Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-05-27

tism and national feeling, more conspi.
cuousIy than in the strife and contention
that now disgrace the capital Of Mexico,
During the siege of Jerusalem, by YES
pasian and Titus, the erudie Josephus
records that whilst the Holy City was
besiegcd by the Romans, the populace
within we're divided into numerous con-
tending factions, who, whenever the enc
my without suspended the attack on the
city, turned their arms against one another,
and fought with even more lerocity than
characterized their defence against COM
mon and foreign enemy. But the Mexi-
cans do not cease their domestic strife al
the approach of their foe. The moment
their General commenced his march aga
inst the invaders force, was selected as
a fit occasion to light up the torch Of civil
dissension, and unchain the genius of dis
cord upon the afflicted capital: whilst the
valiant soldiers of the country were going
forth TO give battle in defence oGtheir homes
and firesides, the parties a, the Capital
were threatening and numbering one an
other, intent only on their laclious and
seIfishcnds, and leaving the army oftheir
defenders unprovided with even the means
Of subsistence. One of these parties,
composing the neutrality-suspicious.
of the country, refuses to mortgage its
immense possessions to save the country
from the occupation of a foreign and
"heretical" enemy. Another party is
equally DESTROYS Of shullling the burden
of this war off the shoulders of trade and
commerce on to those Of the church,
Another party prays for the long conlinu-
ance of the war, as the best means OF pre-
serving its power and the profits Of militia
ry disbursements and pllage, and of blind.
ing the people to the atrocities which
mark its government. These are the
three great parties that at present afflict
and divide the people or the leaders of
the people of Mexico. Though deadly
opposed to one another, they al! unite on
one common ground of bitter hatred to
the Americans, and uncompromsing hos
tlity to any amicable arrangement of the
difficulties between the two nations. But
yet they are unwilling to make any sacri-
fees or concessions to one another, for
the purpose Of aiding in making even a
decent defence against the invasion Of
their hated foe. The war is only used
as one of their party cries-as a sort of
tub thrown to the popular whale, TO with
draw its attention from the ambitious de-
signs of The factionisls. And now each
ofthesc parties is compelled to keep up
the cry, lest the others should take ad-
vantage of its apparent want ofpa'riotsm,
and triumph over it. The church party
can only slave its property from conisca-
ton, by going as far as any other party in
cheap and easy demonstrations Of hosliI-
ty> The party of Gomez Farias would
not exist moment if it did not back its
attack upon the treasury ofthe holy chuch,
by the strong argument oil the necessity
Of carrying on the war with the United
States. Then there is the war party,
composed of the ambitious and military
portion ofthe people, who support the
war os the best field for distinction, or
rather for plumber Should the church
party display any lukewarmness on The
subject Of the war, the war party proper
could combine with the radicals, and over.
throw the hierarchy. So if the radicals
were to relax their support Of the war,
the church would effect similar union,
with like results, with the war party
Thus, from the necessity OF sustaining
themselves, all these parties are COMPEL
ed TO unite in the warm advocacy of the
war with the northern barbarians."
These are the three principal parties,
that have stirred up the late revolution in
the city of Mexico.
But there are other parties, which,
though now weak, are yisibIy increasing
power and number, and must eventual
ly triumph over the old divisions and fac
lions. These parties are governed by
patriotic motives and wise views. Among
them are some of TIE most intelligent and
virtuous citizens in Mexico. They are
the advocates of peace, or if they have
encouraged the war, i, has only been to
get rid of the military drones that atllict
the country. But really they desire peace
on any terms short OF the extinction of
their national existence. They are will
ing to indemnify the United States, TO &C
cept Of the terms ofthe treaty proposed
through Atocha, and to yield such por-
tons of their country as they are unable
to defend provided they can once more
have peace and friendly intercourse with
their most profitable neighbor.. There
is another party, who go still farther, and
think there is no safety for poor Mexico,
but in her incorporation into our Union.
They have experienced our irresistible
power; they have witnessed our unparal-
Ieled progress and prosperity; they bow
to our immense superiority in all the arts
Of civilization; they have seen happiness,
peace and prosperity everywhere attend
ing the gigantic strides of our republic;
and they know that these are the "oui-
word and visible signs Of the inward and
saving grace" oftrue, rational, and real
liberty. And then recurring TO the un.
numbered ey;ls-the ranid and nremoturo