The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-02-10
MEXICO,

Were 1t not that public attention in
this country is fixed, with an interest
RlEabsorbing, on the progress and issue
Of the Presidential question as to our
own Government, the condition of Mex
leo would certainly attract a much
greater degree of notice than is ac-
corded to the important political move
ments now transpirlng in our nelghbor-
Ing Republic. 1t is, of course, not un.
known that the Mexicans are once more
Bmbroiled ON the question of their
Presidency, as we are as to ours; but =,
unlike us, they have resorted to arms
rs their common and taYorlte mode of
Compromising" such controversies.
1t is true, that the frequent recur-
renee OF such scenes of civil war and
armed strife in Mexico, for which that
country has become painfully prover-
baL has no small effect in detracting
from the public interest coRmon TO such
events in national history. Neverthe-
less, her present position in that regard
stands so strongly contrasted with our
own as to lend conspicuousness even'to
D. Mexican insurrection. The fact is,
The two great Republics of the New
World are now on trial, and touching
The same issues, before all Christendom;
and the world will not be slow to notice
The different modes resorted to by these
Republics respectively for determining
similar issues arising from the exigen-
pies of similar systems of government.
Here, while we are in the process oil
peaceful arbitration, there they are in
The midst of armed revolution. Here,
nnder the same political exigencies, the
uuietude of the country and the indus
trial pursuits Of the people remain ur.
disturbed; there, forced loans, which is
but politic name for public robbery,
rack and pillage, the people fleeing from
iheir country tor personal safety from
battle and murder and sudden death,
and all the other hideous concomitants
n civil war, are lending now horrors to
Mexico's horrible history.
1t is just twenty years ago, 1857, when
anew Constitution was given to The Re-
public of Mexico, in all respects very
Iimilar to the Constitution of the United
Slales. But, in transferring the general
features of our Constitution to the Mex
ican system, they committed the fatal
mistake of making the Chief Justice Of
fha ioa do
TX officio, OF the Mexican Republic
thereby directly involving heir supreme
judiciary with the political broils in.
:ident to every Presidential election
Hence it was that the late Chief Justice
DfMexico, on the death of the President,
claimed and exercised, for brief term
The Presidential office. The sad results
that ensued, in the embodiment of the
different parties and the internal con-
Vulsions of the country, should stand as
p warning to us against linking our
Supreme Court in any manner with the
political contests incident to popular
elections.
1t has long been a familiar idea in
political philosophy, that certain races
Of men, however highly civilized, are
not capable OF maintaining republican
governments, because of the unsuitable
ness OF such government to the genius
Of the race. This may be predicated as
true particularly Of the Iberian race.
The Spanish people have made frequent
attempts at such forms of government,
and in no instance has such an attempt
been crowned with success. That
Mexico is Republic is not due to the
influence or ability OF its population Of
Spanish descent. On her territory Of
seven hundred and sixty-two thousand
square miles, she has population OF
about nine millions. or these, over six
millions are native Indians OF the pure
blood. About two millions are mixed
breeds OF all kinds, Indians and Afri-
cans, naestizos; and there are only about
half a million Of whites and creoles,