The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-12-05
ARafnbIe thru Mexico.

Paper Read Before the ChLotduQud CfrcK.
In our day, weread 50 much about
the prosperity and progressiveness of
Mexico, which ia apt to lead those who
are not familiar with that country to
expect to find conditions similar to
those existing in the United States, but
in this they would be disappointed in
a general way. The plan of govern
ment, altho republican in form, differs
from our own in many of it's funda-
mental principles. While the different
states which constitute the Republic
have their respective state govern
ments, there is Capitalization of
power in the national government,
which in turn centers in the president
to such an extent that it becomes al
most dictatorial.
Among the masses one hears little
OF politics, and the excitement incl
dental to an American presidential
election, or even that of state or i'm
|portant city election, is almoss entirely
absent in Mexico. One of the princi-
pal reasons for this apparent lack of
interest in the affairs of his country by
such large number of Mexicans may
be found in the restrictions to which
the right of suffrage is subjected,
which disfranchises large per cent of
her citizens and results in the rule of
class or property-right over the masses.
Besides, owing to the very limited ed
ucational facilities provided, illiteracy
prevails to great extent among the
iaboring class, and those in the hum
bier walks of life, aud they naturally
take little interest in things which they
do not understand or of which they
i may be said to be wholly ignorant.
i But neither time nor space will per-
NIT Of any lengthy discussion of the
4 political, or economic conditions ex-
isting in Mexico, and the object Of this
paper, is, in limited manner, to de-
scribe some Of the conditions and Gus.
. toms of the Mexican people, and
briefly, to recite some of the impres.
: sions CLEANED by the writer during =
residence of some years in that country
When we cross the border for al
. overland trip into the interior of Mex
ico, at the very outset we meet witt
: the most decided contrasts to alnos
. everything American, except perhap
3 the railroad on which we travel, tina
: being American in every way, barrin,
. the use of FIRST, second, and third clas
J. coaches required by law. The rathe
8 antiquated appearance which nost o
0 the towns present, with. low, fiat-roofe'
Q adobe houses, which,, except in tn
) larger cities, seldom exceed a height o
g two stories, with barred windows
a somewhat resembling jail, togethe
' with their similarity in plan of cor
9 struction and general appearances, an
the universal air of untidiness pre-
q vailing about the irregular streets, ar
r scenes that are continually repeatin
r themselves thruout Mexico.
!. The more northerly portion of tn
n Republic presents a mOnotOnous 81
. panse of barren plains suitable fC
grazing purposes only. However, "
!. do not proceed far until the minin
wt district, which extends over such
- large area of Mexico. is entered, an
: the country presents more lnvitin
= appearance. The, farther south v
- proceed the more verdant and pr0du
n tive the country becomes, but nowhel
{. do we meet with anything like Amer
: can agricultural conditions. AS a
~ agriculturist the Mexican adheres to
- rather primitive mode, and has nothir
- like the modern American farmir
% machinery at his disposal.
10 Many of the larger cities lying nor
or of the capital are we'll worth visitin
aud few days spent in such plac
of as Monterey, Chihuahua, Agnas Cs
et- ientes, or San Luis Potosi, or a si
ed trip to GuadalaJara, will afford mu
nd that. would prove both enjoyable al
), interesting to the traveller In all
these cities will be found many Am'
~ leans as well as other foreigners "
:" are making their homes in Mexi,
." but no matter what part of the cou
his try we visit we are almost sure to d
ac- the aGringo" as the American is qu
. commonly called in Mexico, and