Three-fourths or more of Mexico *s
population and pure Indians, and they
are proud of it, and there is always
hope for a proud race. Some are
afraid of their powerful neighbor,
but this is not general. As a rule
they look to us for help and believe
we have no designs on them. They
know that it was the determination
of the United States not to tolerate
a foreign government in Mexico that
enabled them to defeat Maximilian.
The Mexican government is stable,
I believe, as much as our own. It is
far more of a government “for the
people” than ours, and several Mexi
cans pointed with evident pride to
the fact that in Mexico the railroads
had to obey the laws and will of the
nation, while in the United States
they defied the people.
In Mexico first-class passenger
rate is 3 cents Mexican per kilometer,
a kilometer is practically five-eighths
of a mile —100 kilometers is sixty-two
and one-half miles. United States
roads charge 3 cents or $1.89 for
sixty-two and one-half miles. Mexico,
$3 Mexican or $1.50 gold for the same
distance, a difference in gold of 39
cents in sixty-two and one-half miles,
hence first-class in Mexico is a little
less than two and one-half cents per
mile, gold.
