The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-03-25
The Situation of Mexico.
SlEECH OF SENIOR ROMERO.

GENTLEMEN The internal condition OF
Mexico Is scarcely understood or appreciated
IN this country or in Europe
1he general impression seems to be, that
We are an unclvilized, heterogeneous people
constantly divided by petty personal feuds
and ambitions always engaged in making
pronuncianientos; entirely wanting of pat
riotism and high-toned sentime is; altogeth-
er untitled for self-government utterly in
capable of>developing our great natural re,
sources; and therefore unworthy of the sym.
pathy or respect Of mankind.
Never was an opinion more uni Just; never
judgment more untoundei.
1t is well known that when Mexico was a
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 we're allowed to monopoize very large
portion of the real estate and other propert;
of the country. They were also the only
educated class, and all instruction of the
masses wh left entirely in their hands. b,
these means they obtained profound inhu
ence over the conciences of the ignorant peo-
pie, and they constituted an aristocracy more
powerful AID more firmly rooted than any
other in the world.
When, in 1910, the early Mexican patriots
proclaimed the independence of their coun-
try from the Spanish yoke, the clergy were
alarmed by movement that had rot been
made by themselves, n 4d which, if Il should
terminate in the overthrow If tide Spanish
government and the establishment Of Ma
tlonal government, might place in peril their
numerous 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
=,
h;;na,o,oa y, tho s;do of ,ho S,,a.;.h
government, the Spaniards were everywhere
.,h..
But while the struggle was going on in
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~. ,;.or;.h Cor.s, .n;o'a.o1 b.. ,;h.r.;
;.,. ..} ;..,,., ,,.;.n DE-, .o.;,.,,.
4,.h; ,.o ouso.l ,.;r;o, s. 49,,
of.ro ,.a b,i r,.sad ,,ms ,r;a;,., e.,
,he d..,r, - ,,.,- of ,ha;r ron,or-a nror-
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H.. >1,~;o,, ~ .,,r ,,so bs,., - cb,nsa
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..., .r,..,l i.ro >, io.e = H.. I.ws ,a,.cd
bv rh. S,,nisl. .,,,g., >noni.; he c,rrir,i lDt,.
.tfee IN N,x;ca: and believing at The same
time tha, they colI or-afize a government
that voul! be fully under tneir own control,
they determined to adopt III cause of inde-
p4uiencs, and with their aid he iniepen-
dence of Mexico was then achieved.
Since that time fearful struggle has been
goins on between IN clergy on the one side,
who have sought to control the National
government, and, on the other, the fe" eH-
lightened patriotic men who' seeing mai
there was no hope that Mexico could become
wha! nature designed her to D. unless l'eF-
al prlnciples should oe alop'S'' "''u "'' GU
tire sepArat.o" b. effected from cAuf'A lhna-
ence and control-besan to labor Tor the IS
Enlistment OF a I'oef"'' p'Pu''' so'e''''''e'''
"Aicn SHOULD Keep uo"n '"e "'no'''''' ''''''
Us rpat'ohS OF tiie 'le'sS "'"aS'' o-'e'.'e ~
the promoilon OF 'heiF own interests "''''o"'
any regard 'of 'he "t.i''te oi '"e ''A''!
Inc result OF Sac'l s'tu5s'e II 40 -. AZ
Efforts could not De 0ou''lu'' 'aN''S i''',
consideration the power TIE lhn"e''T ana
the resources OF each par! fe>l'eo'''t!'
Whenever the Liberty part! S'ccee''eu ''''
establishing through the oa'i'' ooA' a"'
sovernmehl-a government "i''c' "ou'N "o'
favor the interests OF The clergy "he" 'leS'
were opposed to the interests 10 'ae country
a government III favor Oh pfo"ou"s ''i
eign immigration, OF opening roads, cohS''u'-
ting railroads, authorizing the free5 5ana puo,
lie exercise Of all rei-sIoaS' the freedom ol
the press, of reducing import duties' favor
ing ali branches OF co nnierce-lh "ofu' VI
developing ali the natural wealth ana 'aS'
resources OF NJ xIco-the clergy inme'la'ei!
instisaled 4 pronanclamlento against u'e
government, aad brought to bear every IN
fuencc to secure its overthrow