AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF MEXICO. 453 



of the United States. It was regarded as a measure in the interest of 

 civilization, and as likely to be mutually and largely beneficial to the 

 people of both nations. But for the United States and Mexico to 

 maintain their present tariff restrictions on the international trade of 

 the two countries, is to simply neutralize in a great degree the effect 

 of the railways ; and create conditions so antagonistic to the idea 

 which a railway represents, that the investment of a large amount of 

 money in their construction by citizens of the United States under ex- 

 isting circumstances, would seem almost akin to dementia. For it 

 must be obvious that these restrictions produce exactly the same re- 

 sult as if, after the railways had been completed, an earthquake had 

 thrown up a ridge directly across the lines, so steep and precipitous on 

 the northern side as to add from thirty to forty per cent to the cost 

 of all merchandise passing from the United States into Mexico, and so 

 much more difficult of ascent on the southern' side as to add some 

 ninety per cent to the cost of all goods passing from Mexico into the 

 United States. And, if such a physical calamity had actually occurred, 

 the stockholders might reasonably doubt whether the lines were worth 

 operating. But, at the same time, if there are any who expect that 

 trade would immediately and largely increase between the two countries 

 if all tariff restrictions were mutually abolished, they are certain to be 

 disappointed. A large proportion of the people of Mexico possibly 

 nine tenths will, for the present, buy nothing imported, whether there 

 is a high tariff or no tariff not because they do not want to, but because 

 they are so poor that they can not buy under any circumstances ; 

 while the limited wealthy class will buy what they want of foreign 

 products, irrespective of high duties. Again, the internal trade or dis- 

 tribution of merchandise in Mexico is, furthermore, largely in the hands 

 of the Germans and English, who learn the language and conform to 

 the customs and prejudices of the country much more readily than the 

 Americans. They naturally prefer the products of their own coun- 

 tries; and German manufactures have been especially popular, " because 

 they are as cheap as they are poor " ; and the advantage of paying more 

 for what will last longer is something very difficult to impress upon 

 the ordinary Mexican. Another matter which practically works against 

 the extension of trade with the United States is, that American houses 

 will not sell their goods on the long credits demanded by Mexican pur- 

 chasers. A gentleman conversant, through long residence in Mexico, 

 thus writes in respect to this matter : " It is a serious mistake to look 

 upon Mexican credit as something to be let alone. I can say with con- 

 fidence, after diligent investigation, that mercantile credit in Mexico 

 will average up as satisfactory as in the United States. Among the 

 large mercantile houses in the interior of Mexico, as well as the im- 

 porters, and the large sugar, grain, cotton, and cattle raisers, the 

 moral sense in a square business dealing is as keen and as just and 

 responsible as among the general run of customers in the United 



