Year: 1869

"


those Of the middle ages In Europe, by some


robber chieftain, who laughs at the general


government. As an instance, we cite the


Lagunsros, under Gonzales Herrera, who have


often desolated Southeast Chihuahua, South


west Coahuila, and even threatened, in 1867,
the populous city Of Saltillo. Throughout the
country we find that bad government has abso-
lutely driven naturally honest people to
Wholesale plunder and desolation. The one
sixteenth part Spanish blood Of Mexico is
mixture productive Of the most undesirable re-
suits, and has in reality been barrier to the
civilization of the naturally talented Mexican
Indian.


We have spoken of the constitution of 1857
as an admirable document. Practice, how
ever, proves that it is not adapted to the con.
dition of the Mexican people as we find them.
1t does not ft them, and as a mass they cannot
understand what it means. Even the acknow-
lodged rulers directly disobey its provisions,
as witness the Vera Cruz and Mexico Railway
concession lately given, the unalleviated peon
system that practically exists on all great
estates, and the intense State rights rule which
marks every provincial government. The con-
stitution abolishes internal custom houses, and
yet that system is still continued to the entire
ignoring Of its effects on trade and the tendency
to crush out every effort at internal improve
ment. Mexico should export the products of
her magnificent soil, and yet her exports are
scarcely an ounce. She depends entirely upon
her silver mines. These are suffering terribly
under the weight Of taxation that almost
prohibits their working. In the time Of the
viceroys the mines paid royal fifth; to-day,
before the silver reaches market, it has paid
in numerous classified taxes from twenty three
to twenty-five per cent on the gross product Of
q mine. The result is plain. If capitalists
invest one hundred thousand dollars In mine
and take out one hundred and twenty thousand,
they pay thirty thousand dollars taxes, and
therefore lose ten thousand in the investment.
In any other country the same mine would pay
well. This is an example of the way Mexico
crushes the only industry she chooses to rely
upon. Still another misfortune for that land
whose geographical position is the finest on
the globe-she is as yet intensely feudal. This
is the element that most prominently stands
in the way Of her progress and civilization.
The lands of Mexico are In the hands of few
great holders who have their baronial resi-
dences, and, to all intents and purposes, their
feudal retainers. They pay no direct taxes
upon their estates, and therefore can con-
stantly add to their own landed wealth, while
at the same time they increase the poverty
and misery of the poor people who are forced
to live on these estates. These feudal lords
generally have little stomach for the education
and Improvement Of the masses. When some
clear-headed and philanthropic individual
makes an attempt to better the condition of
these serfs raid Of few hundred despe-
radoes breaks up the establishment and the
effort disappears, while he who makes it is
consigned to poverty, as instance the fate Of
General Miguel Blanco, in Tamaulipas, in
1866.


The exterior finances Of Mexico are scarcely
better than the interior. Without mentioning
her ninety-five millions of European in
debtedness, she has never made reasonable
effort to reimburse those citizens of the United
States who, from pure sympathy for her cause,
furnished her munitions of war during the
struggle against the empire and took her
bonds in full payment. These bonds are now
scarcely worth ten cents on the dollar, and the
coupons due are not yet paid. This is one
among the many cases Of what may be termed
Mexican gratitude.


Thus we have pictured in part the condition
of Mexico. 'Tis sad one, but it is an infinite
improvement over the days when Spain
ruled there. Improved however much it
may be, 1t is undoubted that it will
take many, very many, years for the
country to move in that unison with
us which the times imperatively demand. Does
she populate her frontier? Does she move
under the same impulse that we do? Does
she, as contiguous territory, help the de-
velopment Of Texas, New Mexico and Ari-
zona? One-third part Of United States
territory may be said to depend for its pro-
gress upon the development Of Mexico there
fore we repeat that Mexico stands in our way.
We cannot give her time to join after her own
fashion In the great march; for the law Of
progress is inexorable, and the weaker and
lesser civilization must 60 down before the
greater. We sympathize with her, for her up
ward struggle has been noble and she has ac-
very much, and more in the same
time than most Of the European nations but
she cannot advance with sufficient rapidity
now to meet the demands Of her geographical
position, and must give way to the people that
are better able to prepare her for her future.
The world and modern progress demand that
we should take control of her, and we must do
1t. With her we must commence military
colonial system, gradually eradicating the cx-
isting evils, and finally, when properly pre-
pared, admit her to the benefits of the Union.