The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-17

NEW YORK, Feb. 16.-Sencr Enrique Z.
Creel the most prominent capitalist ana
banker ofSMeXico, arrived here last Weeh-
In a financial point of view, he IS tie most
important foreign visitor New i OK mas
had in a. long Tine and the multi-m1liion-
aires are showing him in the way OF
banuuets and receptions the utmost con-.
sideration. ThiS.is the first dnteIVie" ne
has given to any newspaper.
Mr.. Creel speaks English perfectly
Though Mexican born, his father was
Kentuckian so that tlfe leading business
man Of cur sister republic is only one
generation removed from a citizen OF the
United States and is proud. OF the fact lie,
is not q politician IN the sense OF hoid1hs
Office or seeking it. Beginning HE a poor
boy. by his own slnaided efforts he has be-
come, while yet under fifty, the flrSt
financier of Mexico, enthusiastic in the
development gifts great natural resources
along all the lines of industrial achieve
ment In conversation yesterday at the
Hotel Waldorf he was eloquent IN de-
scribing the present and future of Mex
leo.
DIAzS A GREAT MAN.
"AIyF country said he, owesi all That II
is to President Diaz. He is Enthusiastically
The greatest statesman Mexico has pro-
duced, and I believe that as a nation.
builder he stands in the first rank of the
statesman of the nineteenth century.
Mexico loves and revereS Porfalo SDlaz,.
but the world at large does not5yet Know
how really great he is; how intensely
he is devoted to his country, to her adj
svancement as a nation and to the prog
sress and Happiness of his countrynl les
president Diaz has been at the head of
the Government of Mexico during the
last twenty years. The cornerstone of.
his policy in ali that time has been, hrst,
to create a stable government; second,
to place Mexico firmly on the road to the
highest industrial Development; a nd, third,
to so buttresS the governmental system
he has erected that it will be, as far a
human foresight can devise, perpetual.
..To this end President Diaz Instituted
certain great measures of reform The
first and greatest of them was popular
education under the absolute control OF
the State. Pursuing this idea steadily The
result is that to-day Mexico has a pubic
school system that can challenge conn
parison with that of any country in the
World Attendance is compulsory, and the
law is rigidiy enforced. AT least TWO thod-
sand teachers .of Mexico have been edu-;
Gated in the United States. and to-day full
sly 1900 Mexican children are being edu-
Gated in the colleges of Uncle Sam
MUST LEARN ENGLISH.
ASSIMILATION with the United States is
one of President Dia1s cherished ideas,
and solely with that object IN view, every
child in the public schools must learn
English. The two peoples, living side by
side on the same continent. and posses
sing similar forms of government, as far
as present conditions will admit, should
be, in President Diaz's opinion. the best
of friends, Spanish, of course, VIII cons
stinJte to be one language OF Mexicos5 but
President Diaz aims to place Englishi3side
by side with it. and thus create one Of
the strongest links of union that can
exist between two nations The young
generation of Mexicans viii be thoroughly.
fitted for all the duties OF seif-soyern-
n,ent.
RAILROADS AND BANKS
sThe government. of Mexico under Diaz
hss been strong and wise beyond that
! Of any government on the continent. the
United States alone excepted 10 fit his
people for he duties Of Citizenship and to
Improve thels economic conditions is The
s 1anrsntsti aim OF his adEfntstr In
4 the working out OF th 8 policy-th only
policy that eventually can place aiexico
in her proper ct ion among nations-ma-