New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-26
A MEXICAN ELECTION.

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than to some Of their political successors.
A MEXICAN ELECTION.
The ancient, and apparently normal,
mode Of deciding the choice of rulers in
Mexico appears to be in full operation.
Where in the United States nominating
assemble, in the sister repub-
lie military aspirant organizes an army.
Where our politicians squeeze the Office
holder or punish merchants with business
ostracism, the Mexican candidate seizes
on customhouse and imprisons dozen
merchants until they pay ransom. Some
times q shopkeeper is shot to impress
salutary conviction upon the minds Of
contumacious contributors. The election
may turn on the adherence or desertion
of soldiers, or the compromise Of the aspi-
rants, as was formerly done upon the
basis of Tacubaya, upon a convention
among the leaders of three revolutionary
armies. This convention resulted in
placing the Dictator Santa Anna in the
imperial chair.
We pretend to no knowledge of the
political issues between the two parties
contending for the government of Mexico,
and intend not even the Intervention of
opinion in the domestic affairs of that re-
public.
To Judge the administration of Presi-
dent Lerdo by the peace and influx Of
foreign capital, which has appeared under
his government, we should have supposed
him entitled to the gratitude of people
saved from the foreign domination and
rem ewed civil war, and allowed to pursue
their labors without military conscrip-
ton.
To consider the great service rendered
to freedom by the overthrow Of religious
establishment which held such control
over the mind, conscience and capital of
the nation, we would suppose that the
secularization Of property, with the de-
velopment Of education and employment,
might have melted the people benefited to
stand by policy so palpa bly, productive
of good.
We are satisfi ed that the present ad-
is more satisfactory to the
people and government of the United
States than any other save that Of Juarez
and perhaps Arista, which has admins
tered Mexican affairs for the third Of Q
century past.
It is not probable that the favor Of the
United States would strengthen the
Lerdo administration with the ad-
herence Of the imperial or church
parties 1t may even exasperate
them to be told that the government is
in favor with the american robbers"
Of course nothing that we can say will
have any weight, or even access, to the
minds of those intent on the overthrow Of
republican administration and the SUBJ
of ecclesiastical rule and mill
tary autocracy. We call this the ''union
Of Church and State" We do not know
that such design exists, though we can
not see why the voters should be under
arms, besieging and besieged, unless the
peaceful theory of the present republican
is to be overthrown.
Should such change of principle be
meditated and carried into effect we have
the right to point out some consequences
to us inevitable, and important to the
United States as well as to Mexico.
The American people sympathize with
civil and religious freedom. Under its
recent sway in Mexico they have estab-
lished lines of commercial service, and
sent capital, enterprise and travel into
Mexico. They have proclaimed the same
border policy on the Rio Grande as on the
St. Lawrence. They have taught that the
reciprocal investment and intercourse of
the Americans and Canadians has kept the
peace, and has protected Canada from the
which any one of half dozen
States in the Union could effect. They
have maintained an expensive army on
The frontier, and have patiently put up
with invasions and violence far greater
than that which was regarded as the cause
and commencement of the war with
Mexico. This much to prove that cur
government and people do not wish the
territory Of our neighbor, but that we
value her success and friendship moro
han silver mines or coffee plantations.
If, however, readers of Mexican his
.o,y will cast their memory back they will
lad that imperial despotism cost the
Spanish government the rich province Of
New Spain, The Chinese exclusion of
with the robbery, imprison-
nent and exile of innocent citizens Of
other countries, with the proclamation of
republican principles by the revolu-
,ionists of 1872, enlisted American SYM
pathy. It attracted American aid. Those
who consider the achievements of Nuna
With his American soldiers, and the lib
sral aid of the American people, may
estimate the force of American abhor-
.ence Of despotism, and the value of
American aid to those who struggle for
freedom. "...
As the misgovernment Of the Spanish
nonarchs enlisted American assistance
or the independent republicans, SO the
lespotism Of Santa Anna, who repealed
he constitution of 1924, and proclaimed