East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-08-26
rHE NEW EMPIRE OF MEXICO.

HE NEW EMIlltE Of MEAlCO.
This ill-starred country, after half a
century of change, anarchy, military
despotism, mob rule and democracy
run mad, has ut last taken the initia-
tive step towards taking ruler cloth /
ed in the imperial purple. This to all
who wish well to the cause Of free /
will be learned with
poignant regret. and bitter mortifca-
ton. 1t brings reproach upon cause
which, TO be entirely successful, should
be kept free Of reproach. We do not |
consider il fairly an argument toshow
that democracy is a failure, nor will 1t,
if consummatod, OF which there IS
vet much occasion TO doubt--bring
permanent discredit upon tie repre-
sentative government. 1t has always
been n cardinal canon of that form of
polity that TO succeed it must be fitting
in time, place and people. 1t were
devoutly to be wished that all people
on the Globe were prepared to enjoy
the blessings of democratic liberty, as
il is undoubtedly the natural and IN
alienable right of al TO have the OPP
portunity of its enjoyment; but the
weakness Of nations must be conceded,
as well as the weakness of human
nature. We do not think ii certain
that it demonstrates the imbecility or
losseness Of the Mexican national char
acter; il the rather shows only that
factions can ruin for time the best
national faculties. In two wars the
Mexican character for military prowess
and patriotism has been vindicated.-
We ourselves may now confess that
our legions found i'll the defenders OF
Mexico a foe not alh".A-.l isS'' anu
the hcroic stand they just now made
against the famed cohorts of their
Gallic invaders has again proven them
worthy to be free. That the masses
of the Mexican people are ignorant
and bigoted may be true, but we be-
lieve the. substantial elements OF an
average national character still exist
on the soil of Mexico. If that is not
a false assumption the world may take
for granted that no foreign despot will
long be allowed to despoil Mexico of
/ her liberties, though guarded by all
the bayonets of France. A stormy
reign and bloody death may safely
be predicted, for whoever shall be
bold enough to assume the fatal robe,
be he Maximilian, Prince Napoleon OF
d French Military hero
The event of such fundamental
change in their polity recalls the brief
outline of Mexican history. No one
can fairly view the present crisis who
Mexico was discovered by Cortez in
1919; Montezuma was then its ruler
He persisted in 1921, and the country
fell into the hands of the Spanish in.
vaders. Cortez called the country
New Spain, and was placed over it as
Captain General, and held his office
until 1885, when he was displaced 10y
a Viceroy. 1t remained a colony OF
Spain for near three hundred years
In 1908 events in the Spanish Pcnin'
sula created disturbance in Mexico
The unwise proceedings of new rul-
ing body denominated the COrtes
weakened first and then broke the 10y.
atty of Mexico to Spain. The Vice.
roy, to remedy the disaiIcctions and
to conciliate the Americans, proposed
a Jnnta of Representatives from each
province, TO be composed equally OF
Europeans and natives. The former
were inccnsed at this and sent the
Vicoroy out of the country. Venegros
his successor. exasperated the creoleS
by his severity and Partially Tor tht
Spaniards. In September, 1910, there
fore, a conspiracy broke out into in
sulTcction. Hidalgo, a priest, led tho
insurgents, but after n desperate strug'
gle he was put TO death in ISL
Morelos, n priest, succeeded him as
Captain General he advanced in Jan.
uary, 1912, near the capital. He was
obliged to retreat, but captured sew
oral important places. a national
Congress assembled i'll September
1913, and declared Mexico independ
emit Subsequently lturbide, who lee
the Government forces, triumphed
and Morelos was shot i'll 1913. In
1917, General Nina entered the coun
try with foreign forces, but was cap
tured and shot. In 1919 Guerrero
alone remained of the insurgent lead
ers. The next year the Cortes ordered
the sale of the Church property. The
Viceroy, Apodeloa, ordered Iturbtd'
to reduce the insurgent chief, but he
coalesced with him and proclaimed thu
Independence 81 the country February
/ u, 1921. Shortly after peace was
agreed upon, and it was stipulated
that the Spanish forces should leave
the country. The Viceroy and ltur'
bide were associated as rulers. A
separate monarchy under q Bourbon
Prince was to be the government. in
February, 1922, a Congress assembled
to settle the Constitution, but tho
Cortes declared all its proceedings null
and thereupon Iturbide declared him.
self Emperor in May, 1892, under the
name of Ayastm the First. Opposition
was made, and he abdicated in March
1898, leaving the country. A repub
lican provisional government was form.
ed, with triple executive, consisting
of Vittoria, Bravo and Negrete.-
Subsequently, in 1924, a constitution
was proclaimed. Vittoria was chosen
President, and Bravo, Vice President
The first Congress under the Consti-
tuition convened January, 1928. In
/ December fall~--:--r H. cT"'ninru'
I surrendered their hold of the Castle OF
Ulloa, and thus the whole of Mexico
became free of European domination.
Factions and all kinds of party VIC
lence soon interviewed. In 1923, the
second Presidential election took place
Padraza was declared chosen by q
majority Of two votes over Guerrero
I 4 4 Il