New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-30
A Bandit Statesman.
From the St. Louis Republican. J

A Bandit Statesman.
From the St. Louis Republican,
In Mexico for the last twenty-five years
there has always been a government IN op-
position to and often at war with the more
regularly constituted and generally recog-
nized power with its seat in the city of
Mexico. The territory over which the gov
eminent extends is geographically the can
ton of Topic, State of Jalisco, but under
the opposition government it is officially
STYLED the State of Nayarit. General Man
uel Lozada rules over it, and seems deter
mined to maintain himself and State. He
is a pure blooded Indian, and his lifelong
policy is that MeXicans should govern Mex
leo. He organized his State on this princI-
pie; he fought for this principle, and he
was outlawed for this principle. He has
never submitted TO any foreign yoke, and
has never really acknowledged any foreign
power as affecting his little empire. His
ideas of State are liberal and enlightened,
and he is generally known in Mexico as the
bandit statesman. He had deadly hatred
of Juarez, chiefly because Juarez, too, was
| a Mexican Indian, and proved treacherous
to his race by ignoring the principal above
mentioned as the basis of Lozada's State.
Between JUarez and LoZada there was once
a strife for power, and it was long uncer-
tain which would triumph. At length the
victory was given to Juarez, and LoZada
retired to his mountain Businesses with his
followers. He became dictator, and es-
tablished law and order.
While other portions of Mexico were in
a constant state of anarchy under Juarez
| the state of Sayarit had perfect peace.
Robberies and murders were the order of
the day, except in Lozadas' dOminions,
where the doors of the people were never
| locked. Whenever any one committed q
| theft. the retributIon was swift. 1t was
| and is the ambition Of Lozada to extend
| his power over Mexico, as the only hope of
the country. In 1866 he promulgated an
act of neutrality, in which he announced
| that the people of Nayarit were free and
| independent, and would treat alike the
imperial forces under Macmillan and
the republican forces under Juarez. He
| organized his force to preserve this neu-
| trality, and they. and he, as their COM
| mander, served without pay. If he
wished that Macmillan might triumph, it
was not because he loved Macmillan more,
but Juarez less. He also thought that in
the triumph of the former there was greater
hope of uniting all the Indian elements of
vaders, be they Spanish or French or mon
grels. He afterwards recognized the
supreme government" of which Juarez
was the head, but he did not name him
He did this 10 save himself from attack by
superior forces. It had the desired effect,
and he continued TO rule his State as before
| with absolute sway.
In the assembly of his empire at San Luis
in 1860. 1869, his excellency told his fol-
lowers that in the State of Nayarit equal.
ity before the law is not q Gelusion and
mere theory " that 1.-The poor have most
| decided, positive anc effective protection,
| and that 1.-THE glory Of G cd and humanity
is thus exalted. OF the right of the peo-
pie to assemble and discuss questions of
public importance, he cites the Romans,
who met in the Eternal City: the Greeks
in Athens, and " the North Americans, who
hold council Tor public welfare at the CAPT
tails of all the States Of the Union" He
said that the laws of equity and Justice
should exist throughout the State, and that
they did exist to greater degree than in
any other government upon the earth. To
enjoy such liberty and Justice, the people
of Nayarit, if invaded in their rights. were
resolved to conquer or die
In the Legislature that assembled at San
Luis in 1870, two hundred and fifty-four
representatives of his people were present,
and passed severa! acts. One was to pur-
sue thieves and highwaymen without
mercy. Gamblers and all caught in the
act of gambling were to be imprisoned
first, and then compelled to serve at least
one month at public work. The use of in
toxicating liquors was prohibited, and any
person using pToiane or obscene language
while under the influence of intoxicating
drinks was 20 serve one month on the pub
lie works. Acts to stimulate agriculture
increase educational facilities and prevent
the spread of vice and ignorance were
passed. 4 special act of compulsory educa-
ton, whereby all children between the ages
of six and twelve years were compelled to
attend primary schools, was one of the most
significant passed by the assembly. An act
was also passed to provide for helpless
widows and orphans as d sacred duty"
which the State owed the poor.
Those do not sound like the acts Of a bar
barian rabble. On the contrary they show
that the bandit statesman, whatever may
be his status in Mexico, possesses some
sound views regarding the relations OF the
government to the governed, and the real
source OF a nations prosperity.
When the Legislature off Nayarit as
sembed in 1872, LoZada in his address took
sides with the revolutionists, denounced
Juarez and stigmatized Lerdo de Teiada,
the present president of the republic, as
representative of the bastard race which
keeps Mexico in continued anarchy. Loz-
ada has failed to get his government of
Nayarit recognized by the Mexican Con
gress. and considers himself and his people
insulted by the action or want of action
of that body in HE behalf. He com
menced preparations for hostilties, and
Immediately declared war. His war
measures met with some opposition at
first. bu. he Ieconciled i. with
great tact. in an address in which
he reiterated the sentiment that Mexico
should be ruled by Mexicans. Lozads is
the living representative of this idea, and
therein lies his strength. He asserts upon
every occasion that the President of Mex
leo represents the opposite principles. He
arrays the crimes of the leaders who have
figured as rulers ia Mexican history, and
makes fearful and bloody count against
them, and in favor of his revolution. He
calls for the determination of the ''mongrel
race which has so long been the curse OF
the richest country upon earth" The fight
ing has commenced, and LOzada's forces,
beaten in Sinaloa and JaliscO, have fallen
back into the gorges of the Sierras of
Alicia. 1t is very doubtful whether the
Mexican government can dislOdge them;
and animated by the spirit they are, under
a brave Indian leader, the revolution may