The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-12

rhc ArrAyAI or PRECEDENT Comonf,rt sr~m
Ms,hr-Aa~s~ sf Atxaars ia sA~s Iaepu01S.
Another q those sudden changes TO which
we have bs,rcYne 70 well accustomed hss taken
Mace in Mexican affairs. aud General Comon-
fort the constitutional President of that rcpub-
lie. is now a visiter to the Uaited States What
NAV he his reasons for coming here remain
vet TO be developed, tor from the meagre ac-
counts we receive by telegraph, little can be
iudeed of the true position Of affairs II would
seem that after the seduction of his forces in
the capital by the agents of the church. he had
il in his power to retire to Guanajuato, where
Chief Justice Juarez is exercising the execu-
tive power, or to Vera Cruz, where La Llave,
the liberal leader, is supreme. He chose the
latter; but instead of remaining there, has
come to New Orleans, and is Fastening North.
The position Of affairs in Mexico at this time
is as follows In the South General Alvarez,
who is not yet dead, though he has been 60 Of
ten killed by report, and Governor La Llave of
the State of Vera Cruz, are at the head
of the liberal party, and are Obeyed- The
central portions Of the republic, including
Puebla. Mexico and TOluea, are in the
hands of the priests, who have put up
General Zuloaga as Provisional President.
The Western and the Northern States
are united in support of the constitutional gov
eminent, with the exception of small pronun-
ciamiento in favor of Santa Anna, which is said
to have taken place in San Luis. Yucatan and
Sonora are in a state of civil war on their own
account and on grounds entirely disconnected
with the main questions that agitate the repub-
lie. Congress has been summoned to meet ut
Guanajuato, and, SO far as we know, will be
supported by Vidaurri, Cara, Pmrodi, Arteaga,
Doblados and Degollado, in the North, and
Alvarez and La Lave in the South. Among
these, however, there are some whose antece-
dents do not render them very reliable. Par
rodi has always been a partisan of Santa Anna,
and Doblados, though strongly committed
against the church, is not a man that can be
counted on safely by any side
The conflict is between the priests and the
people. We published some days since the pro-
gramme of the church party as given by its or
gan at Puebla, comprising the restoration Of all
the church property, and ecclesiastical courts,
and return to the colonial rule of Spain.
1t seems strange that this latter point should
be openly advocated in Mexico at this
day. but such is the case. The libe,
raj party, which is now in possession OF
the government under Juarez, is said to
be determined to make war to the death upon
the church, and should it triumph, will no doubt
sweep away all its privileges and conisoate to
the State its immense possessions. The con-
fiict is therefore entirely between the church
and the political ideas Of the age, and these
principles are what are now represented by
the two goverIments--one in the city Of
Mexico and the other in Guauaiuato.
1t is not ID all improbable that the liberal.
may seek to obtain the eountenance OF our
government, and means from this country IN
some shape, to aid them in the great reform
they have undertaken. Mexico will never have
internal peace until the temporal power of the
church there is overthrow, and its immense
possessions turned from their present purposes
of fostering priestly pronigacy and ecclesias-
! teal intrigue to the beneiicent channels OF
public relief and industrial use. In this the
liberals of that republic are worthy Of our
sympathy and cooperation. The time Is pro-
pitious for our government to act, and ii can
easily form a new convention with Mexico to
| arrange with her several pending questions Of
interest TO us, and that may rebound to her ad-
vantage. Mexico and Cuba are two great ques-
tions that are linked by many ties in one
common destiny, and the solution of their future
4. A IA 81,
ment, Santa Anna, and Spanish colonial rule
In Mexico, will certainly bring about a war with
us, that will not end until Mexico and Cuba are
freed from Spanish intrigue and the Spanish
! yoke. The government may believe 1t can
avoid II by mastery inactivity, but should II
attempt to pursue this course II will give new
life to the filibustering spirit among the people
The only way to avoid such a thing is by a wise
diplomacy. BY such course it has settled the
Central American question: and it must settle
those of Cuba and Mexico in the ame manner
or prepare for the same violent opposition from
the South that was encountered by poor Pierce
Our TURKISH yIslTER-we are glad to sec
that Congress and the New York City Council
are making preparations TO receive our Turkish
visiter with due distinction. lie is a man Of
very high rank, Pasha of ever so many tails
and it is understood that be has at least n score
of the loveliest young wives that ever were
seen. 1t is whispered, however, that out o.
Difference to our prejudices he only brings over
! six or eight of them in sealed cases, with air
holes for them to breathe through. lie il