Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-05-16
MEXICO



tFrom the New York Sun Of May 2d.l
In its constitution and forms the Mexican
republic is copied after the United States.
The government is federal. The congress,
state legislatures, governors of states, and
the president of the republic are all elected.
The president is chosen by electors, and he
holds office for four years. But here the anal
ogy ceases. Mexico is q military despotism
tempered by pronunciamentos. The Presi-
dent is a general in command of the govern
ment There is nothing short of q rovolu-
tion to limit his authority. Politically there
are no people, and, in truth, If not in form,
there are no elections. new president is to
be chosen in June next and the electors who
perform the Office of choosing him are ap-
pointed by means of universal suffrage sever
al weeks previous But no stranger visiting
Mexico would suspect that an event of such
importance was ut hand. No public meetings
are hold, there are no discussions Of doctrines
or policies, no examination into the merits
of Notwithstanding, in short, to indicate
the presence of living people interested in
the conduct of their government. In fact,
there are no parties in Mexico. There is no
politics; there is no public opinion; there is
no free press there is no elf-govornment.
1t is military despotism, without anything
of that sentiment of personal rights which
forms the essence of self-government, and
without which republican institutions are
delusion.
The natural relations between the people
and the government may be understood from
the story Of a scene which we saw one pleas
ant afternoon in the city of Zacatecas A
squadron of calvary rode up the street with
carbines unslung and ready for use, surround
ing body of 1870 or 130 men, followed by a
throng Of women, children, and old people,
wailing and lamenting. These men we're con-
Quoted to q railroad train and packed in a car,
where they were watched by an armed guard
on their way to the capital. Inquiring, we
were told that they were men of bad charac-
ter, who had been seized in various localities
by the jefe p0LticO, the chief magistrate or
mayor of the fundamental district or town
ship of the country. They had not been con-
victed of any offense they had not had any
trial, but were simply arrested by the jefe,
committed TO prison, and finally turned over
to the federal authorities to be enrolled as
soldiers and sent to the distant and unhealthy
coast of Yucatan. They were men of bad
character, it was said, and we're sent of as
such but the yjete p0Atic0 is the only judge
in their case. He can take whomsoever he
thinks proper, and no judicial tribunal is ev-
or called upon to revise his condemnation or
interfere with his act. The men were good
looking fellows enough, and many of them
bore their fate with cheerfulness but the
lamentations of the wives and mothers were
heart-rending. What sort of a republic can
it be where such things are practiced2 And
what sort of people can it be who patiently
submit to such thingsS
OF course a government like this must be
corrupt. No proofs are necessary to estab-
lish this principle Despotism and public
plunder go hand in hand; and if We are to
believe the assertions of men of every de-
scription in the capital-professiona men,
merchants, bankers, foreigners and natives
one must be convinced that the present ad-
ministration of the national government is
corrupt beyond example. The fortune of the
| outgoing PRESIDENTIAL acquired since he
came into office-is variously estimated at
from So, 600, 600 to $40, 600, 600, while other
| officers of less dignity are believed to have
prohted by their opportunities in the same
manner. This sort of scandal is universal.
Each officer, civil or military, who is impor-
tRnt enough to exact it, has his share in the
general plunder. Every contract and every
concession pays its dividends: the military
| commanders on the frontier are charged with
conniving in smuggling, and of the courts it
is believed that they sell justice to those who
pay. OF course a foreigner visiting the coun-
try cannot know whether these things are true
or untrue, but only that they are alleged by
| responsible and respectable persons.
| III buCu COuulllOu tue press 10 NATURALLY
subsidized by the government. In the city of
Mexico, we were told, there are only two jour
mails which do not receive such a subsidy.
These are the Monitor Republicano, a daily
paper in the Spanish language, conducted by
Mr.. Garcia Torres and the Mexican Finan-
cier, a weekly publication in Spanish and
English, conducted by Mr.. Simeon Levy and
| Mr.. Sylvester Baxter
The most powerful individual in Mexico at
present is Gen. Porfrio Diaz He was presi-
dent for four years previous 10 the advent Of
Gen. Gonzales, who is now in power, and he
will undoubtedly be chosen to the same office
at the election OF June next. Gen. Diaz is
the most popular citizen Of Mexico, and no
other mau is spoken of for the Office of pres
ident. Against him no charge of corruption
is alleged. He appears to be statesman OF
solid and progressive ideas, and if the govern
ment and the people of Mexico arc to be led
into the paths Of genuine and substantial
progress he is the only living leader who has
the ability to conduct them. No public man
in any country, in our day, has had such an
opportunity as now lies before Gen Daz. He
may regensrate his people and create genu-
inc republic where one now exists only in
name The task is gigantic, but that states
man who achieves such reform will remain
illustrious as long as the history of his coun-
try is preserved.