The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-01-12
From the London Times, Dec. IL
THE PAST AND FUTURE OF MEXICO.

Wlen, some TOUR centuries ago. Iue 6uGcI-
prise of Spanish navigators opened the vast
continent of America to the admiration of Eu-
rope, the civilization of the New World was
found to be concentrated in two spots, and two
only, of that enormous territory One of these
favored regions was Peru; the other Mexico.
It was in Mexico especially that art, politics
and science had received their greatest devel-
opment. All the rest of North America, from
the shores of Hudsen's Bay to the mouths OF
the Mississippi, was desolate and barbarous, di,
versifed only by swamp, forest, or prairie, and
populated by sayages without knowledge or
laws. Mexico alone redeemed the character of
tAe new continent, and presented to the eyesof
the invaders a spectacle so marvellous as to sat
isfY even the expectations which the great dis
covery had raised. There the Spaniards found
an organized State, an ancient poIty, an opu-
lent capital, an exalted dynasty, a formidable
priesthood, and a people more skilled in me-
chanical and decorative arts. So great, in fact,
was the proficiency of the workmen, so elabor-
ate the system of government, and so impress
i've the whole evidence of wealth and grandeur,
that for some time the civilization of Mexico
was regarded as superior to that of Europe
Although, indeed, the researches of modern
inquiries have enabled us to apply some correct
i've to these ideas, it is really probable that in
certain respects the Spaniards found Mexico
more adyanced than Spain and we have been
xGCCAI1N dSSulCo1 Oh Lie oGAOAA "
hensiye history, that this civilization was the
necessary incident of geographical and natural
advantages. Such was the situation and con-
Hguration of Mexico that it could hardly fail
TO make progress: and all that was discovered
there In the shape of national wealth or politi-
cal order represented the extraordinary oppor-
~tunities which nature had provided
Such was the picture given of Mexico 400
years ago. Our American intelligence of yes
41-5or r,-aC nc onofhor rEafah Of tho country
as it exists at this moment, and it would be
hard to imagine a contrast more surprising
There Is literally no spot In the entire Amerl-
can continent, from the Arctic Seas to Cape
Horn, which presents such a spectacle of dis
organization and ruin, The Indians of Pata-
gonia are better ordered than the Mexicans of
1858. In the old seat of American civiliza-
ton there is now no Government, no recognized
polity, no public order. Life and property are
insecure ; not through the accident of a polit-
ical revolution, but necessarily and permanent
I, from the utter default and breakup of all
the institutions designed for their protection.
we cannot find in any European history-not
even in that of Spain itself-any parallel or
illustration of the present state of things in
Mexico. The country is split into factions,
but no faction has any principle nor does it
seem to be so much as anticipated that there is
any party or any leader of a party, by whose
6oSrh0ohSJ VI P4OoO1AoANS AS 0oS6 o
archy could be terminated.
When, in the year 1924, a Republican Gov
eminent was definitely substituted for the do
minion exercised by Spain, room was left for
contests between Federalism and Capitalization,
which have never ceased, and which, perhaps,
find more or less expression In all Mexican rev.
~olutions. We observe also, at present, that
the Roman Catholic hierarchy of Mexico are
throwing such weight as they possess into the
scale of absolutism, with the same views which
have recently characterized their proceedings
in various parts of Europe. But, except for
these features, there is positively nothing to be
discovered in the civil war now raging in Mex
leo, which can raise it above the level of. com
mon and promiscuous brigandage. Society is
resolved into its primitive elements without,
as yet, throwing up even any savage virtues to
the surface.
1T would be too abstruse a speculation to in
quire ph~ilosophically into the causes which
have thus operated on a country so fair and SO
fortunate as to have once produced an except
ienaI civilization of its own in the midst of gen
eral barbarism. Historically, the case can be
taken in at a glance. Spain ruled the subject
State of Mexico for exactly 300 years; theE
came three years of CONFUSION and then cam
30~years of Republicanism, on a remarkably
pure and genuine model. Mexico had its
Union, its States, and its Territories, its Cham
Der of Deputies, and its Senate. Biennial Par
Eaments and equal electoral districts gave to
the popular suffrage all the reality which Mr..
Bright could desire, and, except that there was
NO education and no federation in religious mat
tiers, the institutions of Mexico were, at any
rate in theory, as liberal as they could be. All
thisa however, was of no avail. The Mexlcans
can neither govern themselves nor find any
body strong enough to govern them, and the
State if it can still be called a State, is simply
tumbling to pieces for want of anything like
vitality or cohesion.
The ordinary interest which might attach tc
a spectacle like this is materially enhanced by
two important considerations. On the north
ern frontier of Mexico lies a formidable neigh
baro already aggrandized by large acquisitions
of Mexican.territory, and prepared Tor the alb
serptien of more. What gives this contingent
CIV still greater Weights the fact that the poll
tiessef the North American Union will be in
timately affected by any further annexation to
wards the South, and its wisest statesmen are
aoprehensive of the results which might ensue
Certainly, up to the present time, the Govern
ment of Washington has exhibited consldera
bile forbearance in dealing with the provoca
t;ons to which the anarchy and license prevail
inc throughout Mexico have naturally giver
rise. We have, however, a more direct inter
est in the matter. English capital has beer
largely invested in Mexican undertakings, ane
EnglSh merchants nave carIleu Vn0i S
into Mexico for the joint advantage OF bott
c6nntries together. The revolutionists, in thei
s9ieidaI folly, have actually visited with indig
mites and. penalties the foreigners who Were
contributing to- resources of the State, and,
though Englishmen who lend their money te
foreign goTernmentsd do SO on their own respon.
sfbiEfy. British subjects claim the protection Of
PS;t;sb newer. The affairs of Mexico are
notbnie to u.s. but we are entitled to demanG
bat its Government, be it what it may, shall
sbstain from visiting our countrymen with IN
Justice or wrong. u
The only apparent parallel to thus s1faI PSs
break up is that suggested by the case
az 5t.;strne. was a turbulent and unquiet
Safe. With a system Of government which new.
er vs5rked evenly; and which, perhaps must