The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-06

cen no longer be enforced, there u an end OF
government, power reverting to the people in
dividually.
The difficulty in Mexico may be found pre-
cisely at this point. The hierarchy of the
church has never ceased to claim certain ju-
risdiction in secular matters. / has exercised
positive force in the State. 1t has divided
authority with the government. 1t has gone
far enough always utterly to prevent the con-
centraton of the civil authority in the political
department of the government. Gen. Comon-
tort saw this, and abolished the secular juris-
diction of the church but it is probable that
he will find it impossible to maintain govern
ment on such basis, as it is certain that none
can be maintained on any other.
Now, with special reference to this condition
of affairs, we look to the infusion of German
liberalism into Mexico with extreme favor. If
the world had been raked over for exact oppo.
sites of the Mexican people, it is certain that
none could have been found to answer that
designation like the Germans. They are not
only free thinkers, but the freest takers and
writer's in the world. They come nearer than
any other to the prescription of ali religious
forms-tbey are the most unmitigated demo-
Gratis. They are without peculiar national
prejudices, and intermarry wherever they go.
In fact, they are the very leaven to leaven the
great lump Of Mexican prejudices and igno.
rance, and to SOW the seeds of freedom in the
very vineyards Of the church. Besides,
they are patient, laboriOus and economical
just what the Mexicans are not. They are
learned, thoughtful, and, to certain extent
philosophical Mexicans are neither. They
are fond of education, and have wonderful
faculties for acquiring knowledge; they find
a home wherever they are, and enter at once
into all the relations of life, rs if they consti-
tuted part of the Oldest society. These are
qualities wholly unknown in Mexico. 1t Is
manifest if the great current of emigration
from the north of Europe can be turned into
changes in society there which are necessary
to pure stability in the government. 1t is
Iolly to expect order where the chief authority
is divided between two jealous and rival inte
rests-the State and the church. The latter,
in Mexico, possesses more power than the for
mas popularity and Dgth-he assumed only
to exercise those rights in the government
which the hierarchy did not claim General
Alvarez undertook to limit the church to eccle-
siastical matters, and he succeeded in over
throwing Santa Anna on that basis He drove
out the chieftain, but he left the power that
sustained him to revive another revolution,
and in turn to triumph perhaps over himself
and his friends
In this state of things, and as politico-
philanthropic movement, we regard the pro-
missed infusion of liberalism from Germany
into Mexico as a perfect godsend. Its extent
we know nothing of, but if it is at all sue
cessful in turning the tide of emigration from
this country, it will require but few years to
regenerate that country; and it is difficult to
see how else it is to be done. We can spare,
for any such object, many of our own people.
IT our abolitionists would like to make sacri-
fee of one or two generations, they have now
chance. That they are enemies of this
country will recommend them. But the mis-
fortune lie, that they would add nothing to the
liberalty of the Mexicans, little to their intel
ligence, and render their stability utterly hope
less. We are in fact better able to defend
ourselves against traitors than our neighbors.