The New York herald., 1869-12-26
M E xIc O.
The Usual Crop OF Revolution
Ripening.
Religious Intolerance at
PueDiR.
A VlSlr 70 THE TERRA CALIENTE.


Ihe Liberal Ranks-I.iberty of Worship
Tho Row Mt Pucbin-A Protestant Church
Attacked by n Moh-Narrow Escape OF tho
Preacher and His Congregation
Cry OF PUEBIA Dec. 10, 1862.
There are heavy threatening political clouds
gathering over Nexico's horizon. In the palace
fears arc very abundant and dollars painfully rev.
The liberals nave long been divided Into the mode
rate ministerial, JuareZ wing, that has managed 10
soar aiofl ana there remain poised for while, ann
the extreme radical Iberal, opposition party. The
Church party are, IN The meanwhile, plotting and
scheming and hoping TO avail themselves OF this
division TO again get into power. The hoarse NUT
terings of q threatening revolution are beginning
to be heard In the distance. The Catholic
party and the liberals OF the opposition
are Joining hands in an effort to oyefturn
the Juarez government. IL they succeed the Chufch
party and The opposition liberals may yet nave
another light between themselves TO decide winch Oh
these anaaonistic extremes shall rule the country
Through these dark, threatening war clouds, hang
ing heavily IN the night or McNicos misery, lew
bright stars arc SHINING that relieve the monotony
aud inspire hope. 1he liberal and the Church war
party have lighting each other for the last iify
years. Now third, aud peace party, has come into
being and is rapidly being organized.
About forty native Protestant Evangelical cougre-
cations now meet In tins republic weekly. They are
working with intense activity 10 eyangclize their
native land They invite the American Evangelical
churches TO strengthen them In their work by lur-
nishng them Bibles, Spanish evangelical pubiica
tons and some OF the 'snews OF war; for their good
f1rht IIyacinthes words have been received with
deep enthusiasm by numbers OF leading Mesicans.
One CT the Mexican Protestant congregations was
recently very roughly handled here, the second city
In the republic and the great stronghold OF the
flAn hla
many months back been IN the habit Of gathering
very quietly and without calling the attention OF the
sublic TO their work. Recently they received re-
enforcement from capital in the person OF three
native missionaries, and commenced working pub
cly and boldly to the great disgust and fear OF the
Roman clergy. The latter, 1t Is said, ornamcnted
their church doors with placards eXcommunicating
those who should read the Protestant tracts. They
also urged number OF Spanish missionaries TO come
~ their aid from the capital, and for several eve
nngs gave series OF sermons in varions churches,
In which they cried down both the Protestants and
the liberal government, which tolerated them.
fhey also tried TO Drlbe the most prom
inent OF the Protestant missionaries VINO
had gone there named Ponce de Leon, Offering him
large sum on condition that he should leave the
place. But TO give a crushing blow to the Protes
tant congregation a "eurate' was employed to
Drihe q NUMBER OF the rowdies In the DeignbOrnood
OF the room " here The Proestants were about TO
meet on Sund al, November 2S 1862 SO Us 10 induce
them TO make systematic attack on the evan
genca congr egation, burn their Bibles and tracts,
and stone their leading men to death small aud
partly ruined chapel had been presented 10 the
Ptotestant5 aud was being repaua1. they had,
moreover hired q small house in the rear OF SAID
chapel. which was approached by an open passage
way running alongside o! the chapel. separated
their service drew near the Protestan,s found the
mob gathering IN the neighborhood OF their chapel,
and most of them determined not to enter their
NJ N
q room on the second floor OF the private house
which they had hired. Nine OF the frotestans,
however gathered In the said room and, leaving
another OF their friends to watch the gate at the end
OF the passageway, sung hymn. The watch at the
locked the door, gave the cry OF ALARM and with five
others escaped over the nelghborng roofs lie then
ran Tor the police but III three places where he ap-
pled for aid lie denied any favors for the FRO
fesants but finally at the fourth place they lis tened
TO hls request. Four oi the Protestants who were
In their place OF worship thought they were ia
honor bound TO remain by their standard and pro-
tect their Billie ana books. The mob, armed with
on the gate which divided tine passageway
from tue street Bursting 1t from it5 hinges
trampled by Inc crowd which poured into
the passageway md rushed up the open. unroofed
Steps which led to the room where tile Frotestants
had gathered The latter had closed the door OF the
room and barrgaded 1t with their Bbic stand and q
large number Of chairs. When the mob found the
door closed and secured against them one OF their
number fired pistol saot through It, Thon panel
was broken open in It and Wei dressed person put
through IL ana asked tue IN TIE room 10
open the door, telling them that he public oi-
Ger and would guarantee their lives. Ponce de Leon,
the hero OF the defence hen suddenly opened It ana
stood before the infunated. armed mob which had
gathered before the door and which now presented
tneir knives at him, and, with q Chrisan courage
which awed them, addressed them, saying. III you
want 10 Kill me Tor preaching tho CosIe here am,
Tor shall always do II a. long a5 ! live" telling
them that they were deceived and mistaken that he
simply preached Christ. For about five minutes
rhey listened to the brave old man VINO with the
courage Of SAINT Paul preached TO them the same
Jesus tnat PAM preached and loved.
As soon as he ceased speaking they snatchcd up q
Bible which they found ~ tne room and commenced
TO tear II to pieces. Ponce de Leon eXpostuiated
WITH them for go doing begging them not 10 tear the
Word OF Cot Fart OF the mob had already got INTO
neighboring room, and. rausarkng IT, stole sixty
dollars and some clothing Several boxes OF Bibles
which they also founn there were opened the Riblcs
taken into the street part OF these were burned and
oshers were stolen. Solno evangelical tracts and
books shared Ike iste One OF the mob, a wei
dressed and educated person, named uriarte, the
saine VINO lad pretended TO be the authority took
Ponce de Leon by the arm and told him that he vas
going TO take hun TO the Bishops palace. Az be was
taking ionce DC Leon along the passageway toward
Ie cNultant and cxpectant MOB without, Uriarte
Fnniy shoutcl to them that he would soon have
Iohce III the street. They were, however, too
impatient u wait. and cast a shower
OF stones win the Intention OF hitting Ponce de Leon
out Whlc not stone struck Ponce UriarLc was MI
avn very nnac nva't "a ana arge one, which struck him
speed ran pdck a0ng the passageway but was met
On e,ls aLelsD ~ tnc KNIVES OF the mob who had Just
and struck him on the head with q brIck Tbis pro-
iestant with the blood streaming from his head
escaped, pursued by man with pistol in hls hand
through the vestry room INTO the chapel ana was
thcrc trying 70 dodge his pur3ier az Ponce without
knowing that they were there was rushing into tho
clapei. Tue moment the man with the pistol slw
Ponce be turned towards him and fred but although
close 20 MN missed MS am. Ponce ana MS Protest-
ant Hiend then daitcd across the chapel, up the
stairs To the choir, and through window on the
chapel roof.
lne crowd had gathered outside ike ants and had
pul laudeis against the chapel walls ana see aeu TO
h1se neihme1 Tue lrpicstants IN; but Ponce and
fend made desperate leap on 10 q neighborinQ
fJui and over rouis and walls escaped. or the two
1fo'ts'anls VINO remained behind one was awiuily
stoned afl tue other was desperately beaten hut
rescued by tue police whO az last came 60 their aii
Wln LOOK some OF the mob prisoners. Tnc city was
Intensely excited. Tue CRY Of the mob was 'Death
20 Tue Ir0lcstanlS and death to the liberal govern.
mcnt Which toicratc5 the mn In answer 10 some or
thcse SHOUTS the guard IN the evening shot a man
eead. Ponce dc Leon. who was the prominent and
marked man that the mob wanted 10 nave Killed.
escaped unnugt. Uriarte who had Intended IA leod