The Washington times., 1906-08-12
MEXICO PRosPERs UNDER DIAz.

The fairly authentic history Of Mexico
begins with the southwark movement OF
the TOltecs about the middle Of the
sixth century. About $50 years later the
Aztecs. also said 10 be Of northern or
tEin. succeeded the TOltecs. The MeNi-
can census still shows nearly 2O0OV0 or
these people, speaking little OF no Span
ish. directly descended from the ancient
Indian tribes. The work OF the early
inhabitants remains in many places. In
the state of Chiapas there are ruins OF
an old city of vast extent and other EVIL
denccS II an Old civilization. In cam
ucche there are paved roads. In Querc-
Iaro there are fortified hills. pyramids.
burial mounds. and ruins In vera
CRUZ there are temples. sepulchers.
ruins. rock carN ings, aqueducts, and
subtcrranean surines. Nucatan is not
ably rich in remains and relics. In
fact. there Is not one Of the twenty
seven states OF MeEico IN Whlchr on
more or less extensive scale and IN
greater or less variety there has not
been found the haudiwOrk Of people
whose occupation of Mexico long ante
dates the arrival of the Spaniards-
Cortes landed at Vera Cruz In 1913
For 800 years Spain ruled Mexico ~ tHe
same manner that she ruled her othef
colonial possessions. for the benefit or
Spain and Spanjards. Spain s colonies
were REGARDED only as tributaries 70 the
mother country, and the conquered peo-
Ule became little else than slaves 70 the
roD0uerors. Yet with ii all there was
among the people an upward develop
Inent which eliminated in reFclL sLlV
the overthrow of spanish anthoTlly- me
flag Of revolt was raised on S~pleIl"g'
lf 1910 but independence was not pro
claimed until February a. lN-l. ON sep
teulber p of that year ltuTblde made ms
triumphal entry into the caplIal. lAS
next sixty years marked period OF
bio. IA re Ar
ing which the land was dTenched III
blood and comparatively little progress
yyas made Then came Mexico strong
man. P0rfiriO DiaZ
Under the rule OF this large-nlhurd
statesman Mexico Fas become a ne"
land He introduced sweeping and prac-
tical reform measures. increased reVe-
nues without seriously increasing tho
burden OF taxation. and set on 1901
YIans for The development OF national
resources. He maintained peace at home
and established friendly relations with
foreign powers. The results OF the new
UOllc-y were soon apparent DlaL sd"
that political peace and prosperity We're
alike daDendent upon railway COmmuni-
cation IN 1875. two years before Jhe
first election OF General DiaZ. Mexico
had only about $50 miles OF railway;
TrVveuty wears later she had nearly lUOD
miles and she has today approximately
10 600 miles Much OF this work has peeh
done by costly system OF subSlules'
but there can be no question or the Wis
dom OF the investment Aside from the
effect Of the railways on the induslrlal
srrovytb oF Mexico without them II
would have been practically impossible
for President Diaz 20 put into effect
those political reforms which have con
verted the country from land or al
most uninterrupted domestic war Into q
land of peace and law and order
In its area Mexico is little more
than oy.e-foUrth as large as the United
States. Its population today IS pro3911
ahIv not far from Is 900 O00 About %
1,er cent Of this number may be classed
as white about IS per cent mixed. and
the remainder Indian,
There are now resident IN Mexico
probably not far from 10000 people from
the United States, and nearly. II NOT
quite $1,000 from England and conu-
mental EurOpe.-New York Sun.