Middletown transcript., 1872-04-20
MeYics.

blo COndIet0u OF McxtcO-a country once
20 prosperous exciting the solicitous
attention Of statesmen aud philanthropists.
. brief sllusion to her history aud rcsour-
ccs may not be inappropriate. Her his
tory seems highly colorcd fictitious mar
rativc, rather than sober, truthful record
Of events; presenting y series Of vicissi-
tudcs without u parallel in the history OF
the past. From about the year l2O0--,he
period when the Astecs. or Mcxicans prop
er. acquired possession Of the country
until the middle Of the fifteenth century,
an uninterrupted warfare wss wsged be.
tween them aud ncighhcring peoples.
When hostilitics ceased. they had secured
u domain whose area measured ,600,3l7
square miles.
Then commenced . period Of almost
uninterrupted prosperity. Agriculture was
encouraged; manufactures were establish
ed /; communication between the rcnotcst
portions Of the country was maintained !;
wise and wholesome internal regulations
were adopted. and government inanga-
rated whose code. Mr. Prescott states.
cvinccd n profound respect for the grca,
principles Of morality. and Ms clear n per-
ception Of those principles as is to be
found among the most cultivated nations.
But. the glory and magnidccncc Of the
splendid empire they had erected uron
the ruins Of other dynas,ics. was des-
tined to be crushed by the ambition and
cupidiiy uf the Spaniard.
In 1918. a Spanish squadron discovered
Mexico and soon after. Cortcz entered
upon that brilliant but mcrciless crusade
which rcsul,cd in its complete sublngaiion
From 1888 to 1903. Mexico was held in
subsection by Spain, and ruled by vice
roys Of her appointment. Then commen.
ced rcvolis and insurrcotions, with vary
ing success. until, in 1924. Republic
was proclaimed, aud constitution. simi.
lar 10 that Of the United States, adopted
From that time until ~ present mumcn,
with brief intervals, this Inflated land ha,
been the bloody theatre of anarchy and
misrulc. Her agricultural and mineral
resources have been largely diminished
her commerce paralyzcd, in consequence
of the Instability and insecurity Of hcr
government the most fragrant abuses o
person mud property have passed uncor
rectcd mcrciless bandits aud vindic,iv,
gucrrillas have pcrpctra,cd acts Of vandal
ism and violence almost unrcbukcl. and
have rcamcd her territory with impunity
/ in word, there scarce remains sem
/ blancc of order and established government
/ Mexico possesses Il climate uucxccllcd
by any other ON the globe. including boil
the temperate and the torrid zones; ans
! her products embrace the growths Of Ia,
+ frozen climcs Of the North, as well rs ihosi
Of the burning skies Of Asia and Africa
Although her developed wealth consist
mainly in the produc; Of her mines q
gold. silver aud copper, her soil, with tbs
exception Of small districts, is oxuberanil,
fertile, and. owing to the variety of he
climate. there is scarcely known produc
/ waich cannot be grown within the ,eritoii
al limits In some localities all the spe
cies Of oak. ches,nu, aud pine trees. ais
logwood aud mahogany, grow tpontane
ously; in others, n great variety OF dye
woods, medicinal plants. and trees from
which the mes, valuabl gums are pro
duccd. are found in great abundance. TIL
agricultural products embrace nnt onl,
every variety necessary for the c9n.nmp
ton Of the inhabitants, but the mo-, i'm
portant articles of commerce Amonl
these may be mentioned wheat, maize
beans, barley, rice, potatoes, peas, sugar
cocoa, coffee, cotton, tobacco. pepper
aasc, vanilla, sarsaparilla, anl all DIES
crip,ious Of fruits and r,iculural pro
duc,ions; also indigo, cochiueal, teas an
silk Vast herds Of wild cattle and shcc
roam the plains nna mountains; hprscs
asses md mules abound in an unanm".'i
Gated s,aic. aud numerous tor,i>a.s' i VI
pearl fisheries yield rich returns
|, is to be deeply deplored ,ha' coun
try so richly gifted with every ma,crip
element Of greatness, aud every natura
facility for the ace IN plishmcnt Of n glori
GUS destiny. should be the prey Of iu,c.
tine wars and instructions. which period
ically decimate her population and bank
rupt her national treasury.