Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-02-07

From MataInOras comes the intelligence
that the Rev. Dsmazo Soto, priest OF the
Mexican state OF Very Cruz, has dis
covered the key to the ancient Aztec
writings II this bs trus aud the key
proves such an ons as shall unlock the
extapt literature OF this lost race, the
world may yet learn much that is
interesting OF American history. Some.
thing is known of the spoken language
OF the Aztecs, from the writinga Of early
Spanish sxplorers and priests who
either came to Mexico with Clrtes,
In 1919, or shortly thereafter
but the printed or hieroglyphic Language
has hitherto to great extent bsiflsd the
ingenuity OF antiquarian scholars. We
believe that the nuravsling Of detached
words is practically about as far as they
have been able to go. The Az.ecs are
believed to have entered Mexico from the
north about the year 1900 and some
ancient villages found in New Mexico,
are attributed to them and may antedate
that era. Like the ancient ESyptians,
though to much more limited
extent than they, the Aztecs were
wont TO decorate their dwellings,
temples and pottery with characters
from their picture language, and
the translation Of Chese enduring in
sirip;iOns would almost certainly shed
considerable light into ths vague do
IN sins OF the history of this continent # 7
several hundre years prior to the sdven,
of the white race. Entering Mexico, the
Azt,cs soon subdued ard dispossessed
their predecessors, the peaceful Tultecs,
and built up an empire whieu
was both extensive aud powerful as goy.
arnments then rated in the western hem
sphere, but which crumblsi into irag
nents before the superior energy apd
greater civiliz atom OF numelieally
small party OF Spanish invaders. I'll,
city of M7xior, called by them Teno1tiIit
Ian, was fJnadsd by the Az.eo5 il 1879
Their government was an elective ern
pir-; their Laws w-r4 seyere uut admin
stered in op-u ro1rt-, the proceedings ii
which were duly recorded their temple
Ser7 numerous aud importing. aud thei
sttafs were dreuched with the blood ,
human beings sacrificed to their gods.
John NJ, Clayton is credited with hsy
ing said, as he contemplated his work o
the amended constitution of Delaware
done in the convention Of 1881, thai h
, had locked the door and thrown ava
"the key" But the combination loc
upon the constitution y! Kentucky il, 8
compared with that of Dslaware, like
champion burglar proof fastening il to
, common paddock. Some OF thr more pr
srsssiye Ksntuekisns havs been tryir
:. for years to obtain a constitutional col
vention for the revision
. their present old-iashionsd iustrumen
which is psppered and sailed with prov
, siOns relating to slaves 81 masters ri
otherwise behind tile 50 but ths diff
culties in the way OF calling such CO.
vsntiOn have thus far proved inaurmou,
table. The Legislature has to an bmit Il
question of holding convention TO Il
people at the second triennisI eIeotit
aud, if approved by maj rity of all Il
1t voters OF the state, the legislature at Il
/ next succeeding biennial session mu
If submit the project again to the people
r the next general election, and,
e It be then approved by
!, majority OF all the elector
!, the convention ia to be called. 1t thu
d takes seven years to start the mschiner
g even provided majority Of all the vote
= of the state could be persuaded to 20
e the polls for this purpose. Thereto
many ksntuokians are coming around
toe determination to disregard entire
d the constitutional prescription and stril
d out on a new road, by summoning
y sovereignty convention" and, upon II
l. theory that the people are always 8
h preme, proceeding at once to the work
l. organizing constitutional oonventio
e " will be interesting, though probab
r tedious, to watch how the matter vi
finally shape itself.