The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-27

unPPy region, Wner0 tno OrO"n UesutAop 30
glowingly described invite the wanderer 10 q
new if somewhat warm elysium.
Mexieo-The Death Of President Juarsz-
The End or the Late Revolutasnsry
Movements, bat What Ncxts
The death Of President Jaurez is an event
of the greatest moment TO the Mexican people,
both in regard to their domestic affairs and
their foreign relations and especially as
touching their relations with the United
States. For q period of fourteen years-a
period of incessant wars against internal
revolutionary factions or foreign invaders and
usurpers-this remarkable man, Juarez, MAIN
tanned his position as President Of MEXICO
the most extraordinary fact in the history
of this most turbulent and revolutionary Of
all the turbulent Spanish American republics.
This long continuous administration Of four
teen years, which, for Mexico. would be
remarkable under any circumstances, has
from the overthrow by Juarez Of the
Church party as the supreme political power
in the State; secondly from his successful
patriotic war against the French armed occu-
patton and imperial protectorate under Maxi
milan; and lastly, from the suppression of
all the numerous revolutionary attempts which
have followed the death of Macmillan, for the
expulsion of Juarez from the government.
We may here not unprohtably reproduce
some Of the leading facts in the eventful
career Of this extraordinary Mexican of
the Aztec race. In 1868 there was mill
tary outbreak in the City of Mexico, instigated
by the Church party. against the constitutional
authorities. President Comonfort. in this crisis
proving faithless in attempting dictatorship,
was driven from the country, and for some
time, like so many other exiled rulers. lived
the life of philosopher in New York Juarez,
Vice President at that time, thus became Pres
ident, and in this capacity from Queretaro he
issued a strong pronunciamento against the
Church party, and the war commenced in ear
nest between this powerful party and this bold
reformer. Driven from point to point he was at
length at Vera Cruz, in April, 1859, acknowl-
edged by the United States as the lawful head
of the Mexican government; and then and
there. July, 1859, he issued his programme Of
reform, embracing religious liberty, indepen-
dence between Church and State. the legality
of civil marriages, the oonfscation of the real
estate of the Church as national property, and
directing it's sale and the suppression of con-
ventional establishments throughout the re-
public. After sanguinary civil war of three
years Juarez, with the destruction of the army
of Miramon, came off the conqueror, and his
proposed reforms were put into practice.
But the defeated Church party, in the
enormous properties and powers which had
been held and which might be reclaimed by
them, had too much at stake to give up the
contest in this fashion. Driven to the despe-
rate extremity, they did not hesitate to invite
foreign intervention; and it came with that
French invasion and armed occupation which
eliminated in the setting up of Macmillan as
Emperor of Mexico, 'by the will Of the peo-
ple," under the projection of the Emperor
Napoleon and the army Of Marshal Bazaine.
The time was favorable for this daring
Napoleonic idea. The United States could
give no material aid to Juarez. They, ut
home, were engaged in struggle of life or
death with gigantic rebellion, and Napoleon
was satisfied that the issue Of this struggle
would give him the convenient ally of an in
dependent Southern confederacy. Juarez, by
Bazaine, was driven to tho northern frontier
of Mexico; but still the tenacious Indian
maintained his rights as head Of the State,
and faithfully in this capacity was Juarez sup
ported to the end by President Lincoln g
Secretary of State, Mr.. Seward. At length,
with the beginning Of the end Of our Southern
confoderacy. Napoleon, convinced that his
Mexican adventure was q bad investment,
abandoned it, withdrew his protecting army
and left poor Macmillan to his fate.
With more courage than discretion Maxi.
milan, relying upon his Mexican adherents,
resolved to fight it out with Juarez. He was
invested in that very Queretaro where Juarez
set forth upon his successful career; he was
betrayed, he was captured, and he was exc
cuted. This execution was the act of Juarez;
and, while he could justify it under the laws
Of Mexico, he would have acted more wisely
had he listened to the appeal of Mr.. Seward
and spared the life of the brave but misguided
Macmillan. Nothing was gained by his exc