National Republican., 1883-04-17
JUAREZ AND REFORM.
The Memorable Laws Proclaimed in 1859 and
the Events Which Led Up To ThOm.
An Interesting Lecture by the Hon. John
w. Foster, Late Minister 60 Mexico.

John W. Foster last night at the hall of the
Young Mems Christian association was
Juares and tho Reform Movement" but IL
was in part a general review of Mexican his
tory from the beginning Of the republican
revolution in 1910.
In referring to the greater advancement Of
the United States in republcanism and FREQ
government, Minister Foster made the follow
ing explanation, which is not often kept in
mind by Americans in discussing Mexican
affairs and which relieves that people from
much of the unfavorable criticism passed
upon themi
It better becomes us TO exercise charity OF
Judgment toward the Mexcans in their revo'
lutionary disorders and struggles to establish
republicanism upon system of law, order,
and q legitimate succession of government.
Nor ought the greater success of the United
States to become reproach to Mexico. For
100 years before their declaration of inde-
pendence the American colonists had been
training themselves in the school of self
government, and were an enlightened and
educated people, while for 300 years before
their independence the Mexicans had been in
the most abiect debasement, studiously kept
in ignorance and had not been allowed the
slightest participation In the local govern
ment. All their officials, even TO the lowest,
came from the mother country. IL was de-
clared in the Spanish assembly during the
war of independence that so long as man
lived in Spain every American owed him
allegiance" or, as prominent official con-
temptuously expressed It, "while n Man
ohego mule or q Castilian cobbler remained
in the Peninsula, he had q right to govern
tho Americas" Besides the colonists were
more fortunate at the outset of their inde-
pendent government If Washington had
been like Iturbide and listened to tho offers
of crown, which SO many honest patriots
thought was the only safety of the country
at the close of the war, there might have fol-
lowed q similar service of disorders, and the
American union never have been formed and
reached its present proud estate. How diff
ferent might have been the history of Mexico
IL there had been n second Washington, by
his patriotism, prudence, and self abnega-
ton, to guide the ship of state when 1t first
set sail, and to quiet the passions and ieal-
ousies of rival chiefand parties. In addition
to these circumstances, the people OF the
United States had their questions Of civil
liberty, individual rights religious freedom,
aud fundamental principles of government
fought out for them centuries before in Eng
land. The Anglo-Saxon race had already
escaped from its Egyptian bondage to tho
church in the time of the Tudors and had
passed through its Red Sea of blood and vii.
dissension to attain civil rights and constitu-
tional privileges in tho reign of the Stuarts.
But the Mexicans had only begun that long
and dreary Journey at the time of their in
dependence, for Spain had left them in me-
dieval darkness aud oppression.
After a hurried review of the many revo-
lutions which occurred between 1921 and
1857, which in great measure were attributed
to the Vaccinations of the clergy, Minister
Foster referred to the revolution, or plan of
Ayutla, and the important result of that
revolution, the constitution now in force, in
the following terms:
After lengthy and animated discussions,
the constitution of 1857 was adopted and pro-
mulgated as the organic law of the land.
1t did not provo to be wholly acceptable to
either the conservative or the liberal party
as it was far too radical for the former and
fell short of the desires of the latter, but IL
was the most perfect instrument that had
ever been framed in Mexico, however serious
may have been its defects or omissions, and
it struck Mt the roots of many of tho causes
which had brought so much evil upon the
country in the past generation. 1t provided
for free education, ,completofreedomo Of speech,
and the press and of assemblies of the people;
the territory of the republic was made free
and open to all /; slavery was prohibited, and
all slaves reaching its soil became FREQ men,
despite its slaveholding northern neighbor; (;
special laws and tribunals, all privileges and
special rights of individuals, classes, or COR
porations wcrc abolished personal freedom
from arrest or molestation, except upon
legal writ and competent authority,
was guaranteed; the laws were to recognize
no religious vows or obligations; no ecclesi-
astical or civil corporation was to be per-
mitted to acquire or hold real estate except
for its own direct use and in general the bill
of rights and fundamental principles were in
harmony with the liberal spirit Of the age.
The division and powers of the three branches
of the government were similar to those in
the United States. Its most serious defect was
that it did not specifically recognize the free
dom of worship or the equality of all crceds,
Such clause was proposed and stoutly ad-
vocated by the liberal party, but the conserva-
tive and clerical influence, coupled
fort, was sufficient to secure its
rejection, and the church was left intact
in its possessions and religious orders. IL
was great step in advance, however, that
the Catholic church was not recognized in the
constitution as the sole religion of the coun-
try, as had been the case in all previous
organic enactments. Its silence on this sub
enumerated were sufficient to secure for II
the undying hostility of the church and the
conservative party.
Mr. Foster then went into detailed state.
ment of the manner In which the church
party attempted to annul the new constitu'
tion by tho forcible expulsion of Juarez and
the liberal government from the capital, and
the inauguration of the revolution, which
after after bloody conflict finally resulted
in the complete overthrow of the Catholic
church as a political power. The struggle
was thus described:
Thus was brought face to face the advocates
of the constitution and the supporters of the
church-the principles of liberal representa-
tive republcanism against class privileges
and clerical control of political affairs. The
contest Is known in Mexico as "the war of
the REFORM" and tho combatants took the
party names of the constitution and the
church 1t continued for three years, and
was waged ON both sides with the most re-
lentless bitterness and cruelty. Never before
in all its bloody history had the country been
so stirred up or witnessed such scenes of car
mage. 1t peryaded every section and all
classes of society, and there was hardly n viii
lage or neighborhood in the whole republic
that was not made the theater of some con-
tlict or had not its story Of violence and dis
order.
have already shown that the constitution,
with all its liberal and progressive principles,
had not satisfied the desires of the radical re-
publicans. Through the influence of Presi-
dent Comonfort the church had not been at.
tackled in its most valued interests. Glass
privileges had been abolished and free educa.