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224. And, imperative as is the problem, there seems but little present chance for Mexico to solve it. The United States could, however, easily accomplish it. With its interest temporarily guaranteed by it (i. e., for a time sufficient to allow of a fuller development of the trade and commerce of the country) the Mexican debt could undoubtedly be funded at from two to two and a half per cent interest, involving an annual charge, say, from $1,800,000 to $2,225,000—less than what is almost annually wasted on river and harbor improvements that subserve only private interests; and not much more than the four leading railroads of the North-west have this year (1886) decided to add to their annual interest charges, for the purpose of extended constructions over territory that can at present return but little remunerative business. Is this a sum too great for the American people to pay, if it will help to give good government to a contiguous territory nearly as large as all of the United States east of the Mississippi?

Buying nearly six tenths, and selling nearly one half of all that Mexico sells and buys external to itself, is not such a commerce worth fostering by the expenditure of such a sum?—especially in view of the fact that a bill was introduced at the first session of the Forty-ninth Congress which proposed, as an act of sound public policy, to tax