The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-08
MEXICO.
President uerdo and his Prospects

Especial Correspondence Of the Enquirer
Cry or MEXICO, March -, 1876. The
! town is full Of rumors about the war,
and they are worth writing only 70 snow
| how far the Imagination OF TINS people
will prompt the utterance OF them as
truths. The following may be relied
upon: After Gen. Varella, when APP
preaching the position Of Alatorre, was
! surrounded and badly injured, he at
night cut his way through in two columns
with heavy losses, but succeeded III
saving q portion Of his treasure and some
of his stores. After making the most OF
his position, as to strength OF works and
men, Gen. Alatorre left Gen. Nareila at
Ianhutlan, and came here to confer
with the Minister Of War, arriving yes
! terday. Many express fears that Va
rella will be forced to capitulate, but
the result OF Gen Alatorre's visit had
been that three thousand men have
been put en- route for his department. t.
which he Immediately returns The ef-
feet of this is very gratifying to the
friends Of the Government. In the
meantime, q concentration Of about
similar force is being made on the Vera
Cruz Railroad, probably at Orizaba, to
operate against any force threatening
the road.
There is much agitation among the
foreigners OF the city, caused by the
extraordinary tax imposed by the Presi-
dent last night upon the property Of tho
entire Republic. Congress has en-
powered the President in emergencies,
when that body is not in session, to act
at discretion upon such matters. First,
exempting from every estate $1,000, he
has imposed onc-half Of one per cent
tax upon the next 100000, and one per
cent on all property above that sum.
The effect is TO favor the poor while the
burdens Of war are made to fall upon
the rich. The foreign residents, usually
| falling within the last class, are, Of
course, opposed to being taxed
at all, but especially on account OF
their foreign nationality, and have
! besieged our Minister, Mr.. Foster, all
day to get some scrap Of hope that they
may get exemption. When told that
aliens in time of war had exemption
only so far as related to person and not
to property, they then produced the
| letter Of the law, upon which the tax is
based which specifies that such eXac-
tions shall be uniformly made, which
condition had been violated by the ex-
empton Of $4,000, thus eXcusing nine
tenths Of the people from any tax at all.
| The tax Is certainly hard one, but is
| in keeping with the traditions and Gus
toms OF the country, which all these
merchants well knew before coming
| here.
Gen. Rocha has addressed the govern
ment, disclaiming any desire to oppose
it, asks to be permitted to quickly leave
the country He has been considered
one Of the best soldiers Of Mexico. This
comes at rather late hour, after de
cisive defeat, but / am creditably in
formed that his request will probably
be granted. Stories are afloat that Presi
dent Lerdo has taken the decision to
visit Europe, thus removing the
entire cause Of contention. What
% strange cause for war the fear
that President in the due course Of
constitutional administration shall be
elected to an additional term Of office!
President Lerdo, becoming Chief Mag
istrate by virtue Of being Chief Justice
at the death of Juarez, is now serving
his second term, in fact, but only the
first by election. There is scarcely a
doubt, / am told, but he will be re-
elected if the revolution does not sue
coed and he does not Withdraw. The
last charge have made against him is
that he is Spaniard, but not q word
against his administration, when his
poverty of resources is taken in cOnsid-
Grafton