45 o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



after those of other people ? " But let us reason a little. Can it be 

 doubted that, after the termination of our late civil war, the United 

 States would have practically enforced against the Maximilian gov- 

 ernment, had it been necessary, that phase of the Monroe doctrine, 

 which affirms that European political jurisdiction shall not be en- 

 larged on this continent ? Fortunately, Mexico was able, out of its 

 patriotism and sacrifice, to protect itself against the encroachment of 

 foreign powers ; and thus saved the United States from a conflict, 

 that would have permanently increased the burden of its debt, by 

 many times two million dollars. 



Again, the demands of the world's commerce, for the establishment 

 of speedy and cheap methods of transit across the narrow belt of 

 Southern Mexico and Central America which separates the two oceans, 

 are being recognized ; and new routes supplying such conditions, at 

 no distant day, are certain to be established. European sovereignty 

 over them is, however, repugnant to the sentiment of the United 

 States, and, if attempted, will probably be contested ; and this, in 

 turn, if anything more than words of protest are to be used, means 

 formidable military and naval demonstrations and large expenditures. 

 The people of the United States might, however, well hesitate before 

 embarking in such an enterprise, in view of the fact that the foe which 

 their forces would have to especially encounter and most dread, would 

 be one against which neither courage nor skill would avail ; for over 

 all the low, tropical regions of Central America, where the routes for 

 interoceanic transit have got to be constructed, the climate for un- 

 acclimated persons is most deadly in proof of which the current 

 mortality of Vera Cruz, San Bias, and the line of the Panama Canal 

 may be cited ; as well as the horrible historical experience of the 

 forces, which the North American colonies sent in 1741 to co-operate 

 with Admiral Vernon's expedition to Carthagena and the coasts of 

 " Darien " (Panama). But Mexico is a nation of soldiers ; and, if 

 proper kindly relations were to be established between the two coun- 

 tries, the United States could confidently rely on, or employ the well-ac- 

 climated troops of the former, to guard any transit routes from foreign 

 appropriation and control ; even if a desire on the part of the people 

 of Mexico and Central America to preserve the integrity of their own 

 territories, was not sufficient to prompt them to defensive action. But 

 kindly relations, between nations, are not to be established in a day 

 and under the pressure of a one-sided necessity ; and nations, as well 

 as men, "gain doubly when they make foes friends." 



Third. The commercial relations of the United States with Mexico 

 are, to all intents and purposes, comprised in and identical with the 

 system of railroads which American capital and enterprise have intro- 

 duced into the latter country. Their introduction has constituted the 

 last and the greatest revolution that Mexico has experienced since the 

 achievement of her independence ; for, with the means which they 



