-
ger went with the conservatives. While Ihaz had
discovery Of the greatest deposits Of gold in the
fise by lesps and bdanGs 70 sudden wdiiih From
annual revenues Of less than $4,000 It has jumped
ment Of The single industry which has worked this
transformauon owes nothing TO the native popula-
ton OF the Trausvaal but an TO IN, energy and
skill Of others Toward the people who have
thus transformed the Transvaal the attitude Of
President Kruger has been one Of distrust ANA an
tagon!sm from the time they became numerous
enough to threaten his hold on power Al the
start he issued an invitation to all the world 10
assist IN developlns TIE natural resources OF me
Of his party he led the way in jealousy excluding
rods we're built only after the Government opposi-
ton had been overcome, permission to build was
.hiHe neo'a val pGCy " va, ,ntr :" rnon"nollo
enough. No right Of municipal government has
been granted TO any city or town, English Is not
taught in the schools, though go per cent OF all
business transactions are conducted in that IAN
cungc: the civil service is conicssedly both cor
rupt and inefficient: every industry has been bur
dened by the weight Of the vicious economic policy
pursued: the most oppressive laws regarding per
sonal liberty and the freedom Of the press nave
been enacted and for ten years dissensons ana In
cipent rebellion have been the chronic condition
Of the population. The whole energies OF the
Government have been devoted TO converting ne
T~ansvaal into a great arsenal. expressly on the
ground IF defending the independence or the coun-
trv against the nation which granted II inde-
pcndeuce when KRUGER came into power
All these things are confessed ny president hru-
gers friends: but they are justlned on the plea
a. n,arvthing had 10 be sacrificed % preserve
the independence OF the country against the
British ,. -. .t,. ,,,.t.,o,,.
BE IT so. Then we are brought TO ms positaoni;
For fifteen wears President Kruger mas sacrlhced
me hest Interests Of his country To- secure us lnde-
Hrndepce at the end OF that period ne mas brought
b,s country to the verge Of a war when VIII eN-
tinguiqh that independence In blood
There IS the plain measure OF president Kruger
s,atesnanship In him have the natural porn
poutiiri.tat,.;i, ia trsuan STUDENT.
New-York. Sept. %. 1883