The New York herald., 1873-10-15

i Church and state In Mexico--A Radi-
cal and Wonderful Revolution
Effected.
From the city OF Mexico, via Matamoros,
October IA, we have a special HERALD
despatch, which informs us that the revolu-
tionary movement in Sonora against the
State government will soon be suppressed by
the federal arms; that Congress has adopted
and solemnized the laws Of reform; that the
members have taken the oath in accordance
Herewith, and that the decree against the
clergy living in community is to be carried
into effect. But what are these laws of re-
fern and this decree against the clergy? We
have the answer in despatch from the
city of Mexico, dated October 2, from
which it appears that these reforms constitute
one of the most radical, remarkable and Won
derful revolutions in the history of Church
and State since 1889, that memorable year of
the Notwithstanding upheaval of France by her
enraged people and of the Inauguration of
our first President Washington, under the
constitution of the United States The Con-
gress of Mexico has decreed the following ad-
ditions or amendments to the constitution Of
the Republic:-
/. The Church and State are to be separate.
| . Congress cannot make laws prohibiting or
establishing any religion.
g. Matrimony is to be q civil contract.
4. Religious institutions cannot possess prop
| erty.
| 5. simple promise to speak the truth comply
| ing with obligations contracted, with penalties in
case OF violation, is substituted for the religious
| OATH
8. Nobody Is obliged to give his or her services
without just compensation.
!. No contract is to be permitted which aims at
the sacrifice OF the liberty OF man in the matter Of
work, education and religious VOWS. The laws
thus do not recognize monastic orders, nor permit
their establishment by any denomin alton or under
any pretence)
s. And no contract VIII be allowed to be made
among persons consenting to their own proscrip-
tt0n or banishment.
These constitutional provisions, it will be
perceived mark the completion of one of the
most radical and comprehensive governmental
revolutions in the history Of modern nations.
These radical changes in the Mexican govern
ment, however, are not the work of yesterday.
Step by step they have been reached, through
fifty years of revolutions and revolutionary
factions, and foreign wars and foreign occu-
pations. First, after the proclamation of
Mexican independence, monarchical govern
ment was established 1822) under the unfor-
tunate Iturbide, as Augustin L Next 1S24)
a federal republican government, upon the
model of that Of the United States, with some
important exceptions was adopted embrac-
ing the independence of Mexico, the .mainten-
ance of the State Church (the Roman Catho-
lc), the abolition of slavery and all distinc-
| tions of caste. Under three hundred years Of
! Spanish monarchical rule the Church in
Mexico had become exceedingly rich and
powerful, and in the establishment of the Re
public it was maintained as the exclusive re-
ligion of the State, mainly in considera-
ton of the active share which the
clergy had all along taken in the
revolution. But from that point down
to the French invasion, armed occupation and
imperial protectorate in the name of Maxi
milan, the history of Mexico excepting the
lucid interval of her war with the United
States) is that of O continuous state of civil
war, revolutions and anarchy. Nevertheless,
from one encroachment upon the Church to
another from forced loans to confscations,
from regulations to prescriptions, and notably
under the radical republican administration
of Juarez, Mexico, step by step, was prepared
for these decisive constitutional advances Of
1873. Against Juarez Maximilian, as the
champion of the clergy, doubtless contributed
much to ALLEVIATE the Mexican people from
their Church and to open the way for these
sweeping constitutional changes under Presi-
dent Lerdo. Clearly, SO far, has Lerdo
proved himself master of the situation, in his
suppression of the revolutionary chiefs and
factions attempting his expulsion, and in the
unexampled state Of internal pea. iich now
prevails in Mexico; and no doo.~. ae is con-
fident Of the popular support il maintaining
and enforcing the constitution of the country
as just decreed by its Congress.
On the other hand, it appears that the
clergy are not disposed quietly to submit to
these destructive aggressions upon their
ancient rights and privileges They are but
human, and reduced to the last extremity of
submission, they naturally resist, although to
the spectator their resistance may appear as
vain and futile as that Of blind man beating
about in the empty air. In any event, it ap-
pears that ''the priests of the Church of st.
Loretto and all parishes have excommunicated
all persons recognizing the constitution and
the reforms inaugurated by the government"
which reduces the issue with the individual to
choice between the Church and the State
In behalf of the State the President had issued
decree the day following the publication in
each locality Of the amendments to the con-
stitution produced on the 25th ult., command
ing all functionaries and employees of the Re-
public of whatever order or class, to affirm,