New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-30
MEXICO IN DANGER OF A RELAPSE

MEXICO IN DANGER OF A RELAPSE.
Mexico gives sign of again relapsine
into that revolutionary condition which
afflicted her before the interposition Of
France in her affairs. After the war OF
independence was won, the Mexicans
essayed every shape of government known
to modern politics. She became a re-
public, an empire, confederation, a
dictatorship, and was all the while a
mere creature of the military and the
priesthood. Whatever she pretended to
be, of one thing the observer might be
certain, that she was the caprice of the
soldiers and the clergy. That is, the
physical government of the State was in
the hands of those who held theNsword,
while the moral government was held by
those who carried the missal. The one
squandered the money of the treasury
upon the army, and the other absorbed
the property of the nation in the patri-
mony of st. Peter. The nation was
reduced to bankruptcy, while the Church
counted its wealth at three hundred
millions Of dollars. AS all of this
vast property was not only exempt
from taxation, but was in truth burden
upon the people which they had to sup
port, the yearly increased expenditures
of the government were constantly being
narrowed down to smaller circle of tax
payers. And as the Church discounte-
nanced solid education and demoralized
the people by allowing them a multipli-
city of holidays which were accompanied
by amusements of the grossest and some
times of the cruelest nature, the condi-
ton of Mexico fell into chronic disorder.
Military men pursued ambition without
receiving any suggestion from the moral
guides of the country that they were
wrong. Whosoever could muster an
army esteemed himself worthy to be the
ruler of the nation, until, in 1857, an i'll
shaped gambler, named Zuloaga, won
the position which ought at all times to
be the property of the best citizen in the
State. The army which won the war of
independence may be said to have been
the main instrument of Mexican degra-
dalton, for, after it laid aside the weapons
of patriotic contest, it put on the habits
of a master. The sword which had
saved turned its edge to enslave the coun-
try it had rescued from Spanish domino
ton to its own good pleasure. And when
the army could not agree as to the favor
lite of the hour, then rival factions abused
the peace they were paid to-preserve
by fighting each other as to which should
nominate the master of the people.
That Mexico appreciated her position
is plainly evident by the events which
in limiting the army and in
confscating the immense estates of the |
Church. These were the conflicting |
principles which distracted Mexico in the |
contest between Comonfort and Miramon. |
The former represented the liberal senti-
ment OF the country, while the latter held |
20 the military and the Church Up to
he time of this distinctive difference
Mexico had never had good sound cause
If political distraction to relieve her from
he constantly recurring disputes about
interests; but the instant this
iaring sentiment separated the country,
here came a disposition to consolidate
he partisans of both sides into compact
masses under accepted leaders. The
LIBERALS chose Comonfort, but as he weak
ned, they were forced to accept of
uachiteco Indian named Juarez He
as in the direct line of succession to the
in the event of a vacancy, and
ne flight of Comonfort from the city of
1exico in 1856 left Juarez to be the
resident. French Intervention fol-
'wed. The Church and the army
ere both opposed to Juarez.
nd although the constitution un-
er which he took Office, and under {
hich he now holds the Office of Presi- !
ent, required an election to be held
very two years, Juarez is still ruler of I
[exico, having held an elective office for ]
'urteen years without once having been
turned to the same by the people.
larez owes his long continued liberation $
President to the fact that he embodied t
lie national impulse in opposing the d
hurch and in overthrowing the inter /
renee of France After the overthrow L
Macmillan Juarez was still further 3
tabled to continue his ascendency by
aiming, and being supported in the
aim, that as he had brought the coun-
y through her difficulties, and as the
gular election day had passed, it was t
lily proper that he should hold on to L
S office, in order to pacify and reorgan- Il
2 the State rights and liberties he had Ii
avely and wisely assisted to protect t
d restore. r
But now that four years have elapsed c
ice MaXimilian's overthrow, and since [
ere are other men who aspire to the '
esidency, Juarez has not only been tt
mpelled to order an election but he has G.
en- obligated to see his chances of being
osen to succeed himself fall away and o
ow weaker every day. He has no def b
.e rallying cry with which to attract s.
lowers. All the old slogans are worn +
t, Or are grown into contempt by being a