The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-01-01

in a moral, a religious, or a pecuniary point
view, we have given up the task in despair,
and have consigned them over, as an un-
tathomable mass of human mortality, to the
great Searcher and W.igher of Hearts, at the
final day. Our amiable contemporaries have
escaped tor the present; but they must remember
they cannot escape forever. We hope, there
fore, it will have the effect OF leading them to
mend their ways for the coming year; and
we hope that all of us may do the same-that we
may all improve as much during the coming
year, as we think we have done in the past both
in money and morals.
Mexico-Its Finances Past, and Prcsent-Its
Population, &c.
Through the politeness of distinguished mill
tary officer who has recently returned from the
seat Of war, we are enabled to lay before our
readers some very valuable statistical informa-
ton concerning the financial. agricultural and
commercial history OF Mexico-the same coun-
try with which we are now at war, and the same
country which at the present moment is upper
most in the minds of all our statesmen, polit-
clans, Legislators and ragamuffins.
These statistics are taken from work pub
lished in London, in the year 1874, by a member
OF the committee of Spanish American bond
holders. The work evinces deep research and
careful investigation, and the information 1t
contains has not until this day appeared in the
newspapers The extracts which we have taken
from 1t will therefore be read with more than
ordinary interest, particularly as they are init
mately connected with the future action of the
United States towards that country. These
statistics embrace three different tariffs on the
exports OF the precious metals, statement of
the debt of the republic, the estimates of the
revenue, the actual receipts and expenditures,
and other valuable information.
On reading those statistics, the people of the
United States will, doubtless, Oc struck with the
immense value of the property owned by the
clergy. We are bound to credit the statistics
here set forth, for they are published from au-
thentlc official records, kept by the several go
vernment departments, and they are confirmed
to a great extent by the experience Of travellers
and people acquainted with the affairs of that
country. Indeed they are confirmed by dis
tingui shed Mexican-Dr Don Jose Maria Luis
Mora-in work styled " Obras Suettas," and
published in Paris in the year 1887. That writer
gives statement or calculation of the value
which, under different titles, had belonged to
the whole regular and secular clergy, and which,
by right, they possessed up to 1882.
The following is such statement
Value Of ecclesiastical revenues. .S,456,693
Productive capitals. .$l49,l3t 800
Unproductive do, ................ SooSl e94
Total value CT capitals. .sl79l63,754
This statement will doubtless astonish the
people of the United States, who fortunately are
exempt from all those burdens, except so far as
they voluntarily impose them on themselves.
There are other points which will excite the
interest of Americans. 1t seems that while the
estimated receipts Of the government have been
generally moderated, yet the expenditures have
invariably equalled the actual receipts, to a
nicely.
The Mexicans have some financiers among
them who would do honor even to Wall street,
and make some of our New York fraternity hide
their diminished heads. Witness the following
nice business transaction between the govern
ment and one D. NJ l.. That distin-
guished financier, on the 18th of June 1928, lent
the government S4O0,OO5. Let us see how he
paid it, The items are as follows
S235 paid in old government credits IS cent $ss 9et
113co2 paid IN tobacco credits at la3oo
75,oaa psid in ca,h.. 73,oii
s433 29s $4,000.
Now when we explain that the S235, 27 could
be bought at five per cent, it would seem thai
The Contractor paid for them esly.. sii'ss
The tobacco credits worth hfty cent and cost
Add cash that he paid 75o.;
sac 80,
This is the sum which this Mexican financiel
paid for loan of $400,005, which he was tc re-
ceive in six months. We are afraid that Wal
street has been more than matched, although we
were of opinion that the denizens Of that noted
thoroughfare, could cheat as fast and as nicely
as any shavers in the world.
Another part of those statistics may be com
mented upon, perhaps with advantage. The
whole population OF the Mexican republic is SCI
down at more than seven millions yet, out o.
this comparatively large number, not over foul
hundred thousand voters. This arises from
he distinctions among them-the majority o
them being Indians.
We submit these statistics to the consideration
of Congress. They may, perhaps, throw some
light on the Mexican question, and enable then
10 arrive at some conclusion az to what is best t.
be done with that country.
We mustmention that in addition TO the money
due the English bond-holders, and set forth II
those statistics, there is an internal debt Of sixty
nine millions Of dollars
AVERAGE YsAnLy REVENUE COLLECTED -,
| 1903 7o7 30 oy 20
1880 10 1851 a ae,, 80 49,
I9o to iIy9 x 81 "st o. sg
Ftd% S,i 'ss e Nv before free commerce. sssre
FROM 1s to iss aad:i ire. COO Is