The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-03
A History Of the Movement
Against Lerdo.
IT'S ORIGIN AND EXTENT.
The Presidents Failure as a
National Reformer.
Government Troops Defeated by the
Rebels in Battle.

xexico after short respite Of peace Is again IN her
chronic stase-revolution- When, afer the death Of
Mr. Juarex in 1872, Mr. Lerdo unanimously elected
President OF the Republic, without candidate even
boing named In opposition to MIN. Il was generally
thought that OF peace had commenced for this
hitherto distracted country Ii was confidently hoped
that tho Presidents great ability and knowledge
OF his countymcn would restore TO Mexico that pros
perty lost whom she Independence; for,
mortifyng 1t may be 70 republicans, Mcxico's decay
commenced the Cay she assumed her position as an
independent Republic. That Mr.. Lerdo has failed TO
fula the expectations or his friends countrymen
for he enjoyed the friendship OF all-thero Is doubt
Whose fault II has would be difficult 10 say IL
II worth while to discuss the subject Tho fact Is
when he assembled to power the bodies Of men up in
arms agans, Mr.. Juarcz sheathcd their swords and
hailed HIM AZ thor chief and now those men are
In open rebsllon against the constituted authorities
PROVINCIAL Discomfort
For moro tnan year the large and important State
OF Michoacan has contained within its borders
Gus bands OF armed maraudcrs, or rcvoutonists
they call themselves whose cry has been up to
very recent date, "Vsua Ia reiigioni" THIS
was at first treated with contempt, but last May Mr.
Lerdo applied to Congress for ample faculties the
War and Treasury departments for the purpose, as
stated by him, OF supprcssing this instruction.
Tho opposition papers stated his motive In applying
for ample faculties to be the manipulation OF tho Con-
grcssonal elections which be held in tho fol-
lowing Juno and July. The extraordinary powers
were conceded The Michoacai rebellion. instead or
being crushed became formidabc but the govern
triumphcd IN tho elections These circumstances
gave consistency tho charges made by the oppos-
tion. Al fall meeting OF tho newly elected Con-
grcssmen the ample faculties extended, and then
Mr. Lerdo turned his earnest to Nchoacan
But things changed Instead OF bands numbering
nifty sixty men, they numbered 200 zoo each, aud
there were many such IN tho State. About three
months ago General Escobedo was sent 10 Michoacan
with large Although he did not succeed In
restoring peace no dispersed many Of tho bands and
killed or number OF the most important cAdcra In
word, II the government could have kept him therc
with the whole force placed at his disposal the State
would have been pacncd before this but unfortunately
hts services needed elsewhere.
LAY AGITATION REVOLUTION
However, the religious rebellion In Michoacan sinks
into insignilcanco In the pgesence OF another
ment recently set foot Nearly two months ago tho
papers OF this city published Revolutionary plan or
| programme, proclaimed JANUARY II, IN Tuxtcpcc,
small town In the mountains OF Oaxaca This 'plan'
proclaimed tho constitution OF 1857 with all It's amend
mcnts, thus showing that its authors wore not in
lpaguo with the Church rovolutonists Of Nchoacan.
~
Minister'S tho judges OF tho Supreme Court and tho
members Of tho present Congress- all Of tho latter
having elected in the Juno and July elections OF
| last year; Il provided for the organization OF .
provisional government and stated tho General In
Chief Of the regensratng armies BIO General PorGrio
Diax who that timo and up to last in
Brownsville, Toxas. General Porhrio Diaz Will
remembered. was considered the hero OF tho war
against tho Empire. He 1t was who. At tho head OF
900 half naked liberals bcsicged and captured tho
City Of Mexico, which, being garrsoned BY strong
force OF Aussrans Belgans and Imperaiist Mexicans
held out even ancr tho fall Of Qucrctaro General
Daz was a candidate for the Presidency against Mr.
Juarex 1861, and again against Mr.. Juarez and Mr..
Lerdo in 1871. This time he received plurality or tho
popular vote, but Congress deciding favor Of Mr..
Juarcz he appealed 10 arms, and at the head OF
revolution the OF the death Of the great Indian
President In July, 1872 Mr. Lcrdo, as Chief Justice OF
the Supreme Court, succeeded TO the Presidency al
Interim issued general amnesty and convoked Con-
grcsy The rovolutonis,s laid down their arms ut
once, and Congress ordered Presidential election.
GENERAL DIAx
was not candidate, and Mr. Lcrdo walked tho
course. General Disz has retained his popularity
while Mr.. Lerdo has lost ground, although . great
many proprietors and commercial men prefer Mr..
Lerdo's administration that any constitu-
tonal government Is better than propped
uorary bayonets and yet be known for good for
bad However, t IL maintained by the friends Of Iho
government and with reason that Mr.
Lsrdo has only lost popularity with those restless per-
who having been educated under the influences OF
revolution DO content following the ordinary
pursuits or life; but these form strong
element In Mexican society, and matter by what
motives they may actuatod, they formidable by
reason OF their number.
DIAx' "YIAx' ron CHANGE
few days after the publication Of the Tuxtepec
sspIan" another was published the signature OF
General Pornrio Diaz and proclaimed by General
Donate Guerra, man who had distinguished himself
nghting under ttc revolutionary banner OF 1871
1872 This document was similar 70 that OF Tuxtepec.
excepting omitted the hrec last articles OF the
latter, Of which proclaimed General Disz
chief Of the Revolutionary srmes Since then We
have been inundated with ''pans." signed by men
who only noted for having fought under every
dictionary banner unfurled within tho last nf
years, with ono exception, General sostenes
Rocha. General Rocha the savior OF the Juarez
government In the last revolution He s tho acknow
edged hero Of four pitched battles. viz Lo do Ovejo
the line or zscasecas and Jasco Tampico tho Cita
del 10 this city, and lastly La Bufa Zaca.ecas,
when he met and defeated the combined armies Of
Trevlho. Guerra and Pedro Martinez numbering 900
NEE, whilo the government forces did not exceed
1000 mostly raw all that could be spared
the time. This victory disabled tho revolution and
saved the situation. Rocha, for his services
wardcd with the command OF the First division, and
continued enjoy the favor or the up to
February, 1876, whcn In connection with some dscon
tented politicians, he organized bold plot 70 revolt
and overturn the government At one stroke. His d.
vision. consisting Of 5000 men, the nower OF the Mex
can army vas at the time stationed this capital
grand review ordered 10 take place i've miles from
town; Was arranged 70 read the act OF prosuHcsa-
wienf0 and return TO the city
CAPTURE The PRESIDENT.
There was Judas IN the plot, and General Mca, tho
Minister OF War, warned. This gentleman
jumped into his carriage and started Tor the or
tho contemplated revolt; he just the nick Of
time-wfen kocha collecting his officers 10 read
the act hts presence spread CONSERVATION among tho
guilty; the hero OF In Bufa quietly submitted when
the Minister informed him the President desired his
presencs slipped into the carriage was brought whirI