The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-02-27

The Rup&ure Botweea tho Freach and
tho Clergy I'm Mexico. .MNs
| Tho Important oficia, documents which we
publish in our columns this morning give full
history OF the latest aud perhaps most import
ant phase Of that very curious business. the
French Intervention in Mexico.
II will be remembered that the French went
to Mexico upon the express invitation OF the
clergy party. with whom they became con-
nected AS allies The documents we now pub
Iish show that that alliance is at an end and
that the chief prelstes of Mexico unitedly de-
clare that their situation is worse under French
Intervention than it ever was under the govern
ment Of Juarez What political effect in Europe
this attitude Of the Mexican clergy may have
upon the plans Of those who in the interest Of
the Roman Catholic Church, have been seeking
TO place Mexico under the dominion Of govern
mont subject to the will of Louis Napoleon re-
mains yet to be seen; but it is evident that so
far az the tranquiisation of Mexico by France
Is concerned the difficulties are amazingly in
creased; for now the question Is one purely of
force g there is no party 10 the country upon
whom they can count for sympathy or aid. Az
the bishops in their protest, truly declare there
has been no question at issue in Mexico
but that of the church property. and,
if that is to be lost ia any event, then even tina
Mexican clergy prefer that their despoliation
shall take place at tue hands Of the party in
their own country who are their open enemies
rather than at the hands Of foreigners whom
they have called in az fricads. This is only
natural; but it presents very grave question
| for France to consider
II. by the Intervention and the open war
| proclaimed upon the constitutional and legti-
mate government of President Juarez. the con-
stitutional liberty party OF Mexico have been,
as they necessarily are arrayed in irreconcila-
BILE opposition, under all circumstances, to the
| French, and if that party embraces. as it I'M
doubtedly and naturally does, all the elements
of true progress there are in the country how
lost the support Of the only other party-the
Church party-have any hope Of tranquilizing
| the country or establishing stable govern
ment. except by sheer force Of arms.
! There is no middle party in Mexico any
more than there is one in the United States
The Church and its property there ore just what
slavery has been here and the day has passed
there as it has here. for any compromise be-
tween the two The party of the ''moderados"
| went into decline under Arista, aud
finally died under Comonforts administration
It is true the French government should have
forescen this. 1t deliberately made war upon
the liberal element in Mexico and allied itself
| to the Church. when moments reflection
| would have shown that the latter had exgcn-
| cies, which were the sole motive Of its solicit
| ing the intervention OF France, which could
| not be met consistently with the attitude
! France, even under Louis Napoleon, is obliged
| 10 assume in this age Of the world The age
| is moving forward. not backward. and it is
| impossible for the Mexican clergy, or tue
| priesthood anywhere, to be restored to the po
sition or placed again in the enjoyment of the
immunt;es they held in the age Of the Inqu-
sitioo That time has passed, and even Louis
Napoleon is not powerful enough to restore
them.
/ In Mexico the Church question consists not
IN any point Of relipion--no such issue has
| ever been raised there-but solely in one Of
| property. To save that property when the
ton in common with that of Spain, the Mexican
clergy espoused the cause OF independence, and
through their powerful aid it was achieved.
They then sought 80 to control the national
government az to protect that property and
their own peculiar immunities. A with sla-
very in the United States, their property was
an interest that must be predominant and all
controlling or it would surely die.
Bat the people. with dawning light and
steadily spreading intelligence under free in.
stitutions. could not but see that this power
within themselves, but greater than them
selves. must be overthrown, or it would be a
perpetual barrier to their national rise and
progress !.
This is the simple philosophy Of all the strug-
giles in Mexico since its independence. Those
who could see no deeper than the mere shifting
ebuilitions on tho surface have proclaimed
that this struggle evidenced incurable anarchy,
and that Mexico was sinking in the scale Of
humanity It was, rather, like the throes Of
dissolution from which only new life can spring.
Besides it has been the interest Of The church
party, who almost alone have had the means Of
moulding foreign opinion to create the belief
that Mexico was united for free institutions,
utterly incapable Of selfgovernment. 1t has
also been the interest Of the slavery party in
this country to foster the impression that no
| good could come out Of Mexico or from any Of
| those countries. our near neighbors to the
South, over which they hoped to extend the
benign institution of human bondage. Per-
baps II is not strange, therefore, that France
has fallen into an error which leaves her no
alternative, viewing the Mexican question only
| az it relates to herself and Mexico. but to un-
dertake the permanent physical conquest Of