1877.] o71 [Kane.. 



larly spoken of as a State. It is regularly divided into three districts — del 

 Norte, del Centre, del Sur— and sends its nominal representatives often to 

 the Federal Capital. But it is nothing more nor less than the old country 

 of the Guastecos, which was imperfectly^ subdued, even by the Spaniards 

 in their day. And Tamaulipas too has its Head Chief now, a Major 

 Genera], and Lieutenant General, and Excellency, Governor Supreme, and 

 so forth — Cortina. And Cortina is all and singular, gold lace and epau- 

 lettes included, just about the blood thirstiest savage existing on the Con- 

 tinent. 



What have we to study in Mexico ethnologically, besides the descendants 

 of the primitive inhabitants? The Gachupinas? They are better studied 

 in the land of their derivation. What else then for the study of the 

 ethnologist in Mexico? Alas! The Mixtures. Nowhere is there presented 

 a greater variety of these than in Mexico. Every proportion of every 

 variety of Spaniard ; with every proportion of Indian, IMediterranean 

 man. Moor and Negro. Nothing can be more distasteful to the inquirer 

 who desires a simple study, than the variety of mental and moral charac- 

 teristics which we find in the Mestizoes is associated with their diversity of 

 physical constitution. 



Among the mixed breeds the difference in the proportion of the charac- 

 teristics derived from the different ancestors introduces anarchy into social 

 circles, into the family itself. The appetites, the passions, the powers, the 

 higher aspirations of one child are impatient of, are directly hostile to those 

 which contribute in a different proportion to form the character of another. 

 Here tiien, among the people of mixed breed is the Debatable Ground, the 

 field for the intrigues and machinations of the designing politician. The 

 typical politician of Mexico is himself the result of a mixture. He is rest- 

 less, because the different elements in him vary his desires and aspirations. 

 They are not the same at different periods of his life, are modified by the 

 company he is keeping. He is inconsistent, when the medium in which he 

 lives undergoes change. He lies, perhaps for the same reason that he is in- 

 consistent. He is deliberately perfidious even, and then is the last man on 

 earth to know how little he is to blame for being so. Who is to blame for 

 his ferocity combined with gentleness, for his mingled generosity and 

 ravin, his instincts of high honor united with deceit ; yes, with revolting 

 treachery. The answer is, the man who is responsible for his being the mixed 

 man that he is ; the Spaniard who was his ancestor is the culprit, who 

 basely mated with the Indian woman from whom the Indian part of him 

 is derived. 



We have a distinguished Professor of Princeton proposed for membership 

 to-night, whose ripe scholarship the Society will doubtless honor with the 

 tribute of an election. There are members of the Society on the floor before 

 me who believe fand they are entitled to their belief, though it is not ni}^ own) 

 that there is an Ultimate Philosophy which will harmonize all knowledge 

 with Religion. Indeed, I know that there is one, my valued friend, who 

 goes so far as to entertain the conviction that Theology is entitled to be 



