Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-07-18
BOOK REVIEW.

FRANCISCO: a. l.. Bancroft & Co.
The fourth volume of the History of
Mexico" brought us up to the year 1924
and the nethronement and death of Itur-
bide and the tragic events of the close of the
war for indet. Evidence in the revolution of
1921, by which Mexico became her own
mistress, after a probationary course of
three centuries un0er stringent colonial
regime as our author so conciSely sums
Up the result. The present volume takes
up the thread of the romantic story of
Mexico in the years 1924 and carries it
up to and into the year 1861 when our own
country stood upon tie precipiCe Of a 81
gantic rebellion. The same close attention
TO details and the development of all the
factors of historical influence, however mi
mute, mark this volume, as has distin-
gulshed all It's predecessors from Mr.. Ban
crots untlrlng pen. The volume before
us takes up period in Mexican history as
pregnant with importance to the nation as
any in all its history. And it may be said
even more so, since it was the beginning of
the effort, under the modern system, to
establish constitutional form of govern
ment. We are presented with very clear
statement of the actual condition of affairs
IN the new Government, with It's GemoTaI-
lied army and its national Congress torn
by divided opinions, taking its first false step
in setting up a triumvirate of military men.
Congress rapidly obhterated all signs Of the
late Empire, adopted a national flag and
coat OF arms and set about to reyiyify the
llteiess financial condition OF the country.
The new authority soon divided into politi-
cal parties, and the friends of the old ein-
between the CentraliStS and Fcdcralists.
The provincial juntas, with exaggerated
ideas of their Importance, created 10 end
of trouble, and revolutionary movements
in more than one province embarrassed the
new government, against which the ltur-
blGlstS were constantly plotting. These
risings were suppressed with yigOr thst
commanded respect for the Government.
In 1923 steps were taken to frame con-
stituuon. The efforts early resulted in the
adoption of the famous 9TH Article, on
which the whole scheme hinged, and then
followed revolutions III various sections,
and hot blood and hotter partisanship. The
article read THE nation adopts the re-
publican, federal popular, representative
form of government The adoption of
this article really determined the future Of
Mexico, and from this point the political
history Of the country becomes Of absorb
ing interest. 1t was not until October, 1924
or after nearly two years labor, that the
| Constitution was proclaimed, a name given
to the Republic, and the 10th OF September
| and the 4th of October declared to be the
| only national anniversaries The new Con-
| stitution confirmed the Federal system estab-
| liShed by the dcta C0nSitutird. 1t declared
| theindependence ofthe country, announced
| the Roman Catholic religion as the only one
to be tolerated, and the States to be conf
ponent parts of the federation, the general
Government being divided into legislative
executive and judicial branches The
volume from this point proceeds through
period rich in historic interest, and con-
! corning which Mr. Bancroft has left un-
| turned no stone. We are given u vivid
| picture and clear insight into the effort of
| Spain to reconquer Mexico, the operation
! of the Federal system, the rise of the
! Texan question, the declaration of indie
| pendence Of that Territory, and the causes
| which led up to the war between Mexico
| and the United States of America. A
| period so fraught with interest and inyoly-
! ing such mOmentous interests cannot but
! prove, in review, of prOfouudest interest to
| the reader. In no former work has this
review been made in such detailed elab-
| orateness as in the volume before us. We
are given a clear insight into the spirit of
the Mexican people, and the springs of the
| Mexican character which led our volatile
neighbors to take so hostile an attitude to
| foreigners that even citizens of the United
| States were expelled from Mexico,
and our first Minister whose
| intentions were of the most generous char
! actcr regarding the commerce and mutual
| prosperity of the two countries, was of ne
cess;ty recalled. Within the period ira
versed by this volume occurred that notable
! eyent-the abolition of slavery by Mexico
taking place much more than Il quarter
| Of century in advance of like action by
! our own Republic. By the act OF absolute
| abolition (1S37) masters were compensated
| for the loss of the slave property; but as
| Texas had lifted its hand in re-
| volt slave owners in that colony
were not permitted to share in the benefits
| of compensation. No more interesting
| chapter in the volume can be designated
! than that which treats of Texan indie
| pendence Chapter VIII also, treating of
| the Pastry War is Of deep interest, de
| failing as it does the first brush of arms in
| which the new Mexico engaged with q
| foreign power France. The last half of
| the volume will, for Americans, possess the
greater interest, as it covers the whole
period of the war between the United
States and Mexico and the acquisition of
California. 1t treats also Of the cOnstitu-
tiOnal changes succeeding the war, the re-
organization under Herrera, and the trials
to which bis Government was subjected,
! and the numerous revolts and wars of races
from 1S49 onward the despOtism of
Santa Anna and the chronic state of
war existing in 1851 the overthrow Of
diCtatorial rule and the restoration
OF liberal institutions under Alvarez; the
PRONUNCIATION of the new Constitution,
which established a code of rights based on
the broadest views of human liberty and
| rules of action recognized by the most adj
vanced thought of the world February ),
| 1857 1t was to take effect September Is
| 1857, and in the meantime it became the
TARGET OF assault by churchmen from priest
| 10 Pope. Civil war followed. and in It's
midst the election of COmontort 10 the first
! Presidency under the new COnStitu
ton took place. Comonfort soon re-
volted against the Government and
the laws he had struggled to
establish, cut loose from his constitutional
supports, and finally became an exile,
! leaving the victory to the reactionary
! leaders. who made Zulvaga President He
annulled the reform laws passed by the
! Comonfort administration, while Juarez
| fighting for a Government based on the
| Constitution of 1857, opposed him i'll arms,
and finally established himself as constitu-
| tional President, with his seat at Vera
Cruz. He had the satisfaction Of witness
ing the downfall of Zulyaga, which was
followed by the choosing Of Miramon to the
! Presidency bv q hastily cqnYeped junla at
| the capital December, 1858. Under Mira
mon occurred that terrible slaughter of
non-combatants and infants succeeding the
conflict of arms between Miramon and the
| Constitutionalists, and which will ever
remain horrid blotch of rebuking blood
upon the historic page of modern Mexico.
In April. 1889, the United States Govern
ment recognized the Juarez Government as
the constitutional and rightful authority,
which was finally seated in the city of
Mexico December Il, 1861, while Mira
mon, fugitive, was being conveyed by the
French ship lie Mercure to Europe. WITH
these eye.ts-the most important, in fact.
in all the history of modern Mexico-this
deeply interesting volume closes, leaving a