The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-03-24

To hearts in sloth and ease.
SO nigh is grandeur to our Gust,
So near is God to man,
When duty whispers low, THOU MUST,
The youth replies, CAN.
THE SITUATION OF MEXICOs
Speech delivered by Senor Romero. Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister PlenipOten.
tiary Of the Republic Of Mexico to the
United states, at a Dinner in the City Of
New York, Dec. 10th, 1863.
Gcntlemen:-The internal condition
of Mexico is scarcely understood or ap-
preciated in this country or in Europe.
The general impression seems to be,
that we are an uncivilizet, heterogeneous
people, constantly divided by petty per
sonal fcuds aud ambitious; always engag-
ed in making pronuneiamcntos; entirely
wanting in patriotism and high-toned
sentiments; altogether unified for self
government; utterly incapable of devel-
oping cur great natural resources; aud
therefore unworthy cf the sympathy or
respect of mankind
Never was an opinion more unjust;
never dgment more unfounded.
1t is we'll known that when Mexico
was colony Of Spain, it was the policy
Of the Spanish Government to rule the
country by means Of the Catholic clergy.
With this object in view, the clergy
were clothed with every kind Of personal
privilege, and were alloEed to monopo-
lze very large portion Of the real estate
and other property of the country. They
were also the only educated class, aud all
instruction of the masses was left entire
Iy in their hands BY these means they
maintained profound influence over the
conscienccS of the ignorant people, and
they constituted an aristocracy more
powerful and more firmly than any other
in the world.
When in 1910, the early Mexican pat
riots proclaimed the independence Of
their country from the Spanish yoke, the
clergy were alarmed by movement that
had not been made by themselves, and
which, il it should terminate in the over
throw Of the Spanish Governmcn: and
the establishment of National govern
ment, might place in peril their numer-
Gus privileges, their immense riches, and
their controlling influence. They there.
fore determined to oppose the movement.
1t is unnecessary to say that so long as
the Mexican clergy threw the immense
weight of their influence on the side OF
the Spanish Government, the Span'ards
were everywhere triumphant
But while the struggle was going on
! in Mexico, great change took place in
Spain. The Spanish Cortes, animated
by liberal ideas, had issued various de-
crees, seriously diminishing the persona
privileges of the clergy, and had passed
laws providing for the decentralization
of their immense property for the benefit
Of the nation at large. The Mexican
clergy then began to change their ground
They saw at once how much they
would have to lose if the laws passed BY
the Spanish Cortes should be carried in
to effect in Mexico; and belie"lng at thu
same time that they could organize gov
ernment which would be fully under thoi
own control, they determined to adop
the cause of independence, and with thei
aid the independence of Mexico was thel
achieved.
Since that time fearful struggle ha
been going on between the clergy on th
one side, who have sought to control tn
National Government, and, on the other
the few enlightened patriotic men who
seeing that there was no hope that Mex
co could become what nature designe
her to be unless liberal principles shoul
be adopted, and an entire separation b
effected from church influence and con
hperssp tp pdphsr phGf Gg thi
should keep down the ambition and usu
pations of the clergy, always directed
, the promotion of their own interest
without any regard for the welfare of Il
country. .
: The result Of such struggle in /
earlier efforts could not be dou ubtfnl, ia
J ing into consideration the power, the II
4 fuence and the resource of each par
) respectively. !,
Whenever the Liberal party succeed
in establishing, through the ballot box,
legal governments government viii
would not favor the interests of the cler
when these were opposed to the intere'
Of the courtry-a government in fav
4. of promoting foreign immigration, of
= ening roads, constructing railroads,
IS IS thorizipc the free snd public exercise
as all religions, tho freedom of the press,
~ reducing import duties, favor,ng
~. branches of commerce-in word, OF
ar; veloping all the natural wealth and v
1.i na resources of Mexico-the clergy imme
Is; ately instigated pronun ciamento agal
Of that government, and brought to b
uit everv influence to secure its overthrow
81 Such state of affairs, however, co
. not lass forever. While the strus
. was going en-, the people began to g.
nty enlig ghteuee Everybody saw that
of | ,,orov nf the clpruv was 0onStantly u