Page:Mexico, picturesque, political, progressive.djvu/217

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is no danger that for many years to come, if ever, the prediction of Baron von Humboldt will be fulfilled,—that, with the advantage of good roads and free commerce, the Mexicans will one day undersell us in bread corn in the West Indies and other markets. Mexico has not yet good roads nor free commerce, nor, unless the tariff policy of the country shall be radically changed, can she have either. It is true that road-making in Switzerland is naturally no more difficult than in Mexico, if we omit the water-supply,—a very important factor in all industry. But the Romans and migratory Celts began making roads in Switzerland before, we may assume, Mexico had sent a sail out on the ocean; and the services which war rendered to peace in the Alps have been continually supplemented by the enlightened selfishness of a people who are animated in the