The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-12-12
GLIxpsEs OF MEXICO.

>AA4<AASOs
The Empire a the Astses asd Tie ksign
Of the Nontes1mas--somsth About
the roltec Dynasty tAas Lie 0nly In the
Mists Of Tradition.
CITY Of Nsxico COZ Il ths 0lphe- Dsmoa,t
Inspired by the beauties Of the perpet-
ual spring that lends such charm to this
portion of Mexico, surrounded BY the
thousand and one relics Of the dreamy
past strewn up and down in this splendid
country, the American tourist is severity
temuted to forward a br1ef sketch to 4
journal Of the southwest, Of
growing circulation and influence, like
the Globe Democrat.
ANCIENT AND MODERN MEXICO.
The careless American Gringo, If you
will, and the unprogressive Mexican of to-
day, wandering amid the great and ma
tural attractions Of the table lands, scarce
" realizes that here once existed one OF
the best civilizations, one Of the most
poprlous empires Of splendid antiquity.
Here, occupying then as now. q territory
1000 miles in length and loo broad, of
&c., 400 square miles, and equal to the
Combined areas Of France, Spain, Austria
and the British Isles-once Aourished a
monarchy, said to have had $4,000, 600
subjects, and whose traces visible In the
temples. pyramids and palaces that re-
main as monuments to attest its grandeur,
are fully as interesting. if not as ancient
as the hieroglyphics on the Pyramids Of
the Nile.
THE TOLTEc DYNASTY.
According to Humboldt ~ho passed some
time in Mexico studying its antiquities,
the first race that inhabited that country
the Toltecs-were Of Asiatic origin, and
emigrated by way Of Behring's Straits,
about A. d. 100. This belief, however.
combated by the advocates Of the theory
of more than one center of animal creation,
rests upon conjecture, but appears plausi'
bic. In the opinion of Humboldt, the
Toltec dynasty, and occupation
lasted 500 years, ending about
A. d. 100. nearly 800 wears be.
fore the advent Of Columbus. The Toll
tees are said to have emigrated to the
mountainous recesses of Central America
being succeeded by another race Of abori
gines-the Aztecs-as the possessors Of
the territory they had left behind.
THE AzrEcs.
They were an Indian race, of forms rath
er taller and stouter than the ordinary
well proportional. good compilations, mar
row foreheads and black eyes; regular
white teeth, and thick, black, coarse hail
and thin boards, and the peculiarly Of NJ
hair upon their thighs and legs. Man!
of their women were beautiful and fair
whose attractions were increased by win
ming sweetness of manner and speech anc
modest behavior. The Aztec empire il
traced for about 300 years from the cessa
ton Of the Toltec dynasty; 1t originally
comprised the Central States Of Mexico
proper, Queretaro and Vera Cruz; and il
1852, after long series OF
REVOLUTIONS AND WARS,
was consolidated under its first King. In
1896, a generation before the discovery o.
Columbus, the first Of the celebrated lin,
of kings, the Montezumas, assembled the
Aztec throne. Two reigns followed, wher
Montezuma ii took the reins Of power
Under this Prince, the Aztec empire, after
an existence Of 80 years, assumed pitch
of grandeur and power-a heighth OF CIV
lization-scarcely ever attained by an,
other nation IN so short time. Undel
Montezuma III the empire was ext .ndeC
over 1850 miles Of territory, and i,
thought TO have numbered 10000. 900. tn,
City of Mexico alone having 800, 600 In
habitants.
OVERTHROW OF THE MONTEzUMAs.
So splendid an empire, so bene6cent q
civilization was destined to be crushed By
Cortez, who overthrow the power Of Mont
Montezumas in 800, nearly 400 years ago
This adventurer and his myrmidions, al
though they bore the banner Of the cross
were nothing but murderers. thieves am
cut-throats who came to plumber ano
strew ruin and misery mp and dowr
among the populous cities, the stately
temples and beautiful palaces Of land e
which they had no more right than the
burglar has 10 the safe he is rifiing.
coRTEz. THE BLoODTHIRsTY scoUNDREL
with the innate cruelty Of the Spaniard
sought TO annihilate the Aztecs. and hi,
whole ''con1uest" was one unspeakabls
outrage. in which the utmost horrors were
visited on the unoffending subjects Of
Montezuma. No age or sex were spared
millions. whole races, were cut of and ex
terminated.
The high civilization Of the Azsecs and
the monarchy OF the Montezumas were
swept away. to be replaced by Spanish
cruelty and spoliation. and a religion that
has, so far from raising Mexico 10 higher
plane Of civilization or improving on that
Of the Aztecs. sunk Mexico and Mexicans
10 the very lowest moral notch in the scale
of nations. OF the splendid empire Of the
Aztecs the 300 years Of Spanish DONNA
ton succeeding the fall Of Montezuma
have lef. little except the remains Of mag
nifcent temples and stately palaces still
visible in this beautiful land. and that
once added glory 10 monarchy that mus.
forever eclipse the despotism OF the ID
the ancient line Of Aztec kings.
TuE MEXICO or TO-DAY.
In $50. and before tie eprfi-caiion oi
church property. in consequence Of subse-
quent revolutions. i,s aggregate amount
IN Mexico WAS sls,00.rpp and 3.2,; &C.
cleriastics consumed for their support SO.
10000. annually. for which the poor. ig.
Dorant fool. among the masses were called
on to contribute even II IL left themselves
without ANYTHING TO eat. In fart the N-r-
leans viii -tarve to pay the priests. who
undoubtedly wieii almost unlimited porcr
in Mexico In $50 the nine bishops Of
Mexico had an annual revenue 81 80. ZOO.
the Archbishop Of MeIIoo getting a salary
more tan twice az large ~ that II the
Pnesiden; Of the United States.
The pEsTIST or MEXICO.
Ie,ico has for ages siumb~red undsr
the rubbish Of ignorance. super
sti'ion and eFe.e priestrraf,. until she
has besn len far tehind in the march Of
mo5frn civilization There 10 hot one
war 10 redeem one Of the finest oounsries
IN the world; ], ], by the en'erprising
y anxse. the GrIngo. with his railroads.
his ,eieyraph.. h. education. HI. schools