The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-10-19

proper and safe party to issue it. is
question which we will consider when it
comes fairly before us.
Progress OF Popular Rights In NJ ex,co.
Our neighbor, the State Of Mexico,
under her new President, Lerdo. has
apparently relinquished the habit OF
revolution. and is settling herself down
in peace to reap the harvest of the spi-
rit OF enlightened progress which has
been threading its way half century
through civil wars, the strife of factions
and the clash of principle7. It was
good omen that the President sought at
the outset OF his administration to win
the people to peaceful pursuits, to open
lines OF railway. develop the commerce
and trade OF the country and secure the
popular, liberty on broad and i'm
movable basis. We have watched his
course with interest from the start, and
have found it to be that OF nm enlight-
ened, moderate, and firm Statesman.
He has succeeded very we'll in repress-
ing every attempted outbreak. in con-
oiliating old rival chieitains, and in
pointing the way to q better national life
than that of chronic convulsion. BE
has secured avery extraordinary and
unexpected state Of internal peace, and
OF agreeable external relations. He is
in strong position. both to introduce
and maintain useful reforms. The revo.
ilntionary movement in Sonora against
the State Government will soon be sup
pressed by the Federal arms. Congress
has adopted certain laws Of reform, and
the members have taken an oath in ac-
cordance Herewith. These measures
constitute thorough and wonderful
revolution in the history OF church and
State. The constitution OF the republic
has a... been amended s by the following ad'
l. The church and State are to be
2. Co6gress cannot mako laws prohi-
biting ore establishing any religion.
3. Matrimony is to he civil con-
,tract. $780,.
4. Religious institutions cannot pos
sess property.
s. A simple promise to speak the
truth, complying with obligations con.
tracted, with penalties in case of viola
ton, is substituted for the religious
oath.
6. Nobody is obliged to give his or
her services without just compensation.
z. No CONTRACT ia to be permitted
which aims at the sacrifice of the liberty
of man in the matter of work, educa.
ton and religious VOWS. (The laws thus
do not recognize monastic orders, nor
permit their establishment by any do.
nomination or under any pretence.)
8. And no contract will be allowed to
be made among persons consenting to
their own prescription or banishment.
On the day following the adoption of
these amendments, the President, in
behalf the State, issued decree, COM
manding all public functionaries to
affirm the reforms without reservation,
and to regard and have tbem regarded,
or leave the service. In addition, the
Jesuits have been ordered ont Of the
country. These are no common events,
and if they pass unohallenged; and be-
come fully of force, will amount to a
quiet but complete OWL revolution,
affecting both church and state. This
is most extraordinary occurrence to
have taken place in Mexico. It is, as
the New York Herald, from whose spe.
cial dispatches we CLEAN the intelligence,
one OF the most remarkable facts in the
history OF modern nations and their
vioissitudes. that the most radical 20.
vernmental changes from the "divine
rights Of kings" to the divine rights of
the people. have been made in the most
radically Roman Catholic countries,
such as Austria, Italy, France, Spain
and Mexico. and since the dissolution
of the Eoumenioal Council at Rome.
Mexico is to be congratulated that the
era OF liberal principles, of popular
liberty, of freedom from caste and Of