New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-14
CPJuE AND REVOLUTTON.

CEIuE 3ND hEpOLtIION'
The papers of the opposition in Mexico have
excited themselves over the so-called legal
assassination" of three men charged with the
not uncommon conspiracy TO rob a conducta
of silver and begin revolution. Out of nine
or ten soldiers found guilty of the plot these
three only were executed the rest were SEN
fenced to imprisonment for life-which act,
viewing the ruthless traditions Of Mexico,
might be looked upon as reasonable
exercise of forbearance. The opposition
at the capital fercely charge upon the Govern
ment that its three victims were not fairly
tried but how often has this been notably the
case in Mexican COURT Suspicion goes so
far as to hint that the inculpating papers
found on the persons of the condemned were
put there by guiltier persons in official life
for what reason it is impossible to fancy, I'M
less it be preposterOusly said that the con-
spiracy was party one, and that the Admin
istration fell short of proofs. Here we have,
however, case of the browning weakness of
Mexico, her judicial system.
This system has all the worst faults. II is
profoundly secret, it is dreadfully slow, it is
provokingly corrupt. Other Courts and lawyers
may be as bad as some of those in Mexico, but
they have not 80 much In their own hands. In
spite of the excellent project OF Minister Ma
riscal for judicial reform, we believe that the
Mexican Courts have no juries. Judge and
one or two lawyers are all that are necessary
to case. Plaintiffs may take their complaints
from Judge to Judge, and 80 enter upon
penal round of law the end of which it is diff
ficult to foresee The vilest criminal has been
L.
paro, which is equivalent to our right of ap-
peal save that it may be enjoyed with as
founding facility and before variety of Judges.
Now, if the opposition of Mexico were in
earnest, it would probably have attacked with
might and main the most infamous case of this
kind known to recent crime. Major Gen. Be-
nigno Canto, an officer of the Juarez Govern
ment, took out of his bed in August of last
year, at Durango, ex-Gov. PatOni late fellow
prisoner with 0rtega, and had him shot in
horrible way. He avowed, when at length pro-
voked to answer, that the Government had
given him reserved orders for the murder. His
known hostility to his victim, the Governments
indignant demand for immediate trial, and
the shame and mystery of the event, sup
pressed any instant charge of COM
plicity against the Government But now,
after repeated promises of trial, and after
lapse of year and month since Gen. Patoni
was assassnated, his murderer remains untried.
The Canto case has passed through an almost
incredible process of postponements. First he
was called to the capital to be elected from
his seat as q member of Congress; then he
consumed time in one of the Courts of the
capital, marrying meanwhile; next he appeared
in Durango, where he declined the ordinary
jurisdiction, and appealed to a superior Court,
which annulled the jurisdiction of a lower
one and ordered that he be subjected to mill
tary authority then military tribunal took
charge of him, but, subsequently declaring
him incompetent. the affair passed to the iuris.