The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-11
WASHINGTON, March o, 1913.
Lecture of Cassius NJ. Clan.

Captain Cassius M Clay, one of the Encarna-
clon prisoners captured by General Minon, and
whose fortune in Mexico was a long imprison-
ment, leetured tonight at the z street Baptist
church-subject, Mexico We had the pleasure
of hearing him awhile and his DISCOURSE as the
subject would Indicate, abounded in interesting
facts and reasoning upon them.
He assumed that the people of Mexico, Che
Indian population,) are the same now that they
were, and that they have always been op-
pressed. Hence their slow progress. Under the
Montezumas, they suffered the evils of absolute
barbarian monarchy; under the Spanish vice.
roys they were but little bettered-under their
own military governments, their condition in
the mass has been that of serfs. Yet they had
been steadily progressing in civilization The
mud hu.s and cane shanties of the time of
the Spanish conquest, were superseded by
convenient and elegant dwellings; and there
not perhaps more elegant and beautiful city
on the American continent than the city OF Mex
leo. There were castles OF color among the
people-there very few blacks; but
there are degrees OF color In the Indl-
an population, from dark, copper, shading
women he had ever seen, was woman of pure
Indian blood, at Toluca She was almost pure
white. as the natives in that region are. The
real whites in Mexico We're the arlstpcratsIthey
steal, rob, murder, or play monte, than to labor.
Young women, of a dark complexion, were,
therefore. ambitious of marrying with white Ia
miles. The Mexican women had great sym
pathy for the men of Northern races; but this
from that natural sympathy between the sexes
the world over. Our own countrymen had
shown considerable sympathy for some very sor-
ry specimens OF the genus homo Dlericana
Laughter The priesthood were instrumental!
IN depressing the people. The priests always
contrive. In Mexico, to procure the good things
of this life as not altogether relying on the re-
partially inclined to the Catholic church; but he
spoke of things as they existed in Mexico. The
poems In Mexico were virtually slaves; but 1t was
not the slavery of the United States. 1t was
easier, aud 1t was voluntary. The serts were
driven to 1t by debts In most cases, and the
priesthood had large agency In the system. If
two young persons loving each other wished to
be married, the twenty dollars must be paid to
the priest-it father, mother, or chlld died, the
soul of each relative had to be cared tor in fee
TO the priest. The mass OF the people, for this
aad other causes, were serfs This was the rea-
arms They had not the interest Of freeman in
their country's struggle; though fighting Tor
their country, 1t was for their oppressors, and
they fled at the first opportunity. Mexico could
never contend with the Unted States until her
people were truly liberated, ard made to feel
that they were free.
And here we left Mr. Clay's discourse, to look
after other matters pertaining to the public in
terest. AS speaker, the style of Mr.. Clay is
altogether different from his style a writer.
As writer, he Is quick, dashlng, fiery and i'm
petuous-as lecturer he Is slow, rather Mono
close reasoner and an acute observer; and
during his stay in Mexico, IT is evident that he
stu died the country and It's people
The Doctor