"The stock of the country is scarce and inferior. Horses, cattle and goats are tolerably plentiful. There are a few pigs and fowls. The circulating medium is corn, copper coin greenbacks and a little silver. Dogs are in great abundance, noisy but seldom bite.
Local Government.
"Taxes are light, except on work on dam and water-ditch. The municipal regulations seem good. They have a police force, but it is seldom needed. The officer, the Jefe Politico, seems to control. There are some more officers, such as police magistrates, etc.; but the first seems to be manager of everything of a political nature. The present incumbent, Pablo Padio, is serving his second term, having been re-elected lately. He is very much of a gentleman.
"The people are very obedient to official authority, and show great respect to the same.
Various.
"With all the faults of the people—which faults are more blamable to the manner in which they have been ruled than to the people—there are good and noble principles among them. Their devotion to their religion I consider a virtue, for they have had no chance to have any better. Their reverence is unbounded, and, as I before stated, let them once be enlightened with the gospel and I believe they will receive the truth—and they will not fall away, but will stick to the right.
"D. W. Jones.
Mexico, although a sister republic, with railroad communications and much commercial intercourse with the United States, is not well understood by the average American. There has been for a long time, and still is, to quite an extent a prejudice against the Mexican people by the Americans. We look upon them as far behind the people of the United States, and often make unfair remarks about the "stupid" Mexicans, not stopping to consider who the people are or what their opportunities have been.
A great many accuse the Roman Catholic church of being responsible for the ignorance and degradation of the inhabitants.
In as few words as possible, I will offer an apology for the Mexican nation, and compare what we have done with the same element.