The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-13
The Origin and Secret History Of
the Great Revolution.
The Question Of the iona Libre-Sketch Of Gen.
eral Trevino-How He Came to Rsvolt-The
Intrlgues Of Juarez-The Real Cause
Of The Defeat of Zccatecas-
The Inoapacily OF Diaz
Determination Of the Revolutionists to
Fight to the Bitter End

i Though the revolution in Mexico still exlstS-a
| power Tor good or evil as Judged by It's adherents
or opposers-yet recent events have deprived 10 OF
that cohesion which made 1t formidable and likely to
cause speedy overthrow to the Juarez govern
menr. Present appearances indicate that 1t Will
continue, In some shape, for an indefinite period
| Yet the time ana situation seem 0pportune for
/ placing before the readers or the HERALD the
secret history OF Its Imitation the bases upon which
anhclpations OF success originally vested and the
| causes or failure.
| The ostensble and, doubtless, real base OF the
revolution is opposition 10 the further continuance
| in power OF President Juarez, who has held the
| rens OF government for more than fourteen years,
and Who his enemies claim, asplres TO do so for
| life. The Plan de La Nora, which embodies the
| sentiments and designs OF the revolu tlonists.
contemplates little beyond his overthrow and an
| amendment TO the constitution Of 1857, pro-
hDitng the reelection Of prominent officers, both
| State and national. While this feeling or Oppos
lon TO the Juarez government might, and doubtless
would, have resulted IN revolution IN any case, that
which exists In It's present form had its initiation
from quite another source Curiously enough, 1t
found Its origin and support In Il Q IONA libre or
free z0ne established along this border. which, IN
response TO the representations Of the United States,
the Juarez administration endeavored to abolish,
but which was not only continued but extended by
OF the HERALD,
THIS FREE ZONE
Is narrow belt OF land extending from the mouth
Of the Rio Grande to Pedras Negras into which all
goods are admitted free or duty, the usual duties
being exactcd when such goods pass out from the
IONA liDre into the interior. Along this line the
government had established o strong revenue
guard well organized under competent leaders,
mounted and armed, known as the Resguardia Its
tbn
Cling from the border, ana not only this, but to
making certain satisfactory arrangements with
dishonest officials, as had been the custom
with merchants for SO long time, that they con-
sldered they had a prescriptive right thereto.
Nevertheless, the right OF the government to protect
Its revenues Is 80 plain That no fault would have
been found mad an equal degree OF vigilance been
manifested throughout the republic Unfortunately
other avenues Tor smuggling and making ''satisfac-
tory arrangements' were left open, and the mer.
chants OF the northern frontier, who were com.
pened TO pay full duties found themselves unable to
compete with those who introduce their goods at
other points ana TO better advantage. Their mer-
chandlse remained on their shelves and In their
warehouses until ruin stared them In the face. In
the absence OF any regular system OF taxation the
Mexican authorities depend principally on the
commerce for their revenues, and Its influence Is
correspondngly great Among the cities which
suffered most from the establishment OF the kes-
guardia was Monterey, the capital OF Nuevo Leon,
whose headquarters II was. The Governor OF the
State was
GENERAL GERONIMO TREvINO,
an ofYlccr who had gained great reputation during
the Intervention as a cavalry leader-aa honest
man, but little up In state craft or IN the intrlgues
for which Mexicans are celebrated. In Mexico it
IL considered the only remedy for injury lies in
revolution. and Treviho was constantly beseiged
by merchants representing the situation as ruinous
TO them, their inability 10 PAY anything toward the
support OF his government and urging him to pro-
nounce, abolish the Resguardia and open the way
for the Introduction OF goods upon equal terms
with the merchants elsewhere In the summer OF
1871 he exclaimed TO q friend "Ihese merchants
are driving me into revolution TrevinO was an
intimate friend and ardent supporter OF Pornro
Dmz, ana the leading Pornristas throughout the
republic knowing the discomfort upon the frontier,
the character OF the man, his honesty OF purpose.
remedy Tor evils and his capacity as fighter,
opened correspondence with hun, urging hun to
promising HIM ample support, The Governors OF
eight States whose names | am at present pro.
letters promising to throw their respective States
into any movement he might initiate, and DlaZ
himself urged him TO action and promised TO revo.
lutlonzc the whole South OF Mexico Immediately
after. TO Irevino, thus supported,
THE OVERTHROW OF JUAREz
and the consequent remedy for the evils OF which
his people complained, seemed the easiest OF accom-
plisnment The arrangement was for him to pro.
nounce on the 2,tn OF September the anniversary or
the entry OF lturDide into Mexico and vi the con-
firmati0n OF Mexican independence, the others,
GLIDING the eight Governors, to follow on the iOth
OF october. lie pronounced accordingly. His irst
act was To abolish the Resxuardla the officers and
men OF which were arrested. he then set about the
organization and equipment OF troops and making
preparations for an attack on SaIo, the capital or
Coanulla which place, after short siege. he took
by assault on the TIN OF November The capture VI
this place was q necessity, AZ the Juarista force
stationed there was constant menace TO Monterey.
Meanwhile Juarez, through his spies, winch are
everywhere, learned OF The intention, OF the disaI
fec,ed Governors, and by the movements OF MS
troops prevented their acting Dlaz pronounced,
and issued the Plan de la Aorid, which proposes,
after the triumph of the revolution, the APP
sentatives who SHAH name President and
submit certain OF the constitution TO the people.
the Lerdistas.as the supporters OF Lerdo are
caed-wltn EscoDedo al their mead, claiming To
represent force OF 1900 men, arrived IN Monterey
OF forces TO accomplish the overthrow oi Juarez
and then to permit the operation OF that clause IN
the constitution which elevates the Cuief justice To
the chief magistracy In case OF vacancy. TINS
WOULD HAVE MADE LRRDo PRESIDENT.
Pending the consideration OF TINS proposition din
ner was gwen, at which all the prominent revolu-
tonary leaders were present. Here Escobedo was
toasted, with some remarks referring TO ms great
TO this Grlnao Paz the political secretary Of
Pedro Martinez and writer OF some celebrity, re-
sponded. stating there nothing great INN ex.
hun IN the presence or the commissioners.
The latter naturally became dsgustcd aud,
seeing chance for an arrangement retired.
The revouonists were at the time drunk with
enthusiasm, and Considered themselves strong
enough 10 beat the Juarlstas and Lerdistas com
blued. Their contempuous treatment o the coin
missioner and his proposition was an act or great
1ooshness, as II made MANY prominent and innu-
eutta opposers OF Juarez Ills passive II not actiye
supporters. Al first the Juarez government showed
little energy III the field, permitting the revolution
lists to proceed with so little opposition from lts
military operations as to give color to the idea that
II was rather encouraging 1t until the usual ana
Inevitable extraordinary faculties" were granted
by Congress. Juarcz was, however, by no means
lille In Intrigue, and lie so managed rs to prevent
the disafiected Governors Tor The most part, pro-
nouncing against MIN, and made some OF them his
ardent sup, 0rlers. The course or these Governors
has naturally excited mucn Indignation against
them ana their letters neld, and VIII be made
pubic AT the proper time.
At THE OUTSET
IL was INTENDED, following Inc fall OF Satllo, TO
marcn large iorce 10 tue RIO Grande aud take
possession OF all the cities OF the border thus carry
ing out The wishes OF the merchants who bad CON
tribued Literally to the movement, and obtaining