The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-04-14

the inherited wealth and power Of tho priv
eleRed orders, we're still among them, strong
organized and "a greedy of power and paln
az ever. The year 1928, now 6fty-tbrot
years past, marks tho dawn Of grand and
glorious era In the bloody march OF Mexico
10 the haven Of constitutional liberty, regu'
lated by law. II has been u long and often
sanguinary road. A few bright lights then
appeared. men of noble hearts and far
reaching foresight, who sought an early
Tuition 10 their march of genuine free
government. Pedraza seconded by the
illustrious patriot, Manuel Gomez Farias, led
this Spartan band All the mighty
wealth of the clergy, embracing about one
half the real estate of the country, and un
told millions of money and revenue became
leagued with such men as Santa Anna, TO
check the growth of free principles, and
retain upon the country, a military, ecclesi'
astical despotism. 1t was this unholy alliance
that, from 1888 to 1886 destroyed state gov
ernments, trampled under foot the free con-
stitution of 1924, made Santa Anna dicta-
tor, and Immediately afterwards invaded
Texas. But with a constancy, patriotism
and courage unsurpassed in the annals OF
America, they struggled on, demanding free
dom of speech and of the press, trial by Jury
and the right of religious worship unawed
by power. Often overwhelmed and driven
like wild beasts to caverns and mountains,
they struggled on and struggled ever,till their
cause triumphed in the present republican
constitution Of 1857.
Bento Juarez, educated in the first non
ecclesiastical school ever established in Mex
ico-a friend of religious and constitutional
liberty-became president in 1859, and re-
manned 80 by reflections till his death in
1872, period of thirteen years, and was sue
ceeded by Lerdo, of the same party, and he
by General Por6rio Disz, a more pronounced
democratic republican than either of them.
A civil revolution without bloodshed, caused
Diaz to succeed Lerdo, and this is the only
faint of irregularity in the presidential sue
cession for twenty-five years.
In 1880 General Diaz voluntarily declined
reelection, and General Gonzales was
almost unanimously elected for the next four
years. They are warm friends, of the same
progressive faith, and General Diaz preferred
seat in the cabinet, at the head of the de-
partment of improvement, whereby his
whole time could be given to the cause OF
internal improvement, education, and the
extension of friendly commercial intercourse
with the United States and other countries.
Now let us see what has been accomplished
in these ffty-three years, commencing in
1923, but in fact receiving the first self sus.
tanning momentum on the final downfall OF
Santa Anna, in 1856:
l. The secular power of the eccesiastc
powers for oppression has been thoroughly
overthrown, and liberty of conscience firmly
established.
2 The long dominant power Of militsr
chieftsins, in the interest of politlco-rellg
ious despotism, has been crushed.
8. A free constitution, embodying the
most precious principles of liberty, has
stood the test of twenty-five years.
4. The cause of common-school education,
on the Lsncasterisn system, has grown
steadily and rapidly for thirty years. making
wonderful progress In 1863, in
the exhibition of two thousand
eight hundred common school children, in
the Circo Chirino, where the president OF the
republic presided, and in person presented
the medals and other awards, and where the
great Indian orator, AltsmiraIa, made a
speech for education, for liberty and re-
gious freedom, that caused the Americans
present to exclaim, "a young Patrick
Henry"
Look farther. Tho railroad from Vera
Cruz to the City of Mexico, 279 miles, is one
of the grandest structures in the world.
From the valies of Orizabs and Maltrata,
beneath perpetual snow, it has grade of
2l2 feet TO the mile for thirteen continuous
miles to the summit of the great mountain
range encircliug the plains of Perote and
Puebla. The government gave it a grand
concession in money.
Grand trunk lines are now in progress
connecting tie City of Mexico with the Pa
cifc ocean, with the United States through
chihuahua, Arizona and New Mexico,
with the United States through
Texas; with the United States from the Gulf
of California to the Southern Pacific in Arr
IONA, besides numerous lateral lines. About
nine thousand miles of telegraphs exist and
many are In progress. The free school sys'
tenn has been extended to every part OF the
republic. Organized bands of robbers. once
so numerous and powerful, have been
crushed to powder. Where one man in the
county could read and write forty years ago,
one hundred can do 80 now. The colleges
of the country have been placed on new
foundations excepting the "Mineria" the great
college of mines, which has ever been dis
tinguishable for its learning, and honored by
the large number of its alumni distinguished
in all branches. Of engineering, the physical
sciences and polite learning. Society in
Mexico, referriog to the higher classes, is
acknowledged By all foreigners who have
had access to it, to be elegant, refined and
pure, rendered so by the history Of the
country and three foreign wars, more or less
exclusive and cautious in the re
ception of unknown strangers. But
no foreigner, properly vouched for as
gentleman, can fail to feel, on
entering refined Mexican household, that
he is among people unsurpassed in all
those graces which give TO domestic life q
foretaste of the bliss POLITICALLY attributed to
fairy land.
As long as Americans and other foreigners
enter Mexico bona fde TO embark in rail-
reading, mining or other employment, re-
speeding the laws of the country and treating
the people with open frsnkness and respect,
they will enjoy the confidence and friendship
Of the people. But the moment they show
the cloven foot and desire 10 annex them TO
another country or usurp their right TO free
goyernment-so dearly bought with blood
and treasure-that moment they will lose all
claims 10 confidence and good will. When
resident and properly naturalized as citizens,
their equal voice a. such in public affairs
will be fully sccorded-not before. In short,
whether wisely or unwisely, the Mexican
- a.