Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-02-25
The Present Condition of Mexico.

A recent writer on Mexican affairs gives q mel
ancholy picture of the " state of things" in thas
country. A few of his remarks are we'll worth
noting:
"In examining the present condition Of Mexi-
co. the nrst thing to be looked at its population.
This amounts 20 nearly eight millions formi.
dable number, even when spread over so great .
surface as nearly 100000 square miles. But tho
importance of population in South American
countries does not. however, depend on its num-
bers, but rather on its race and character. De-
scending, then, from gross figures TO details, We
find the population of Mexico thus composed: a.
1854, $50 Indians ,, los 345 Meztitos Zambos &c.
5000 Negroes and 100, 900 Whites. The val
nc of the aggregate population diminishes rapidly
before this view of its composition. For of tho
whole amount we find the chief elements of M
tionaty constitute only tho seventh part.
"Of the educated portion, by far the greater
part are native MeXicans, or CreOles and such
education as they posses is rendered as little ben
efcal possible by their nature, their habits and
their institutions. No thoughtful parents rear
their infancy: no virtuous happy homes store their
youthful minds with sound principles no early
refrestraint teaches them habits of order or ODE
dicnce. They grow indolent and vicious; easy.
self indulgent, yoluptuous the universal practice
of gambling renders them thoughtlessly improvi-
dent and fatalist in their notions A blind rcli-
ance on chance distinguishes their private life
Both Church and State interposc to complete their
decentralization.
The drum and the bell are the two curses of
Mexico, for the army and the church arc in rcali-
~ its elemosynary institutions. To get into the
the one or the other az means merely Of living
and having the wherewithalall to enjoy life is tho
great object of by far the greater part Of the edu
Gated classes and the consequences to the country
most disastrous. BY many of the army, rcvo-
lutons, instructions and pronunciamentos are
constantly recurring and by means of the church.
the people are confirmed in the lowest debase-
ment.
With commerce rapidly declining, revenue
falling off, industry of small value, property de-
terioating, the public expenditure Of Mexico is
not lessened. Though gradually being stripped
of province after provice by their powerful neigh
bors, after tho fashion that gormands cat arti-
chokes, the cost of the Mexican government 10
lately furnished by an American diplomatist.
the,
National expenditure is Sl3,765,435
Income, 5,540,ll2
Deficit, $685. 1913
Add interest on debt, s,9ss43l
Total yearly deficient, $l7 ,2l3,754
"a financial state ofthings almost unparalleled
in the embarrassmens and insolyencies Of nations.
OF course she must sink.
whilst the state is bankrupt. the church Of
Mexico revels in wealth it is exclusive church;
it admits rival; for by the constitution of ls47.
it is declared -" The religion of the Mexican
nation is, and will be perpetusuy, the Catholic
Apostolic and Roman. The nation protects i,by
wise and jus. laws, and prohibits the exercise Of
any other" And by its intolerance it repcls oil
useful migration; for who would settle where
his faith is prescribed; Scattered over Mexico.
there is ecclesiastical organization Of nearly s..
600 persons, dividing among them great riches
possessed Of masses of plate, jewels, and gold
en- ornaments; and in the absence Of bankers.
acting as the great money-lendcrs of the coun-
try.
"Its clergy ore without learning, and without
morals taken chiefly from the humber classes,
they are also without refinement or cultivated hab-
it's and the baneful influence exercised over a So
cety otherwise demoralzing, by n dcbased and
degraded, but powerful clergy. completes the mis-
cry Of the republic, and extinguishes almost oye-
~ hope.-N ]. Times.