The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-02-15
T,reseut Conditiop Of Mexico.

The extended tour Of pleasure and OBJ
servatiOn made by Governor SewarGs
party through Mexico has served to bring
out some interesting facts pertaining to the
present condition of that country. They
naturally enjoyed unusual facilities for i'll
vestigatiOn, and one Of the party, Col.
Evans, of the Orrhind Monthly and AMa
Ctuit1rMiu, has crystalizHd these Obscrva-
lions in IL work on Mexico, which will
soon he published II would seem that
us much us we excel the McXicans in pro-
ductive industry, the mechanic arts, and
government, they excel us in architecture,
painting, md the ornamental arts. The
same absorption 0rvast landed estates by
the few, resulting in tho poverty Of the
great mass, which Prescott describes rs
characteristic of the Aztec scmi.civiliza-
ton three centuries ago, still prevails, and
results in the like oppressive chcapncss of
labor.
The Catholic Church las still strong
religious power. But asa political power
the Church itself has been conquered; its
lands, which once absorbed thrCc.iitlhs Of
the whole country, have been contlscatcd;
1t owns only its buildings for worship, and
n few of these arc given over by the autIo-
rites TO Protestant congregations, The
priests are forbidden TO appear in public
professions, and even to wear in the pub.
lie places their "ShOve hat" rs TINT por-
ton of the pricstly garb is styled. There
are about forty Protestant Churches in all
Mexico, Of which twCnty.three congrCga'
tons are in the City Of Mexico.
The press is free even to license. The
principles OF rcpublcanism,-Ercc speech,
free schools, and freedom Of religious
wOrship,-arc thoroughly engraned in the
minds of the people At these schools
they are also taught industrial arts and
trades. Parties divide nOminally into
Republicans and Radicals Though par.
ty feeling is strong. the issues are Hide.
fined, and lie chiefly between "ins" and
"Outs," though the questions Of State
rights, the iOrCiblc division Of the great
landed estates, tsomG Of which are ten
miles square and lcnantcd by thousands
OF inmiliesA general amnesty to the mon.
archists, and other questions Of general
importance, urc being agitatcd.
Mr.. Evans regards ,luarcz us the strong
est and ablest President Mexico eau hive,
hut very unpopular, owing 10 the chronic
restleSsnesS Of the people. He stands no
chance Of reelection ut the end Of his
term, which still runs iOrtwO years. Dia2
will probably be- his successor.
The wars and executions have SO thin.
ned out the men that the young women,
many Of whom are of GREAT beauty, have
hardly Il hope Of marrying. In this re-
spcct only does the country afford any
present inducements to Yankee immigri-
ton The agricultural md mineral re.
sources are unrivallCd by those Of any
part of the United States They can
raise all crops TINT We raise, ind all that
We cannot raise. but It is with great
difficulty the Congress Can be induced to
vote the revenue necessary to keep the
government in existence, and with equal
IL great difficulty that the revenues they
do vote can be collected in the present en-
hausted condition Of the people. In pro-
duCtivC industry Mexico is poorer than
ten years agO, but in the reforms she has
wrought In her institutions there is hope
Of u brighter day coming.