dollars of American capital are understood to be already represented in Mexican railway-constructions; and other large investments have undoubtedly been made in mining and "ranching" in the country.[1] Now, if history is to repeat itself, and there are to be further domestic revolutions and intestine strife in Mexico, and these American property interests or their owners are, as a consequence, to be arbitrarily or unjustly treated—i. e., in the way of confiscations, or forced contributions—resistance will follow; claims for damages will be created and pressed; national intervention will be sought for, and, in the present temper of the American people, will probably be granted—with a possible sequence of war and annexation. Certainly the last thing which the United States would be likely to tolerate would be political chaos, with involved American interests, across its southern border. If it be said that there is no danger of this, it should be remembered that the
- ↑ According to the "Mexican Financier," the amount of American capital at present (1886) invested in Mexico is about $125,000,000; and the amount of similarly invested British capital not far from $200,000,000, distributed approximately as follows:
Railways $56,500,000 Public debt 56,000,000 Banks and companies 20,000,000 Haciendas and cattle 50,000,000 House property 5,200,000 Total $187,700,000
