The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-13
MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES.

L
| A few days ago The Post called atten-
tion to the splendid showing In President
Diaz' annual message TO the Mexican con-
gress, OF the material progress. financial
ease and improving credit OF Mexico, and
4 ventured the conclusion that such record
to the south of us was calculated to cause
Americans to blush by reason of the poor
er returns from government on this side
of the Rio Grande.
The Washington Post does not appear
to have liked the comparison, and with
that usual American propensity to con-
clude that wisdom and excellence will die
with us. refuses to See in MexIco's pro-
gress and prosperity any rebuke to the
administration OF affairs in the United
states. Our Washington contemporary
even fears that The Houston Post is pin
ing for the remuneration of Texas to Mex
light under an attack OF nostalgia" Then
the Washington paper proceeds
A rather long and apparently well -consId-
irstant gives occasion for the above com
! mtnts. The article opens with the cheerful
and patriotic remark that st almost brines
the blush Of shame to the checks OF an
American to compare the annual message.
delivered to the Mexican congress SATURDAY.
last by. President Daz. with the annual mes
sages delivered to the American congress by
cur presidents for several years past. Ths
Mexcans appear to have reversed old cond
tions and now show the good government.
\ while we show the bad management Of pub
Nc affairs
We dont know what kind OF AN Amer
lean" he would be who would fell ssnse
I shame In cotnpartup the of preg-
ident Diaz with those OF any OF 'our presl-
dents for several years past " IT Is undoubt.
edly true that under President Diaz some OF
the old conditions have been reversed. fle is
a man CT great resources aud has accom-
pished much. 1t Is we'll for his country that
he is at the helni---that no set aside a consti-
. tutoral limitation and determined 70 remain
at the head II all dlctators had vindicated
, their right TO rule as no has Justified his. the
world would have been farther on toward
has been wholesome for Mexico would not b.
the notion that our government contrasts un
favorubly with that OF Mexico Is Enthusiastically
absurd,
Q The "kind OF an American" referred to
Ia one who does not allow his partisan
prejudices to blind him to the extravaganza
3 in government expenditures and the scan
r dals in government operations to which
we have been treated for several years
% past, anu especially uuuci tut PicSche Az
. mnistration, nor to the dictatorship OF {
: syndicate controlled government which
IS Will suffer by comparison with the die
Q tatorship OF Diaz, who Is at least improv
" ing the condition OF the masses beneath
u him and placing the finances and indus
tries of his country upon healthy an
natural basis! Is our syndicate government
lat lie n dtf
ference Of duration rather than in degre
h between the despotism OF partisan ad
:, ministration In tho United States and tn
:, dictatorship of strong arm In Mexico
Let us not forget that!
:, But says our Washington contemporar
- again
Because we have In recent years increase
our National dfbt while Mexico s makin
l. better showing as to revenues aud expen
=, ditures, our Houston contemporary feels sad
~ and worsc than ttat. ashamed. What rs on
ID debt in comparison with our resources? Their
I'd Is no richer country than onrs ON inc gions
va Years aGo. when our wealth was FAR les
l. than It Is today, we paid off debts In
"A manner that surprised tho world, Where
w MeXico's credit as compared with ours? An
- how many centuries of progress In Mexic
. will DO required to give that country MS nue.
NC gold coin as we now have In our treasury
q, Why should we in recent years "hav
ne Increased our debt while Mexico has bee
making a better showing? What but ba
IN management In ''the richest country o.
IS, the globe" with lnltless resources. ca
IN account for debt -piling In times OF peace
OF That we paid off debts years ago whe
a. our wealth was far less than II is today, II
OF a manner to surprise the world, and the
ed began to put those debts back as we grey
IS richer, is the best possible proof OF recen
ry bad government Nor does The Hcusto
Post admit that gold in the treasury"
ny either an indication OF the best civilizatio
n or the best government. II that were tn
ed case Russia could claim that we were NOR
n barbarian than the Cossack!
ne No one contends that Mexico Is create
W than the United States, or a more desir
nd able place to live. We are all proud of ou
10 country. but some OF us are not blind I
'n' tho shortcomings of our political admin
istratipns 1t is the old story OF the d
Ut vision and use of talents The one taller
~ given 10 Mexico is being wisely multiple,
~ while many Of tho greater number give
IS, to US are being wrapped in-a napkin an
4" left to rustl II was the comparative pre-
gress and the excellence of government
" with the resources at hand In either cas-
~ o. which we were speakng-and the con
pariscn may we'll appear ''odious" to
shcrcughgoing Mckinley administrator
organ.
"a Congressman Stalllngs OF Mlssisslppi n