New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-17

any official power to suspend the privilege
of habeas corpus at his discretion. That
such suspension could only be justifable
in cases provided by the constitution, and
that the power could be exercised as well
within one State or district in instruction
against the federal government as in an
other.
TIE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO.
Our nearest and most important repub-
lcan neighbor is Mexico. Her govern
ment has been more nearly assimilated to
our own than that of any other American
state She is entitled to our sympathies
for one especial point in her history.
Mexico has had hard tlia. in following
our example and separating church and
state Mexico had expelled the despot-
ism OF the Spanish crown, but fell at once
under despotism scarcely less oppres-
sive. It was that of religion established
by law, by custom and by the possession
OF corporate wealth and revenues
almost unlimited in amount; Mexico
exchanged in effect an autocracy for
hierarchy. Republican experience tells us
that the one is as bad as the other, and that
the last mentioned system includes the evils
of both. The hierarchy had taught in
Mexico that the powers of the crown were
derived from the gift of God, through his
almoners and agents, the church. Lib
eral historians quote to show that while
much outraged priest headed the first
revolutionary movement against Spain,
the ecclesiastical authorities taught that
the authority Of the crown was divine, and
that it was not only treason but impiety
to resist the authority of the King. At
q much later period the sanction of the
same ecclesiastical authority was given to
the Inauguration Of Santa Anna, the die
tator of Mexico. 1t was also charged that
the same influence was always extended
to the establishment of any stable power,
whether revolutionary or imperial. The
Liberal administration of Mexico has,
therefore, but followed American example.
The things Of God have been left
to the pure Of faith and practice ac-
cording to the dictates Of individual opin-
ion. The things of the people have been
reserved to the people. The doctrines and
aisciplines of religion have been left un-
touched. All men are free in Mexico to |
profess any faith. According to republican
experience the vitality Of religion is not |
impaired by leaving its mission and its
minister's to the voluntary support of those
Who profess its doctrines. Religion is |
ound to be as vital in the United States |
Is elsewhere. 1t collects its revenues as
It's ministers are as we'll clad,
laid and educated as under any establish
nent, and in all the religious assemblages
n Europe, American clergymen are as able
nd as exemplary as if they took every
enth egg and chicken from half-starved
amily. Mexico having thrown of; the
'erdinands and Godoys next resisted
he ecclesiastical authorities. Ithas been
be harder struggle Of the two. It has
een said that the church establishment
wned very large proportion of the land
nd buildings in the country. It certainly
wned thousands Of houses in Mexico and
Their cities. Some Of its ministers were
money lenders, at a moderate interest, Sc
ured by mortgage. The money changers
the affairs Of the temple. With
MS wealth was the faith of the people
1at this system was sacred, and that
nose who attempted its overthrow were
,fidels. Those who supported the sale
nd accumulation of the church estates
ere accommodated and left to die in
leir sins, unless they could receive
pass key into paradise by renouncing
leir impious titles to the property
God, or his vicegerents The Lib
al party i'll Mexico separated di-
ne from temporal estates. They sold
lurch lands and houses, cat streets
rough converts, and repealed spiritual
operations: but they set apart all the
lildings necessary for the religious as
mblage of the people The Liberals did
It attack one doctrine or dogma of the
'urch. They claim to be believers, and
practice all the precepts of the church
aich they have separated from political
'vernment. There is no doubt they may
ntinue to be sincere Christians, while
on behalf of their faith, the
ealth of the world. 1t is proper at this
lint to remark that the people of the a
nited States have always supported Mex
, in her struggles for freedom. Invalu- 7
lie aid was given by Baltimore and New c
leans in the war Of independence, and Q
g sympathy Of the American govern |
emit and people was extended in sub
initial form in the expulsion Of Maxi t
lian from an imperial throne, which e
had usurped against the will of the t
ople. The secession Of Texas was
used by the revocation of constitutional t
arantees Withdrawn by dictator, and O
the people Of the United States made z
+ against that dictator it was no more a
IN the people Of Mexico did. The
.ited States has always aided Mexico in
war against despotism, foreign or
nestle. It will always sympathizs with c
r successes in all slch conflicts ii
It is obvious that the Liberal or Re- a
blican party in Mexico has had a long, b
al . .:,1 ., :;