The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-08


fidelity, nor corruption, to destroy US yet. We
cannot believe it.
''Theres divinity that shapes our ends
Rough hew them We will"
The Condition or Mexico-The Mexican Gle
rical Power.
The late bold and decided movement of Pre-
sident Comonfort in relation to the church
property in Mexico, we have already animal
verted upon, and we have not spared our ap-
probation, nor will we withhold our encou.
rsgement of policy demanded alike by jus
tice and the progress Of civilization. When
we consider the massive power hitherto accu-
mulated by the clergy of Mexico always in
creasing and never diminishing-we are not
astonished at the hitherto unsuccessful efforts
Of it's patriots to liberate their countrymen
from bondage. So strong had it become-its
cords were SO numerous and so we'll entwined-
that no way was left to unloose the knot but
by cut like that of Alexander.
The population OF the State is set down at
about eight millions Of inhabitants, and its re-
venue-about the same fgure-is derived from
indirect and direct taxation. The expenses of
the government exceeded the income by about
FIVE millions of dollars annually, and the con-
sequences were plain enough-bonds bank
ruptcy and national discredit. All efforts
have failed to meet the deficiency. Proposi-
tions Of all kinds have been made by political
economists for that object All have been una
vailing; and finally the government has been
obliged to sell millions of acres Of its ter
rit0ry to the North Americans on their own
terms. Different systems Of imposts have some
times been tried, but with no great success,
and revolution after revolution has given no
substantial relief to the people. General Co
monfort has had the courage to look the dill
Guilty in the face and the seizure and seques-
tration Of the overgrown estates and revenues
of the clergy have been the solution-and the
only one-cf the problems in hand.
1t is estimated that the church has held, up
to the present time, one-half Of the whole real
estate Of the country, and its income from vari-
GUS sources has amounted to twenty millions of
dollars annually. 1t is not possible to state
the amount with accuracy. The estimate is
at by taking the total value of the agricultu-
raj productions, the amount of deaths, Dirt IS
and marriages, and the income arising from the
performance of devout service for which money
paid.
-Four principal classes Of the clergy have
swallowed up this enormous sum, although
they number, dependents and all only about
six or seven thousand persons. The bishops
and canons of the cathedrals receive tsvss
known as tythes and first fruits tenth part Of
all the harvest products of the country. Until
very recently they were entitled to all the first
born of the cattle; and though by q law OF the
republic this claim was abrogated, yet such il
the influence of the church over the con-
sciences of its followers, that in spite OF the
law very large revenue is still derived from
this source. So, also, the incomes left by devo-
tees for the performance of anniversaries
swelled the annual receipts. The Collegiate Of
our Lord of Guadalupe has the privilege OF
drawing monthly lotteries thus deriving a
profit from public gambling, and assisting in
| the degradation Of the inhabitants by legiti-
matizing game. Of chance, at desperate odds
| against the investors Of their money.
The ecclesiastics or chaplains have their in
/ comes particularly from small rentals, the CIV
ing Of aims, and charges for masses. Citrate,
receive fees for baptisms, marriages and inter
ments, in presents from sponsors, the sale OF
medals, scapulars relics of saints, and conse-
Grated candles.
The monks own real estate and receive fees
for services of an ordinary grade; and there
are one hundred and forty.s six o. their estab-
lishments. There are also ffty-nine nuaneries
sustained by the incomes Of valuable and long
accumulated estates.
In addition to this enormous amount OF
wealth, the clergy and clerical bodies have
special judicial authority which they have
snxiously watched and uninterruptedly en-
forced by every means in their power.
If in Europe the Catholic clergy maintain
wherever they can, the canon law, by concor