Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-12
NJ 0DERN N EXIC0
Review of Its Conditions by One Of
Its Most Eminent Men.
TIE STABILITY OF It's GOVERNMENT
Education and the Study Of Eng
Iish Compulsory.
I H E INANCIAL sly STEM

A gentleman eminent in the republic of
| Mexico, and who is most closely identified
| with every movement that has aided in the
| remarkable progress of the country. is visit
| ing Washington. He Is Mr.. Joaquin d.
C2sasus. the greatest political economist Of
| Mexico. who is recognized in Europe as one
| of the leading financial authorities of the
| world. and who enjoys the distinction of
being the most learned lawyer in Mexico
| as well. He is an intimate friend
| ard valued adviser of President Diaz and
| his cabinet. Mr.. Casasus IS a member OF
| the Mexican senate ard represented his
country at the monetary conference in
Brussels in 1892. He has written several
important works financial subjects in
French and Spanish. and is highly gifted in
other literary directions. He translated
Longfellows "Evangclinc'' into Spanish. and
has young daughter named for that hero
| Ire. He is a man Of most charming per-
s"nali;y. keen observer and an entertain
ing companion. He is on his way to tIl-
rope with his wife. two little sons. Ramon
and Horacio. Mr.. Rafael Anaya. his secre-
tary, and DIR. Ramon Albert, his physician.
Mr.. Casasus is an intimate friend and
great admirer of Gov. Alexander r. Shep-
Eerd. who bespoke for him the hospitality
OF his old friends in Washington during his
sojourn here. and his stay IS being made
additionally pleasant by the presence of Mr..
and Mrs. L. H. Stevens of New York and
their interesting young daughter and DIR.
Frank Merchant who was for years Gov.
Shepherds physician-he is the governors
nephew-at Batopilas, but who is now To-
Gated in New York
Mr.. CasaSuS and his wife are charmed
with Washington beyond words to express
1t, and expect upon their return from Eu-
rope in the autumn to remain here long
enough to il thoroughly. The party
went Yesterday n the WASHINGTON
ment and the Congressional Library, where
Mr.. Bernard r. Green and Mr.. Ainsworth
X. Spotford did the honors. and yesterday
afternoon visited the White House by APP
pointment with President Mckinley. Mr..
William F. Mattingly entertained them last
night at dinner. and this afternoon they
viii! be entertained at the Chevy Chase
Club. They will leave Washington for New
York at o'clock tomorrow.
Mr.. Casasus gave a Star reporter a most
interesting view of the conditions in Mex
leo. which will be important to all who are
interested In the sister republic of the
United States valuable contribution to
the subject.
Almost Miraculous Progress.
The progress Mexico has made in the
past fifteen years" he remarked, ''is al
most miraculous when conditions most re-
cent are considered. And there has been
nothing spasmodic feverish about it.
The advance has been due to an apprecia-
ton Of the marvellous resources of Mexico
and universal desire to develop them.
The beneficent advantages of free govern
ment are recognized now by all classes.
Those who were troublesome in the early
days and who rebelled, openly covertly,
against free Institutions and their author
ity have passed away, and the present
people are engaged in the avocations of
peace and industry. Today Mexico is as
safe from one end to the other as the Dis
trict of Columbia"
70 ha n nreya1ent fnnnraS-
sion among we Americans" suggested the
reporter. that the stability of the Mexican
republic rests largely in the personality of
President DiaZ, and that without his In
fluence and presence serious results might
ensue
Pursuits of Peaceful Industry.
That impression is entirely wrong" said
Mr.. Casasus. The world. like Mexico,
recognizes that President Diaz is great
man. and it is his very greatness that has
builded a government fabric that is as
stable as your own and safe for the flu
ture. Our people have recognized that the
Mexico Of the future will be greater and
grander than il ever was by their co-opera-
ton in the pursuits of peaceful industry.
The only political question in Mexico is who
can do the most to aid the work of national
development. commercial progress and
cial uplifting
Our educationa system he continued.
sis one any country might be proud of
Every parent or guardian has to send his
children or wards TO school. This is COM
pulsory. For an nfraction of this law an
offender IS fined S2'' for the first Offense so
for the second. and is imprisoned if the Of
Tense is committed a third time. 1t may
also interest You TO know that the study of
English is obligatory in all schools in the
republic.
congressman Have Substitutes
Your political system is patterned after
ours. l believe?''
S,S N-ery lar but ,rt,l !,
ences. ! am member of the senate, as
You know. Well, each senator and each
representative has the privilege of being
represented by substitute who is present
at all sessions when the principals are not
This permits the choice and election of q
man whose interests might be too large to
permit them to serve legislators other
wise Thus you will perceive 1t is possible
to conduct legislative business of minor i'm
portance without personal attendance. or
course, on vital questions the principals act
in person. Then our ca binet officers have
seats in our congress, similar to the system
In Great Britain"
"Will you tell me something about your
financial SYSTEM" inquired the reporter
Most willingly" responded Mr.. Casasus.
"Of course that is very large subject and
1t is difficult TO describe 1t in a short con-
versation. However, i can perhaps briefly
summarize the situation. 1t is now three
years ago since the government Of the
United States of Mexico promulgated on
the 10Th of March, 1897, to be exact a gen
eral banking law which both in Mexico and
abroad has been considered one of the most
important in force on the subject.
Alone Among Nations.
in fact no other nation has up to the
present time consolidated under one law
the whole of the provisions relating to instt.
tutions of credit and summarized them in
to one code.
I'm those nations in which great banks
have been established, thanks to the char
tiers that have granted them an exclusive
monopoly. can understand the absence
of a general law to govern institutions of
credit; but even in those countries In which,
like the United States. contrary principles
have been sanctioned, different laws which
uIIn oil DcVc'