New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-05-04


"corporals guard left. His fate is sealed
now. by this time, doubtless, he is prisoner,
a fugitive, or q corpse. We hope 1t IS not the
latter. His death, in cold blood, as a Mexican
prisoner. would be, as Fouch6 said OF the
execution of the Duke dEnghen, " worse than
"a crime it would be a political blunder."
Alive and spared, the dethrOned usurper would
excite little interest, and less sympathy; shot
or hanged. the murdered Emperor would be-
come a martyr.
But what is to be the result when he passes
from the scene? wise reconstruction, peaceful
consolidation, or chronic anarchyP Many
prophesy the latter; we are very much given,
We Anglo-Saxons to looking down somewhat
superciiously on all races but our own; and it
is an easy and convenient cross-cut to the fu-
ture to predict that it will be but repetition
of the past. Why, when the foreigners are
gone, and the Mexicans Once.more possessors OF
their country should they not fall to quarrel
ing again among themselves, with the old ex-
hibition of partisan TivalIies, civil brawls,
plans las they call their political platforms) by
the dozen, and pronunciamentos appearing as
regularly as q quarterly magazine, but often
at shorter intervals?
There is an old legal maxim that with the
cessation of the cause for % law the law itself
should cease. We admit that the general rule
in Mexico throughout the past has been anarchy
and civil strife But what was the chief cause
of thisP An answer, which we believe to be
true one, came up, at the time Macmillan dis
appointed the last hopes of the Church, III
curious way. When, in 1864, the Imperial de-
cree mtfying Juarez's cOniiscation OF the
Church lands appeared, the Archblshops and
Bishops of Mexico met in council, and Issued
solemn protest against the measure, denying
that the Emperor had any right iii the premises,
and stigmatzing his action in this matter as
nothing better than high-handed plumber The
better to enforce their argument, and to
show that this ratification was as much
opposed to the public sentiment of the Nation
as to law and religion, and that the hearts OF
the people were with them, they declared that
all the GIRL UorS of the country, for the last
quarter of century, had originated IN defense
Of ecclesiastical rights The annual income OF
the Church, from the lands cOnfscated in 1850,
was from $90,OOO0OO to S2j,0OO,OOO year;
that was more than double the annual reyen-
ues of the Mexican Government; a revenue
amply sufficient to carry on war; and en-
ployed, as their own incautious admission
shows, for that very purpose. This ill-used
wealth is gone. The property so stubDornly
fought for is lost forever. The cause having
ceased, may We not expect that what used to
bc the rule in this matter will cease alsof Let
us wait and see, refrainng from sinister proph-
ecies of evil These people have fought stub
bornly, not only for their independence, but
for a Radical platform of principles, of which no
nation need be ashamed. Here are the items
which compose the creed Of the Juarez or LIB
era party: I. Constitutional Government.
Q Freedom OF religion and Of the press. 3. Ma
tionaization of the surplus Church property.
4. The abolition of FWcrOs that is of military
and ecclesiastical tribunals, as they existed UNI
der the old system. according to which military
men and ccclesiastics were amcnablc to their
own tribunals only. 8. Reduction of the tariff.
9. Free immigration. 7. Popular education.
When Juarcz was Governor of the State OF
Oajaca, one of his first acts was to establish
public schools in every district Of the State.
All this looks well. 1t gives promise OF better
things in the future. That promise may not
be fulfilled. If we speak cncouragirgy and
hopefully, we may aid in its fulfllment. But If
we persist i'll declaring that no good thing will
ever come out of Mexico if we cast contempt
on The efforts Of these people because they are
still behind us in the race Of civilization we are
doing what in us lies To chill their courage and
retard their progress