The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-23

Vucn snc Iicss uiudASO raleeO the st2u0ar0
OF revolt in Mexico, the country was not four
ishing, certainly; but considering the govern
ment under which it groaned, it was not strik-
ingly backward. Under colonial system of
the worst kind Of protection, which excluded
foreign enterprise, foreign capital and foreign
labor from the State; bound the people to pur-
chase all they required from Spain, and includ-
ed in the list of enumerated articles every
thing that industry could produce or habits
of comfort require; fostered the establishment
of a hierarchy gorged with the fat Of the land,
and absolutely denied to the Creoles the right
to engage in the only occupations which could
have rendered the advancement Of the coun-
try certain and Stakeholder this intolera-
BILE system, we say, Mexico was not crushed:
her unbounded resources, her glorious climate
enabled her to surmOunt all. She had indeed
at that time as many Inhabitants as she has
now. Her territory was twice as large. With
in the last few years the product Of the mines
had fallen off in consequence Of the political
troubles of the mother country; but even with
this drawback, the old igure-$24, OOO, 900 q
year-was nearly reached. Despite the pro-
hibitory laws of Spain, the annual produce
OF the factories equalled three-fourths of
what it does now.
The revolution was effected. Monk Morelos
succeeded Priest Hidalgo, and for ten years
the old contest--the people against the aristo-
cracy-common sense against privilege-na-
tive born Creole against foreign born Spanard
occupied the whole thoughts OF the nation
asst ho hal &bo \
blighting Spanish colonial despotism was about
to be re-established, when the apostacy and
ambition of Iturbide turned the tide. He was
host in himself, and it was but natural that
he should have trial as Augustin Primero.
He lasted year all but seven days, during
which Mexico visibly refrigerated. Insurrec-
ton filed the minds Of the people Of the north
the southern provinces were still seats of
war.
The federal republic succeeded. 1t found
many OF the best mines full of water, and seve-
raj of the most productive manufactures
abandoned. The revenue had declined from
twenty millions to about seven, though the
excise and alcabala were still preserved in all
their oppressive rigor. The debt was at this
time S72, 1lO,1l2.
To pass over minor personal revolutions, the
federal republic lasted till 1885 when it was SUI
perseded by the central republic. Under sway
OF the former, the resources and industry of
the country had continued to decline, in con-
sequence of the perpetual strife among the va
rious political leaders Money had, however,
been obtained from abroad and in consequence
of the annexation Of Yucatan the territory of
the republic had actually increased.
The very next year, however, Mexico lost
Texas, amounting in extent to one-eighth her
whole territory. New revolutions and wars re-
vaged her trade and Industry. Her mines,
which had SO long been the support of her
princely families, passed into the hands of TO-
reigners. and began to yield as before.
Then Yucatan broke off from the republic;
and more political strife ensuing, and the To-
reign creditors pressing hard for payment,
new revolution raised Santa Anna to the throne
as dictator. The dictatorship made way for
central republic again, and the central repub-
lie for federal republic; and amid all the
confusion and uncertainty of these changes
came the war with the United States, resulting
in the loss to Mexico of one third her remain
ing territory. She was paid for it, it is true;
but she lost it, nevertheless.
Then followed years of distress, doubt and
uncertainty. The forms of republic were
maintained without its reality; democratic in
situations were attempted to be founded under
the shade of graspiug theocracy; politicians
babbled the words freedom and popular rights
when the government was the tool of pretor-
ans; there was spasmodc endeayor TO resusc.
tate industry and trade under system of CON-
mercial Legislation framed expressly to extin.
gnish it. When Santa Anna left power, the reve-
nue. of the State may be set down in round num-
bers at eight and the expenditures at twelve mil
lions year; leaving certain deficit of four
millions, instead of the old surplus Of ten.
The trade with the United States had declined
since 1885 in the following proportions
Y,ar. Imports Exports
1855. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ,55ssa4 a,1S7,sss
The debt had increased from trife over
S75,OOO,00O to Sl33,524,242. The population
had diminished nearly million. The terrific
ny had diminished over half, as is seen from
the following table,
Territory q Mexico IN 1850. ........... l,s76G4o
Iosses-lS55-Texas ..."............ 1915
1S4S-New Mexico, &c 100000
1s54-Territcry bough, by
1aesaeh. ..........., sf,ooo -
-S4 500
Present territory Of Mexico. ............ S92 l40
Such is the past. For the present, we find
that the reignng government has just consum-
mated the abolition of the tueros-those old &C.
clesiastical tribunals which in old Spain were
the protectors of liberty, and in new Spain
have proved themselves the allies of despotism
in every ease save in 1871. We likewise hear
that Inc clergy are rising in rebellion against
this interference with their privileges-that
they are rousing The peasants far and wide
that thorough distrust Of the government has
already been insured hY them In several