Evening star., 1916-03-19

riscal that Mexico maintained such
good relations with the United States
during the period of her supposed up
building.
Away back during President Cleve-
lands first administration. when there
was a sharp controversy between the
United States and Mexico over an in
dividual named Cutting. in which the
question of extraterritorial jurisdic-
tion was involved, it was Mariscal who
maintained the Mexican position with
a skill that evoked the admiration of
international lawyers and secured the
respect of the State Department, under
Secretary Bayard.
Minister Mariscal also secured the
admiration of European statesmen
through the tact with which he ad
justed irritating questions and obtain
ed the diplomatic recognition which
paved the way for loans and gave
Mexico an established position as a
nation. 1t was due to the delicate di-
plomacy that diplomatic relations were
established with Austria, notwithstand-
ing that after Maximilian's execution
the Austrian fiat had gone forth that
there never would be time when Aus
tria would recognize such a country as
Mexico. Minister Marisca1 was one of
the great men of Mexico; as great in
many respects as Diaz himself
Senior Romero, who for many years
was Minister MariScaIs righthand man
in service Mexican minister in
Washington. was also a native of
OaXaca. His work during Gen. Grants
administration is still remembered. and
his memory is treasured in OaXaca as
one who brought honor to the state.
Other sons of Oaxaca whose names
have not gone beyond the borders of
Mexico itself nevertheless have been
conspicuous in the history of the coun-
try. 1t is doubtless men Of this type
who have maintained the Independent
identity of the state and who have
sought to make this the basis of a
genuine constitutionalist government
for Mexico.
Full particulars have not come from
the state to the methods that have
been followed. but in the main it is
known what has been done. There has
been a governor, with headquarters at
the city of OaXaca, whose authority has
been recognized throughout the state.
and there have been local officials eXer-
cising their functions as a part OF the
state government.
The commonwealth has laid and col
lected its own taxes. and has coined its
own money. There is in Washington
today full collection of this coinage,
which includes copper, gold and silver.
The ceaseless output of the printing
presses in the form of constitutionalist
currency has not found circulation in
Oaxaca, nor have there been any local
bandit chiefs who have issued cur
rency on their own account. Oaxaca,
therefore. Will not have any currency
to repudiate in order to get on sound
financial basis.
The state has valuable resources The
products are the usual tropical ones
and some minerals As far back as the
Span times cochineal constituted one
of the most valuable products. Oaxaca
onyx is very well known, and is ad
mired for its beauty. The mining in
dustry Of the state is an important one,
especially the copper mines. Some OF
these have been worked profita bly,, but
there are others which await trans
portation facilities in order that their
wealth may be developed.
Just where Oaxaca viii stand in the
new developments that are crowding
Mexico cannot be guessed. Its attitude
has been that il is bound up with no
faction. IT has not been unfriendly to
the CarranZistas, but has declined TO
merge itself into their ranks.
Csrranza's effort to obtain military
control Of the state. however, neces-
sarily places his government in antag
onism with Oaxacas claims to be in
dependent. The Oaxacans have said
that whenever Carranza or any other
chief set up constitutional govern
ment which had the consent of all sec
tons and of all factions in Mexico their
state would join it, but they wanted
the evidence that d genuine constitu-
tional government was in process of
l@1@ A @lDI IlDW