Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-04

reality neither more nor less than so many
gangs of bIood-thirsty brigands, commanded
by the most blood thirsty and truculent of the
gang, who invariably assumes the high-soun-
ding title Of general" The band which for
the time being possess itself of the capital.
assumes such prestige as may be derived from
the title of sconstitutionalists," while the
more solid advantage remains with those who,
from their position on the sea-coast, are able
to possess themselves of such customs
revenue as is yet paid in Mexico.
To compensate this advantage the generals
of The interior levy forced contributions on
residents. proportioning the amount to their
ability to pay, and in case of refusal impress
them into their. ranks as private soldiers
The last relics of authority and integrity have
disappeared with the overthrow of President
ComOnfort, who, possessing more energy and
more integrity than is usual among Mexican
leaders. was overthrow by the combined ac-
ton of Old Spain and the priestly part, and
has left behind him a void which nothing
seems likely to fill. We may ransack in vain
the darkest period of history to find parallel
for the events now passing in this nineteenth
century in a country which nature seems to
have designed, by climate and situation. as an
emporium of commerce and focus of civili-
cation. Even the mysterious powers of sub
terranean agency have combined with her
own children for the destruction of Mexico,
and read with astonishrncnt of the mise
ries of the town of Guadalaxara, which was
at the same time objected to a severe assault
from the enemy, was drvasted by an extern
sive conflagration, and shaken to it's founda-
ton by the shock of an earthquake.
Horrors such as we have described cannot
last Their very intensity prevents their
permanence. Already the highways are de-
serted from fear of the murdcrers and robbers
who infest them. The land is suffered to go
out of cultivation because men will not sow
that which they have so little hope of being
allowed to reap. The cities, ravaged by re-
peated assaults, are falling into ruin, and even
the timid and lazy population of Mexico;
goaded to despair by their intolerable calaml-
ties, have actually been known on some occa-
sions to fly to arms, and repay to their OPP
pressors some small part of the miseries which
they daily suffer
1t is an interesting but a difficult specula-
ton why the races of the Spanish Peninsula,
which have been found capable of establish
ing tOlerable governments in Brazil, Peru,
and Chill, should have failed so entirely in
Mexico. The cause does not seem to lie in
the character of the aboriginal Inhabitants,
for there is too much resemblance between
the Pcruyians aud the Aztecs to support any
theory founded upon minute differences
between them. 1t is not the form of govern
ment. for though Brazil is a monarchy, Chill
and Pera are both republics.
In default of any better solution, we are
inclined to attribute the downfall of Mexico,
which may now be said to be accomplished,
| to geographical situation which brings it
! perpctually in contact with more energetic
| races and thus by inevitable comparison fos-
tiers the contempt and hatred which Span
| lard, Indian and halfbreed mutually and
| Justly feel for each other; bnt we do not
doubt that in the bloody rcverses of the late
war with the United States were laid the
! foundations of that mutual distrust and anar-
cby which have destroyed not only political
| government, but civil society itself. 1t seems
there is nothing left for the United States but
| to consummatc the work they have begun
! and to annex the land of MonteZuma and
| COrtcs, which, even under the lash of the
slave-driver. will not regret the illusory lib
erty of the Mexican republic.