The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-19
HOLSTERS HELPED
TO SETTLE MEXICO
Four Clergymen Amongst
Those to Locate in "Ncu-
trail Zone"

indianapolis. March 1s.-As the Re-
public of Mexico is just now occupy
ing considerable attention., 1t is worth
while 10 recall the fact that some In
dian. men have been more or less
closely connected with the history OF
that country.
Mention Of the first OF these leads
back nearly n hundred years. This
was Robert Owen, founder of the New
Harmony community. and father of
Robert Dale Owen. In 1928 Mr.. owen
conceived a project for establishing an
independent colony along the border
line between Mexico and the United
States-a sort OF neutral zone-which
was to become the seat Of a govern.
ment founded and conducted on gold
en- rule" principles. and to be "A kind
Of butter" and peace promoter be-
tween the two countries.
In furtherance OF his plan, Mr.. Ow-
On drew up n memorial To the Next
can government, which was translated
into Spanish. and which was also sub
mitted to the British government. Hav.
Ing circulated his memorial Mr.. Owen
went to Mexico in the interests of his
project, reaching Vera Cruz by sail
ing vessel from London in January,
1929. He remained in Mexico some
time and succeeded in getting an
agreement from the Mexican govern
mcnt to set apart for his use tract
OF land $50 miles wide along the en-
tire border between the United States
and Mexico. the neutrality Of which
should be strictly observed by Mexico.
In addition to establishing a neutral
zone. Mr.. Owen contemplated form
ing sort OF pan-American peace so
Ciety between the United States and
the Latin American countries, by
which they should ali dwell together
In brotherly love. But the scheme
never got any further. and twenty
years later the United States annexed
Texas. neutral zone, Independent colo
MES and all.
Ministers Go From Indiana.
Since then several Indiana men have
had dealings with Mexico. There
have been four United States minis
tcrs To Mexico from Indiana. The first
ministA' appointed to that country af-
ter the election of Abrahom Lincoln
was Thomas Corwin. of Ohio. Corwin
was the man who made the famous
slip Of the tongue" just before the
war with Mexico. by declaring that
III ] were a Mexican ] would welcome
the Americans with bloody hands to
hospitablc graves" This unfortunate
expression killed Corwin politically for
many years. but he finally recovered
and attained prominence again. He
served as minister to- Mexico tim Max
millap's arrival In the country when
he hame home.
After the civil war our ministers
there We're Lewis ID. Campbell and
General W. 3. Rosecrans. both from
Ohio. and each serving only a few
months. the former never reaching
the capital on account of revolutionary
disturbances. In 1869. Colonel Thorn
IA II. Nelson. OF Indiana, was appoint.
ed. He had previously served five
years as United States minister to
Chile, 1S6t.66, and was popular there
on account Of his brave action In res
Cuing many persons when the Jesuits'
church ut Santiago was burned. In
1864. He was appointed minister to
Mexico In April. 1869. and served till
1874. His previous acquaintance with
Latin American characters. his knowl-
edge Of the Spanish language. and his
naturally courtly manner made him
popular at the Mexican capital. and
he was as good diplomatist as the ay-
eragc. In 1873 Colonel Nelson was
succeeded by Colonel John w. Foster,
OF Indiana. who served in Mexico sew
en- years before being transferred to
Russia and later to Spain.
Colonel Fosters Good Work.
Colonel Foster was and Is an accom-
plished diplomat. and did good work
toward maintaining and Strengthening
friendly relations between the two
countries. For the next few years. fol-
lowing 1850. the Mexican mission went
to other states. but in 1898, Isaac p.
Gray. Of Indiana. was appointed, and