The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-19


column, is highly interesting, and may prove
to be very important to that republic. 1t lie
confirmation Of the capture of Puebla, the re
dHcing the rebel officers to the ranks, and tn,
coohscation OF the church property to pay
expenses and pensions. Read our Mexican
correspondence.
1t is somewhat remarkable that only two ad
administrations in that republic have been oper
and avowed in their hostility to the wealth
influence and power Of the church, that have
declared their policy to be the deprivation o.
the clergy Of their vast riches and Judicial au
hority, and their intention to reduce the
priests and monks to the same level with other
citizens. It is furthermore remarkable that
only two well concerted aud powerfully sup.
ported revolutions have failed, out Of the very
many which have afflicted that country; aud
tbese two have been all that the clergy have
openly sustained as religious crusadcs against
he impios in power. In each of these eacoun-
tiers the priests have blesksn the cross upon
the banners. aud have inscr5eed as their motto
on the same: "The Church aud its priYi-
leges.o
In the year 1888, under the liberal and en-
lightened administration Of Gomez Farias, a
state OF things existed not unlike this at the
present time. II was proposed TO coafiscate
the church property, and to deprive the clergy
OF their privileges in the ecclesiastical courts.
Generals Arista and Duran pronounced az ainss
the government. setting an example under the
counsels and support of the priests, which
Haro y raDariz has closely initiated. But
Arista and Duran had only the church with
them, and failed. Now, Haro Tamariz has
had only the same assistance, and he also has
failed.
The career of President Comoufort mas, for
the last eighteen months, been most astonfsb
ing. Within that period we have seen him
in this city, where he came to obtain
aid to carry on his revolution against the die.
tator Santa Anna. Supported by few friends
here, and aided to limited extent only, he
firmly persisted in carrying on a war agains.
a General who had the well drilled armies of
that republic to Sght his battles, aud millions
Of money from the government of the United
States wherewith to pay them. Under these
disadvantages General Comonfort returned to
Mexico to open campaign which was brilliant
in ITSELF aud no Jess brilliant In Its results;
Santa Anna fed from Mexico; his ministers
absconded in all haste, while the houses OF
his fayorites in the city we're mobbed and pill
LACED. His well appointed armies, his mil
lions of American money, and the whole
weight and influence Of the Mexican church
could not save him. Against all odds, against
all difficulties and dangers, General Com onfort
Was successful, until we find him seated in the
chair Of State from which he had SO roughly
elected Santa Anna.
The ignoninious flight of Santa Anna
placed General Alvarez at the head Of the
government. But as he did not desire the
position, it was understood that he held it only
until it was convenient for General Comonfort
to accept the post, which General Alvarez was
anxious to confide to him. Yet even in the
few weeks which Alvarez was President he
could not restrain the natural feelings and
Just sentiments of his heart to commence the
work of destroying the preponderating infu-
ence Of the clergy. Consequently, decree
was issued which deprived them of all their
immunities and privileges, reducing them to
the same level, before the law, as other indi-
viduals. Soon after this salutary measure was
adopted Alvarez resigned his powers into the
hands Of Comonfort. The change which took
place in the members of the Cabinet upon
this event has been attributed to the change
which it is supposed took place in the mind OF
Comonfort as to the policy of the measures OF
Alvarez. 1t was said that Comontort had
deserted his party and his puro principles
In this, however, there is certainly some
erroneous impression. President Comonfort
did not interfere or in any way modi
fly the DEGREES Of his predecessor against the
church. But there is no doubt there was,
and still is, some difference of opinion among
the members Of the party as to the proper me-
thod OF carrying out the principles which are
now so popular throughout that country On
this difference the party divided the e1al.
tados (hard shell puros)-having q majority
in Congress-went off with Ocampo and Ar
rellaga, while the moderado (soft shell puros),
under Yanez, took the ame side as the Presi-
dent The revolution, in the meantime, Of the
clergy, under Haro y Tama1iz, was becoming
formidable, which finally assumed an impor-
lance Of the first magnitude at their head
quarters in the city of Puebla of the Angels
that ho.bed of priestly wealth and supersti.
ton. To meet the crisis, President Comonfort
had to encounter obstacles enough to have
shaken the mind Of the greatest general. He
had against him the we'll drilled regi-
ments Of the army which had Joined
the revolution, the influence Of the clergy and
their wealth, along with their Jealous spiritual
exhortations TO the troops. He had, moreover
to obtain the sanction and support OF an oppo-
sition Congress he had to raise funds when
public credit was exhausted and bankrupt; and
he bad to place srms Il the hands Of raw vo-
lunteers who had never before shouldered a