itself, and now railroads are opening wide paths into Anáhuac for an irresistible advance, prompted by material interests, and to be welcomed from similar motives, despite the warning cry of patriotic mentors. Here lies, then, a modifying influence toward a white race, even if a counteracting element for political preservation is introduced in the form of European colonists. Even this, however, does not point to a fixed type, which depends upon geographic environment. I will here merely allude to the national type unfolding in the United States, with its several marked Indian features, for the purpose of assuring the champions of the aborigines, that although their protegés are disappearing, they may yet be avenged upon their conquerors by nature herself. Yet must they not overlook the powerful factor presented by universal intercourse, which is affecting, in a greater or less degree, all the nations of the earth.
Statistics regarding the changes in a population so remarkable and prominent in its progress must be of particular interest. Unfortunately, those that exist are not very reliable, for no complete census has ever been taken,[1] owing above all to the continual political disturbances, the fear of levies for taxes and military service, and the periodic movements of populations between towns and country for employment and gathering of fruit.[2] Hence the figures are widely
- ↑ Although several have been ordered and many taken with great exactness in certain districts. Arrillaga, Recop., 1929, 190-2; 1831, 216–17; Méx., Col. Leyes, 1854, vii. 38-44; 1855, viii. 80-7; Archivo Méx., Col. Ley., v. 491-8; Bib. Mex., Amen., i. 280, and other authorities. Registration, like other official duties, suffered from the prevailing negligence and political disorders. Among the regulations issued in this respect may be consulted those in Archivo Méx., Col. Ley., v. 528–9; Código Reforma, 171-8; Diario de Debates, Cong. 9, i. 708–10.
- ↑ It has been estimated that two thirds of the people can be classed as more or less shifting, and Garcia Cubas, Escritos Div., 6, assumes that half the inhabitants escape the census-takers, so that their figures are widely estimated. Among the tendencies shown by the state authorities is one to swell the figures in order to increase the representation in congress, and the counteracting one of seeking to escape tax and army levies. It must be considered, however, that the changes in the constitution and government policy have at different times so modified one objection or another as to lay bare most deceptions.
