The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-25
DON MANUEL AZPIREZ
MExICO'S NEW AMBASSADOR AR
RIvEs AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Says His Main Purpose WIZ BE TO
Iations with the United States.


| Mexican ambassador, Senior Don Manuel
| Azpirez who succeeds the late Senior
| Romero, arrived in Washington to-day. He
| left Mexico City on the 11th, stopping at
| FL Paso and st. Louis, where he was hand
somely entertained by the commercial
! bodies and the Spanish-American citizens
| Senor AZpirez will be the first representa-
| tive of Mexico to present credentials of the
high rank of ambassador for while Senior
Romero was commissioned to that rank he
| died on the day set for the presentation
| of his credentials. The new ambassador
| was seen at the Mexican embassy shortly
| after his arrival to-day and talked inter-
estingly current questions between the
| United States and Mexico. He is man of
| quiet and dignifed bearing, beyond the mid
| die age, with gray hair brushed back from
| his forehead. He speaks English fairly
| well
Naturally my main purpose in coming
| TO Washington" said the ambassador. "is to
strengthen the good relations between the
| United States and Mexico in every way
possible. and in particular to develop the
trade and commerce which two good neigh
| bors should have with each other. 1 notice
| that your papers reproduce Mexican press
| comments on the recent utterance Of Cecil
| Rhodes, prophesying the absorption by the
United States of Central and South Ameri-
| can countries. But this press comment Is
purely unofficial and in no way reflects the
views Of the government. Mr.. Rhodes is
ar interesting character and the papers
| were quick to seize on his utterance and
| give it much significance. But II is nothing
| more than the opinion of any private in
dividual and receives no serious attention
beyond that. Throughout Mexico the press
and public are sincerely friendly TO the
great Republic to our north
The ambassadors attention was called to
| the statements of Correo Espanol, published
at Mexico City. in reference to American
| depravity in Cuba. THAT is a Spanish
paper" said he land the views expressed
are merely those of the Spanish element
| Under our liberal laws, giving freedom of
speech and freedom of the press, consider
| able latitude is allowed in editorial discus
sion, just as it is under the enlightened laws
| of the United States. But no significance
| should be attached to the utterances simply
| because they are made in Mexico City. Only
| a small element of our people are pro-
| Spanish by reason of ancestry or relation
| ship. The great bulk of the people treat
| such matters with indifference and regard
| the United States their nearest and best
| friend"
Senior Azpirez explained that his reference
to closer reciprocal relations between the
| two countries did not related to any formal
movement for a reciprocity treaty under
| the Dingley law, but was merely expressive
| of his general purpose TO foster reciprocal
| trade. This trade, he said ran far into the
millions and was growing constantly. Next
| co bought the bulk of her goods from the
| United States instead Of from European
countries. He pointed out that the great
| mining mineral and agricultural resources
| of his country created large demand Tor
American goods and the people wanted our
| machinery and all the appliances OF INDUS
| try, preferring them TO those of other coun-
| tries With the extension of the railroad
| systems between the two countries, this
| mutual exchange was sure to increase and
| the nations brought into closer trade rela"
| tons.
Refer ring to President Diaz the ambassa-
| dor said: THE President is enjoying the
| best of health. He has remarkable Vigor Tor
| a man of his years. Although now about
| sixty-nine, he looks twenty years younger,
| and he has the same vitality of mind and
| body that has served to give Mexico such
| wonderful impetus under his admnistra-
| ton. 1t is not too much to say that the
country has made more progress in the last
| twenty years than she made in the entre
| period OF her existence before then. Ana
| this great stride has been made largely
| through the craftsmanship of President
| Diaz. 1t may be said that the United States
and Mexico are walking hand in hand. one
| representing the highest type of Anglo
| Saxon and the other of Latin civilization.
| The ambassador speaks in high terms or
| the Americans in Mexico and says the
| country invites them as citizens and in
| VeStOrS. The American colony at MEXICO
| City numbers about five hundred and Amer
| leans are scattered all through the country,
| developing the railways and mines. Senior
Azpirez also refers to ,the favorable impress
| sion made by the UnitN States ambassador.
| Mr. CLAYTON. in his relations with the
| Mexican government and people.
| Senior Azpirez is accompanied by his wife
| and two daughters and by Captain Barron,
| a newly-appointed third secretary of the
| embassy The new ambassador is one of the
| most eminent scholars and statesmen or
| Mexico. and for the last ten years has been
| subsecretary of state in charge of foreign
| affairs. He is also an author OF considerable
| fame and has published a number Of books
| on legal subjects which are regarded as
| standard authorities Senior Azpirez was
| born in the city of Puebla, July =. 1886. was
| educated as lawyer and practlced MS pro-
| fession in his native State until the French
| invasion of 1867 when he entered the army.
| AS judge-advocate general he appeared for
| the government at the court-martial OF the
| Archduke Maxmillian. and his conduct OF
| that case won him great fame. After peace
| was restored he became secretary of state
| in the Cabinet of the President until 1872.
| when he came TO Washington as the rePre-
| sentative of his government before the
| Mexican claims commission, Having COM
| pleted his duties there he was appointed
| consul general at San Francisco and re-
| manned in that position until elected to the
| federal Senate in 1888 Since that time ne
| has been actively engaged in public affairs,
| with the thorough confidence Of the Presi-
| dent and the people.