The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-30
Mexico and the Prssidential Contest
From the NJ Y. Herald

Mexico and the Presidential Contest.
From The N. Y. Herald.
Our news from Mexico indicates consider
able excitement over the coming Presidential
election. AS yet there is no one pledged to
the field as candidate in opposition to Benito
Juarez. There is, however, some indication
that Porfrio Diaz may enter the lists. con-
siderable party at the Mexican capital are
desirous of pushing him forward as their
leader. Still there are some very strong rea-
sons why General Diaz prefers, for the pre-
sent, to remain in the background. A fellow
townsman Of the President, he is indebted to
Juarez for education, military advancement,
and all his honors. His esteem for the man to
whom he owes so much is very great, and it is,
therefore, not improbable that Diaz may firmly
refuse the nomination. There are, however,
Weightier reasons than these for his refusal,
and these exist partly in the army. Diaz
could not control any but the troops who
served under him. and these do not number
ten thousand men. The armies of Regules,
Corona, and EscObedo will all vote for Juarez,
While the states generally will support the
latter The capital OF the country may have a
hundred rumors with reference to the Presi-
Dental contest, but it will be found that the
pcopulous districts far removed from the city
OF Mexico will give an almost unanimous vote
I0r the present incumbent of the Executive
chalr. ALI the Northern States are in favor of
Juarez, while in the South the vote between
him and Diaz would scarcely be divided.
There is a marked tone of conciiatiOn in the
late action Of the Mexican Government towards
those who have heretofore been under the
Liberal ban for aiding the empire. The act OF
coniscation, which made such clean sweep
OF the nrs00perty of Mexican Imperialists, has
been revoked, and the property will, with rare
exceptions, be restored. This is very wlst
measure; for this was the only source iron
which the Mexican Government had any fea
of strongly organized revolutionary move
ment. By restoring the vast estates 10 thel
ouieted and bound to the interests of peac
and order.
The Government now proposes to give tn
clergy the vote and make them eligible to tn
Office of representative to Congress. Thi
movement is of doubtful value at this time 70
the great Liberal leader. Mexico profoundl,
stirred to civil hatreds by the exhaustive war
she has waged against the clergy, feels littl
disposed to grant them any rights while tn
spirit of revenge is at such a red heat. Th
measure, conciliatOry and just, is a good one
but 1t is premature. II will, however, Civ
Juarez the support of the conservative AM
wealthy element of the country; but IL ma,
lose him much OF the aid which he otherwis
might have counted upon in the Liberal party
Another good measure which it is proposed t
adopt is the closer assimilation of the Mexioa
constitution to our own. 1t is hoped thereb
to give better system of checks and balance
to the different branches of the Government.
There is much work before the Mexioa
statesmen. They have before them man
problems which demand prompt and masterI
settlement. Among these the first is the hnal
oial question. With country unsurpassed
the ability to restore her credit to a sour
basis, the only trouble relative to that matt
is how to exist until the machinery can
repaired and set in motion. Then must
settled the question of feudalism, which has
marked hold in every Mexican State. I.
great haoiendas, often occupying from TWEEN
to thirty thousand square miles, must be 9
down. Land must be more equally divide
Taxation of real estate will do this. Heret