The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-25
MEXICAN FRA DIAvOLOS.
Their Popularity with all Classes Across
the Border, ana Especially
with the Women
IChicago Times.1

Col. George Flournoy, of Galveston. Texas
who has lived long In Mexico, was i'm the
French army which placed Macmillan on the
throne, and understands the Mexican people
ana Their peculiarities very thoroughly, said
to a reporter In Washington the other dav:
Suppose we take Mexico as whole, not con-
lining ourselves to the worst classes that in
lest the border, but including the better ele-
ments OF the more settled districts. While the
spirit of brigandage Is not so strong. Il ia in
credible how deep seated in the prejudice Of ali
the people is the feeling that right near them.
knocking at their doors, trying to encroach on
Lneir terrltory, Is q new, progressive, me-
cnanical, commercial race, likely in a few
perhaps destroy the social relations and the
peculiar habits which have been growing
stronger and stronger in Mexico for centuries.
Ihis Is really the dominant dread in the
hearts iissa Is ot the Mexican people. They don't
|interieres with their settled preiudices in
lavor OF standing still, keeping quiet, living
Ealong iazlly from year to year, and stunning
Snovelties ana inventions of every description,
Spain is in trance, and Mexico wants to en-. en-
Roy, the same sort of repose. They believe II
is destiny, Now growing out of this antipao
Fthy, which you will observe is strong as
Eagainst improvement from every QUAR-.
er ts. as well as from the United States,
1eociety., There is little or none of the
home life there we see in this country
During our recent civil war how quickly we
Fyent back to the arts of peacei just because
1he men composing our armies mad homes
and children to think of. There was some-
khing in our social relations that made it i'm
possible for man to remain guerrilla. But
"a Mexico it is just the reverse The country
infested with wild young men whose for
kuneS and characters are dissipated and
khey turn to robbing diligences and levying
Z1rostimos on small and defenseless towns
Here the sentiment of the people makes an
outlaw OF man the moment he turns pirate
nd stage robber, and communities band
kgainSt him. But in Mexico this
fort of career is enveloped in
Jack Sheppard cloud Of romance 1t is
EnpoSsible for the people not to indulge a
taaudlin sentiment in favor Of these dare
E|evil vagabonds who perform such feats of |
6rowess and dexterity. With the women.
Particularly, these Fra Diavolos are ex.
femely popular. Of course such a condition
feeling among even the better classes rem
| Prs good state of society out of the oues- |
/ on Their normal condition is disorder. For
! by years they have known nothing else |
| d bend to the hero of the hour, regardless
eight or law, and what is called the regular
IiGier in Mexico is enlisted with the under
landing that his services are due tomorrow
another president If the people change
Eeir minds. They owe allegiance to the man
3 power, no matter how often a change
mes.
Is this general among the people ?''
Among the poorer classes, ,xyeS, but not |
long the people of wealth and large inter-
IS. Some time ago / visited In southern I
XicQ gentleman OF New Orleans who had