The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-05-25

species of Legislation was ended and a reform
instituted which will send honest and capable
men and not corrupt politicians to tho State
Legislature.
The Fast and Ruture OF Mexico.
In view of the important events which the
present year promises to bring about in Mex
leo we to-day present our readers with an ably
written review Of the political history Of that
unfortunate country from the earliest period
Of Spanish rule down to the present time.
Our object in devoting 80 much space to the
subject is TO prove to those who either ere or
the withdrawal Of the French and their impe-
perial protege it is by no means certai. that she
will re-enter upon that miserable condition of
anarchy and misrule that has hitherto marked
her career. BY showing, as we do, that the
sel6shness and cupidity of the clerical orders
have been, almost from the period Of the
Spanish conquest, the main cause of her mis-
cries, and that, with the re-establishment Of
the republican system Of government an end
will be put forever to those baleful Influences,
we feel that we are doing not merely an act Of
justice to the Mexican people, but indicating
the truth Of history.
The progress Of nations, like that o. individ-
uals, is determined by circumstances. Some ar
rive at bound at results which it takes others
painful and long continued efforts to reach.
European civilization has itself been plant of
slow and painful growth. Even in the most
politically educated of Its communities we do
not even at present always find an apprecia-
ton of the principles which constitute good
government. What right have we, then, to
condemn Mexico by the past and to pronounce
it as hopelessly condemned to condition of
civil strife? A philosopnic mind sees, on the
contrary, in its revolutionary tendencies only
the existence or some deep seated evil which
it is endeavoring to cast off, Nations are not
given to warfare from the pure love of fight
ing. The same influences that have retarded
the progress Of Mexico and kept her in state
of continual disturbance for the last half CEN
fury have produced and are still producing
analogous results in other countries. Look
at Ireland, for example There the church
establishment exercises a far less mischicv-
GUS influence than In Mexico; but it has
unquestionably been one of the main causes of
the discomfort and restlessness which mark it's
political condition. The government of Juarez
was the first to strike at the root of the evil in
Mexico, and the results of its policy would have
been an entire pacifcation of the country II the
sel6shness and treachery of the European
governments had not arrested its labors.
Whether 1t be under Juarez or some other
President Of the liberal party, it cannot be
doubted that the work thus suspended will soon
be resumed. The evacuation OF the country
by MAMMALIAN and his hangers-on Is now not
merely a question dependent upon the period
fixed by the French for their own departure.
The accounts published yesterday from Mexico
show that the bare announcement of Napoleon's
purpose had created such panic ameng tho
supporters Of the empire that they were already
preparing to run Nothing can in fact be more
hopeless than the present condition OF the i'm
perial cause. The treasury is empty and there
il less prospect than ever Of its being replen-
ished. The taxes have, after the fashion Of the
"Peza" law, been collected some months in
advance and the custom house privileges have
all been hypothecated. The rats who Aocked
TO partake Of the imperial cheese have eaten
oil but the rind, and finding this TOO tough
for digestion they are fast slipping
from the country before the liberal trap can
be sprung upon them. or course the Mexi-
can troops in the service Of the Emperor will
not be long in catching the infection and very
soon Macmillan will be LEFT without single
Mexican subject to give color to his dynastic
pretensions. Whether he will think Il con-
sistent with his sense Of selfrespect 10 con-
tinue this miserable role until the departure Of
the French compels him 10 consult his safety
by fight remains to be seen. We are inclined
to the opinion that he will anticipate that
event by a formal abdication within q very
short period and that the French themselves
will be put to IL TO find an excuse for delaying
their departure until the period fixed by Ma
poleon.
It will be subject for congratulstion to all
true friends Of Mexico, as well as Of the Mon
roe doctrine, II things should take this farccal
turn. Nothing would tend more TO convince
the world Of the falscness, impudence and alb
surdity Of the pretences under which the Eu-
ropean governments undertook to regulate
the affairs OF that country.
REBUILDING THE ACADEMY or Musrc,-There
is good deal Of speculation a. to whether the
Academy Of Music will be rebuilt for the pur-
poses Of an opera house. There are many req
sons why IL should not be, and we opine that
these reasons will prevail. First, the condition
Of the walls and arches Of the ruined structure
Is such o. to render them wholly unfit for fur
ther use. 1t would be unsafe, In fact, to trust