Page:Face to Face With the Mexicans.djvu/580

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FACE TO FACE WITH THE MEXICANS.

the United States, as of the officials. As a rule, I am free to confess that, as far as integrity is concerned, Mexican officials compare very favorably with their counterparts in the United States. My advice to investors is, to avoid middlemen of all kinds, and to deal directly with head-quarters. They will find how easy and pleasant it is to deal with the Mexican Government. Treat a Mexican like a gentleman, and he will treat you the same."

He is very sanguine as to the opening of lands for settlement in Mexico. He says:

"I believe that the present government fully appreciates the necessity of breaking up the large estates. My opinion is, that Mexico must very soon open wide to immigration, the same as the United States have done. It is only a question of time, when a foreigner will have the chance to acquire full political equality with the native citizen. In the mean time, I know that many estates have passed and will pass into the hands of American and other capitalists, who will naturally break them up into small homesteads, in order to secure the largest returns for their investments. The spirit of the times is felt by the Mexican leaders, and it will not be long before, through their efforts, the Republic of Mexico will be as much the home of the free and the brave, in the sense used in the United States, as the latter. I repeat it once more, Americans who mind their business, who behave like sensible men, and treat the Mexicans with the respect they deserve, will find a splendid field for enterprise in Mexico. Their property and their lives will be well protected, as far as the government can afford such protection, that is, to the same degree as they are protected in the United States. But they must obey the laws of the land, and always realize that they are enjoying the hospitalities of a country which still considers everybody not a native a foreigner."

Judge Crosby lived for many years on the frontier of Texas, and as early as 1854 became judge of the immense district comprising all the territory west of the Pecos. Since then he has held important relations with our railway system. Eminent in scholarship, in legal lore one of the brighest lights of the Texas bar, and with exceptional op-