Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-30
A RUINED REPUBLIC.
Sad Picture OF Ihe InGernaI Condition
of Mckee

o~PN BtSeuAC VI Q
ruined republic:
Letters from all parts of the re-
public present sad picture of the
rapid diminution of commerce and
of the Generalization of the indus
trial enterprises of the country. A
conviction seems to be creeping into
the minds of many intelligent per.
sons in various sections that the
public men of Mexico are unequal to
the situation. Complaints come in
that, in the administration of the
government, in legislation and in the
Judiciary, there is a marked want OF
ability, either in wisdom or will, re-
quisite to the age and the necessi.
ties of the country. Whilst we do
not concur with all that our CORES
pondents assert, we feel the truth of
much of what they say, but we do
not trace the condition of the coun-
try to the same causes. We do not
think there is either lacking of
wisdom or will on the part of the
authorities, but we think that too
much of the time and the brain
power of the government, in all of
its branches, are consumed in form
and trivial details. The legislative
department = Congress has been
with but short intervals in perpetual
session since the restoration of the
republic, and what has been the result
of its labors2 What great measures
of Improvement or reform have been
enacted? What enterprises have
sprung into life, as a consequence
of its legislation What life has it
legislated into commerce How
much confidence has it given to the
industries of the country? We ask
these questions notin spirit of trium-
plant controversy, but in sadness,
shaded with lingering hopefulness.
The people have made great sacri-
fees to restore the republic to place
the power of the country into the
hands of their representatives under
the long cherished hope that they
would, in their wisdom and p atriot-
ism, lead the country ont of its
poverty and miserable condition to
a state of prosperity. They have
been sadly disappointed. No new
channels of commerce have been
confidence and security
have been decreasing, notwithstand-
ing the success of the Executive in
the country. Congress
has consumed the time and
money of the people in
factious squabbles, and round
turned but profitless speeches.
Numerous projects for railroads and
steamship lines have been proposed
by public spirited individuals, but as
most of them were the propositions
of foreigners, the prejudice of mem
bers-becoming only the civilization
and intelligence of the twelfth cen
tury-haye prevented the adoption
of but few; and these in such par
simonious and jealous terms, that
the concessions are hardly practica-
bic. Its work has generally been so
vague and imperfect in its de
tails, that the responsibility of leg
islation has, to a great extent, been
thrown upon the Ministry, in carry
ing out its enactments, to the great
detriment of the public interest.
The attention of the Executive
seems to be too much occupied in
the details of office, which should be
performed by subordinates. Our
correspondents exclaim that the Ex-
ecutive cannot rise to the import
ance of grave matters of subjects
that patriotic statesmen delight to
We do not indorse this
but we think that the amount
of red-tapeism hangs like an ineu-
bus upon the government, and pre-
sents stumbling blocks to all of its
good intentions. The operations of
the government seem to lay open
too much to intrigue there is an
amount of circumlocu-
ton in the routine of the bureaus;
and the dispatch of public business
depends too much upon the good
will of suberdinates. Instead ofthe
consideration of foreign policy or
measures of Importance be-
ing the subjects of deliberation in
the daily councils of the ministry,
the most trifing and subordinate
matters absorb their attention. Sub
jects that ought to be left to the con-
troll of the minister of each depart
ment are constantly being legislated
upon by the whole In all this we
award the will and honesty of in
tention of the government; but we
must insist that it is unwise and
highly inexpedient, in government
that wishes to catch up to, and travel
over the space between Mexico and
other nations. BY this mode of ad
ministering the affairs of the repub-
lie, the labors of the ministers are
daily increasing, whilst substantial
results are in the same ratio dimin-
ishing. 1t is impossible, under such
circumstances, that the great and
useful measures requisite to the
times can be duly considered, or that
the unhappy condition ofthe country
can be fully appreciated. We have
with an mfaltering confidence be-
heved that the good day coming
of Mexico's propriety was near at
hand, and we have in the most con-
fident terms expressed the faith
that was in us. We confess that
our heart begins to sicken at the
procrastination of the anticipated
happy day of prosperity. We are
with grieYous disappoint-
ment. The obstacles that we first
saWin the way, and to which We of
ten referred, have been, to a great
extent, removed, or, at least, they no
longer present formidable opposi-
ton The revolutions have subsid-
ed; prONuRcidmentOS have played
out and It's the boast of the gov
eminent that it has pacified the
country. These elements, so detri-
mental to Improvement, being re-
moved, the government can have no
possible apology before the world
nor to the Mexican people for con
tinuance ofthis depressedc onditiono
Of the industries of the country. The
republic is in more peaceable eondi-