New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-22
MEXICO.


gan with the Inauguration OF Lorlo. and continued
through the opening OF the Vera Cruz RAILWAY have no.
then, instead OF diminishing increased Tais continual
feastng in which President Lerd0 participates upon all
occasions exercised upon tho public mini such an
effect that complaints coming up from almost every
point in the Republic Many Of those who 5anguins
OF the future and entertained high hopes Of Ledo ad
mni5traton, expressing disappointment and dssat
isfaction those who opposed 10 him. bnt by
tho suddenness Of the crisis hat time % pressnta
candidate with favorable prospects Of election ars
ayang themselves Of Lerdos inactivity 50 as 10 organ.
lie for an early opposition which probably may begin
In May next. Again, the revolutionary element, which
Is always large and ready when an available Oppor
tunty Offers busy stirring up Discussions In psrticu
lar localities Thus It will be that notwithstanding
President Lerdo's reputation for sbrewdness poht
cian either By his love OF pleasure and Incidence. o.
that he has been oyerrated no Ii fast losing n no has
not already lost tho prestige which accompanied him
into the Presidential chair. While nothing "a yet haa
occurred OF startling character sufficient known 70
excite the greatest alarm. great cloud Of dangers
rising upon the horizon. differing TO some extent from
the past troubles Of this country but which, II il de-
yelops 20 its legitimate proportions, will be most fatal 70
society and destructive OF property
The number the variety, and vast dimensions OF these
festivities are worthy OF notice 10 this letter To eass
Of every conceivable namo and professed obect-Ds-
jeuners Anuer=as, B0nqistes. B1ics, and Tapairfas
in public places and in private mansions the President
his Cabinet, and many Of the high officials OF the de-
partments been invited from day 70 day. % thu
neglect Of public business tho disa;isacon Of IA
thousands OF individuals who (beslege the palace on
affairs OF business. Almost dniy tho anter0ODs Of the
PRESIDE. and Minister'S cleared cut an hour after
they are opened by tho announcement that tho chief
whom the people sought TO visit going 20 Senior Cas-
teo's tqmqlqda or to the banquee at the Tioi de
OosinG. Every ludicrous class OF carlcaturo OF Mr.
Lerdo appear the papers, aud illusions IN prose aud
poetry directed at him, who Is termed tho ostyo
President" During the last week there was feast
every day, nearly every OF which Mr.. LerdO at
tended. The last Saturday night, and tho
most magnificent in style and munihcence Of all Il
a TImaladG and Bale at the pa!atal residence In tho
village OF TOcabago, OF Senior Antonio E5candon one Of
the weathest and the most enterprsing OF all Mexican
citizens. II the most magnificent feast that was
ever witnessed in Mexico, and 1t has seldom boen
equaled in the United States. Mr.. Escandons Tdrna
ldda a private one in private mansion
There present over 1000 persons 400 Of whom wers
the most elegantly dressed ladies in Mexican society
There 400 tho supper table and all the
tables most boundfuly supplied This palace with
It's countless and spacious rooms halls, and corridors.
was most brilliantly Illuminated by chandeliers aud
sideght there were 5000 lights IN the house and
oyer 1900 in the grounds Tho housetop. tuTre"' pod
ticos and front were blaze OF light, and presented
with the grounds, most brilliant scene
In the midst Of all this gayey and seeming prosperity.
the political cankerworm is gnawing the yals OF the
nation While there are music and dancing in the capt
tai the countrys interests sinking lower and lower
Aside from the catng and dleness Of the Prcsient aud
his officials the political factions that are Organizing TO
oppose Lerdo in all his and the revolution
airy elements that becoming restless, there Is
a still greater evil pending This country - nearer 70
war of castles than is dreamed of by the generality 81 the
people it becomes general its features will DO marked
by erOcity and it will assume also the snaps OF tue
Commune; a war Of the poor against the rich, those
without property against tho prop 'rtyhodors. TINS
evil has been brewing for long while, and fast taking
shape No country no state OF society elsewhere Oues
such an occasion. Tho great contrast between the rich
and the poor the immense disparity Of numbers tho
hatreds and nl-feeinS3 that hayo 80 long been in
creasing. all contribute 10 th!s end. With tho
view of having a better I'm lcrstlnlns OF the social
condition, nero few facts derived f.Om an
authentic source. The hacenda5, landed estates vary
from 5000 to 10000 acres EACH some comprising as
much as 100 square miles; and many proprieOrs ova
two more haciendls. There are numerous ranches
varying from 0)to SOD acres mostly composed Of pasture
lands. The laborers yet called pc0HeS They form
ory belonged to the proprictors absolutely as tho
slaves Of Georgia did to their masters. The law has abo
ishcd the legal claim Of prOpretors but in their crcum-
the pcones st but little better than slaves
All the haccndadOs, and property holders in th' cities
do not exceed $1,000 IN number. and the ranches
not over 100 0Oj more There IT, then reglte Of $780,
Of the entire Republic Of McKee, for there are
few or no public lands save Oay in SuOl ini SOljra
This estimate exclusive Of the mines, which are only
owned while they are worked, and held mostly By
foreigners. Thus it will BE- that 10000 o. the popu
laton are the lords OF the soil. and tho other 6SG ara
mere scrfs petty tradmen and labor The lTOpre-
almost entirely descendants Of spaaaris-full
blood and mixed breed.
With few worthy exceptions. these prOpre'or3 arc
drOnes; they narr0w-nildel, selfish. and destitute
OF all enterprise and pubic sprt. They do nothing 70
improve their estates or to alleviate the miserable con-
dOn of tine hudioss class. tho a5Orcrs. The propr.
ofnr pI hv he
call themselves Aztecs. These becoming dlscon-
tented with their social situation; tboy regard the
present division and tenure Of property UNJUST they
say that the Indian the owner OF thess
lands, which taken by force and fraud. Why
not by force recover theml WITH these sentiments,
prompted partially by cupidty, they are organizing by
one common tc OF race; and they gin % icel tht
their brute strength VIII enabe them 20 overcome the
others, Notwithstanding the disadvantage Of wealth aud
intelligence against them. They hold communication
the State Of Guerrero. throughout tho Republic to
Chihuahua, stimulating each other as "Azoc orJthors
These social distinctions are all calcullted To promote
outbreak one race mDnop0z'S all the property iud
much of the intelligence Guforior As u Isl holding itsef
UNNECESSARILY superior 70 the other. The hatred
jealousy and cupidty OF the latter, with the ut;cr m
possibility OF inducing either to adopt course 81 coneA
atOU renders the conflict almost certain. The spanish
either too ignorant 10 comprehend tno suluO1'
too selfish 10 make any concessions toward lh'or(
ing tho condition of the Indian race. The slrcwdesE
observers in this Republic tho foreigners, who are,
with few exceptions engaged IN commerce. ana mians'
they the coming cloud and predict
All agree that nothing overcome tins ten
dency to anarchy but the early, prompt com
portion OF the Az,ccs, together with those
raEchcros and miners who deprecatc revolution also
see IN railroads the only salvation OF the country ron
the impending peril. The middle classes including the
merchants miners ana operators, IN town ant t1uhiy
munty, are clamOrOus against the Government tOrits
cans who are here to build railr6ods Thcsc pc pie ars
IN fact IN advance OF the so-cacd rung classer' ana
parts OF the Republic, from nearly every oae city ana
town, asking the President ana {frss 20 v, oS Nv