Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-11-12
OLD M EXICO.
Americans Are Changing the Natives
Lazy Customs.


The capital, the enterprise and ini-
tiative Of the American people have
enabled Mexico to leap from the
tenth to the twentieth century. Next
co.'s fourteen millions of people are
growing a thousand years in as many
weeks. The whole territory of the
republic is owned by about 1000 land
barons, with millions of poems for
selrfs. American enterprise, with its
investment Of $500,000000, has dealt
peonage a deadly blow. The peon I'M
der the Mexican system earned -
cents a day, and was always kept in
debt by his patron, who held him per-
manently by this obligation, and trans
ferred him with every sale Of the es-
tate to the purchaser But the Ameri-
cans, with their railroads, farming
methods, smelters and industrial en-
ergy generally, have bid up the price
Of labor to 70 cents, 81, and more a
day. The peon thus pays off his debts
and becomes a free man. The Next
can Government offers free education
to his children, from the elementary
school to the university and schooling
will soon become compulsory.
Mexican trade with the United
States is constantly on the increase.
We sold the sister republic in 1901
1902 a third more than all the rest of
the world combined We bought from
her four times more than she sold to
all other nations. The uncertain val
ue Of Mexico's silver money affects
trade injuriOusly, making it gamble.
The bootblack must raise the price Of
his shine when silver depreciates.
Wages do not rise correspOndingly
Capital figures on a margin of 30 per
cent, and ye. Zen loses money.
American capital is, in spite of this
drawback, pouring into the land Of
the MOntezumas. Seventy per cent.
Of all American money invested in
Mexico has gone into railroad deyel-
opment. The Mexican Central has
taken $3.50, 100000; the National, $1O7,-
100000. Eighty per cent. Of all Mex
lean railway capital is American.
There is now a railway mileage there
Of 1000, and IT is steadily growing.
All the important systems bu three
are owned by Americans, and in these
three Americans are heavy stock
holders. They have recently acquired
the National from the British and
the Gulf line from the Belgians. The
United States furnishes the operating
officers, conductors, engineers and
sometimes the entire train crew.
American methods are rejuvenat-
ing the old Mexican mines Ameri-
cans are improving the great ranches
and developing the manufacture Of
cotton faster than the raw material
can be supplied by Mexico. Some Of
the raw cotton has thus to be import
ed from the United States. There
are American factories of every kind
everywhere. Americans are con-
strueting great irrigation dams and
canals. The Mexican people are
adopting American ways. The Amer
lean circus has taken the descendants
of the Aztec sun worshipers by storm.
The typewriter is a popular institu-
ton. A wireless telegraph system
connects the opposite shores Of the
Gulf of California. Best Of ALL the
Mexicans propose to elect n successor
to Diaz without a revolution. Even
more striking is the grasp OF Ameri-
can capital and enterprise on the
Canadian dominion.
The spirit of Old Glory, therefore,
reigns from Yucatan to Greenland,
and blesses a whole continent with
an Americanizat!on beneGting its
every nterest.-Lou!sviile Herald A