The New York herald., 1868-03-22

Within few years, Notwithstanding the distracted
condition OF the country the system Of public edu
cation has become universal, and every pue,so or
alcaldid throughout the republic is obliged by law
to have its primary school, These are supported
by the municipalities and the parents OF dellnauent
children, on pain OF being fined TO work on the
streets, are compelled to insure their attendance
Every child therefore, OF the present generation In
Mexico win at LEAST know how to read and write, and
as there distinctions Of race or color all have
an equal chance to rise In the social scale.
In their adaptation to the peculiar circumstances
and customs OF the people, the prevailing laws and
institutions Of Mexico are wise and sautary. Theo-
reticaly and practically the Ordenanzas OF the Nine
ria, OF Terras OF A. uas and the Codgo Cemercio are
far better than the laws of the United States, which
secure the same rights 70 mines, lands waters and
internal trade The system OF "peonage," which pre-
walls to great extent, descended from the Aztecs,
and originated in the right OF the debtor to sell HIM
self to service or labor. II assmlates to the old
Roman tie OF patron and client, and carries with 1t
the obligation to protect the peon from invOun-
tary servitude or oppression. 1t Is traditionary
law, and although 1t has some Of the re-
pulsive aspects OF slavery it is when rightfuly
administered, the means Of providing labor and
sustenance for race who by nature are the most
improvident In the world. Thousands Of families
generation becomes part and parcel Of the house.
hold OF his danO.
The great school Of crime in Mexico In undoubtedly
the army. But how can this be otherwiseP Unable
to escape the military conscrption, ha fed without
pay, Injured to constantly recurring scenes Of blood
shed and rapine not knowing and perhaps inditier-
ent to the side upon which he fights, without
visible end to the contest and uncontrolled by moral
obligations or discipline, the Mexican soldier be-
comes by force Of circumstances an adept In crime.
Had the material Of our own army (even without
like exposure to demoraization) been suddenly dis
banded In the capital without a settlement of ac-
counts the means OF transportation to their homes
who could depict the social horrors that would have
ensuedY We who live in glass houses should be
careful how we throw stones. Unfortunately for
Mexico. in her distracted condition, the army the
great source OF crime the only power that could
suppress IL. But the men who have achieved so
much OF substantial good for the republic with such
desperate eements cannot long be insensible to the
demand for social order and therein consists the
remedy. In this respect Mexican reconstruction
presents more speedy and enduring chance Of de-
veopment than ours.
Men who have not studied the military aspect of
Mexico In detail are apt to regard her as Of easy
access to an invading army. But our experience,
added to that OF the French proves that she be
the country permanently it be overrun through
out its entirety and garrsoned In the Of every
advancing footstcp. AS a basis Of supplies she pre-
sents the strange anomaly Of q teemng granary and
blighting desert. The deficiency Of harbors obvi-
aes the necessity for seacoast defences and renders
her mpervious to naval assaults while her interior
topography forms an endless chain of impregnabe
Notifications. Thus has Nature provided for her de-
fence, and her history exhibits the fact that her
people, whatever may be the character OF their do
nestle feuds, will always rally to repel the hosts OF
the invading stranger matter under what pretext
he comes. The best guarantee Mexico has against
monarchcal institutions Is the characteristic jea-
oses Of her politicians and the innate love Of liberty
that exists among the Indians, who constitute flve
eghths of the population. Freedom is the intuitve
feeling of all people who inhabit mountainous dis
tricts, but In country Is this distinctly manifest
among the inhabitants Of the Mexican Sierra. 1t
is the burden Of their songs the cherished theme OF
their traditions and IL symbozed the escutcheon
| Of their country.
Over an OF than 7,O0o 900 OF square mile.
nature has dused with the most bOuntlful hand thu
| varied mineral productions and the fauna and
nora of the habltabe world Nor has she been less
benefcent In bestowing upon this land OF teemng
plenty climate OF extraordinary salubrity. In q
word, Mexico possesses within herself every con.
".
But In order to justify her right to nationality she
must now rise to the duty Of the hour. The world
gains nothing by Mexico as she stands to-day.
Whatever does not maintain itself In the
life OF nations by its own power forfeits Its
own existence. Mexico does not lack for states
men to appreciate this law OF necessity; but to
vitalzc her elements and change the current OF her
life, she needs practical help and not poti-
cal example. As sister republic she has right to
ask It, and we sin against the best interests Of the
United States and Of humanity II We refuse it, We
need entangling alliances for defensive purposes
10 trammel the actions and responsibilities of both;
but we do require substantial commercial treaty
between the two nations that will guarantee protec-
tion to the lives and property Of American citizens
and insure market for American commodities.
Then let the United States open up the interior com
municatons OF Mexico, light up her coasts with
steam engines and telegraphs, subsidize lines OF
steamers to the gulf ports, give her sufficient navy
to enable her to collect her revenues and loan hcr
upon her own credit sum Sufficient to suppress
internal disorders and rid the country Of the thieves
and vagabonds who infest her highways and keep
her people In never-ending state Of turmoil To
our mind the Mexican riddle admits OF other so
luton.