The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-07-07
SAINTED MEXICO.
DAINIEU WEAIJU.
How She Exhibits Her Civilization.
PrOtestants Killed by MODS, and
Officials Iucitlng
Railroads the Topic of Converse.
ton.
CITY OF MEXICO, June oath, 81

notice IN the papers of tn,
United States that great interest il
being taken in Mexican affairs il
the way of railroad and mining en-
| terprises. 1t seems that kind O
RAILROAD fever is prevalent through
out both republics, and the news
papers are full of railroad notices
The topic of conversation on thu
streets is railroads, and it is thought
| by many that they are all that /:
needed to convert this stronghold
| of ignorance and fanaticism into q
| civilized and enlightened country
In speaking of fanaticism and igno-
rance I do not wish to infer that al
the Mexicans belong to that class,
by any means. There are many lib
eral and intelligent gentlemen who
realize what Mexico needs to insure
her progress. No one here can fail
to see that, since Juarez made it pos
sible for a man of liberal views to
live in Mexico, the country pro-
crossed with rapid strides.
The labOrs of the Protestants in
Mexico have, in my humble opinion,
been productive of good. They have
established schools, and distributed
a vast amount of reading matter
among the people. Especially have
the efforts of the American and
London Bible Societies been produc-
tive of good and they surely merit
much praise for the energy they
have displayed in enlightening the
minds Of the people upon Bible sub
jects.
The Christianity of Mexico
teaches that the word of God should
be burned, not read; that it is no
great sin to burn the sacred scrip
lures and kill those who would pre-
sumo to circulate it among the peo-
pie, and, as a result, we hear now
and then of a murder here, there.
and yonder of a Bible man or g.
Protestant.
The republic has a population of
100000 or 100000. l am told that
there are two newspapers that are
self-supporting (EL Monitor Repub-
licGno and La FOz de Merico). There
are but comparatively few who can
read and consequently the circula-
ton of the papers is very limited.
The more intelligent part of the
community are liberal, and Jealous
advocates of instruction for the
masses Of the people, and for all
proper means of progress and adj
Yancement. The fanatics are
opposed to everything in the
shape of progress, look with sus-
picion upon the arrival of foreign
ers and would soon put a stop to
railroads and public enterprises were
it in their power.
When we take into consideration
the condition of Mexico as it was a
few years ago, we must recog-
nize that she has produced
some noble defenders of the
rights Of man; men who
merit the eternal respect Of their
countrymen and of the world; men
who struggled against adversely in
almost every form, but having in
view the emancipation of their de-
luded and oppressed countrymen,
they wavered not from their couse
until they had accomplished their
object so far as was possible in so
short time and under such ad-
verse circumstances.
Religious liberty is guaranteed by
the laws of the country, hut as yet
they are comparatively a dead let
ter on the statute books, from the
fact that many of the local officers
are too fanatic and ignorant to en-
force them. A few weeks since the
PrOtestantS were mobbed out of
Queretero, the capital of the state of
that name, the authorities making
no effort to prevent it. About the
same time two Protestants, zone al
minister, were brutally murdered at |
ApitZaca. 1t is yet to be seen
whether the murderers will be
brought to justice or not. A few
days since another Protestant was
murdered in the most brutal way
Imaginable, in which women lent a |
helping hand. This last took place |
in the state OF Guerrero, and the au-
thoritieS and leading men of the !
place headed the Christian fiendS in
the bloody work. The following is
an extract from EL Monitor Repub-t
EicG1lo with regard to the affair:
" 1t appears that the Romanists |
(Roman Catholics had resolved to
make an end of Protestants through
out all the country, during Lent and |
Holy Week. In various parts they |
raised mutinieS, shed blood and |
treated the reform laws with per-
feet disregard. Unfortunately, the
town of Tlacotepec did not escape
the evil influence of the Romisht
priesthood; the 10th of last month |
(ApriD was the day designated forl
the preparation of one of their in
famieS. Mr.. Teodulo Gonzales. |
an honorable citizen living in that |
vicinity was. by the authorities of |
that town, considered guilty of the
enormous crime of being a Protes-
tant, and this caused his death. The |
fanatics could not pardon him forI
wOrshipping God according to the
dictates of his own conscience: SO.
on the day mentioned, Glorious
the alderman Of Tlaco-
tepec sent a crowd of persons to /
bring Mr.. TeOdulo Gonzales to the
court house, where, upon his ar
rival, a fanatic and blind multitude.
led by the authorities, fell upon the
defenSeIeSS victim Iitaro1IIr too,.;,,