The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-12-26
THE MEXICAN coNoREss.



The Powers and Personnel OF tlzA NnfkonnAs
Assembly Of Mexico.
Mexico is nominally governed hy Ell
Congress, first called September II.
1918, which has probably seen as many
yicissitudes as any assembly on earth
has ever seen in the same time. ~ hasg
been chased here and there, dissolved.
expelled, recalled and remodeied uilt
ill it has finally settled down into Az \
established institutions II now con-s
sists of q Senate Of about sixty mem
hers. which meets in room ia the
National Palace, and Chamber OF
Deputies of some two hundred and
twenty members, which meets ia tue
old Theater Of Iturbide. over hall 3
mile from the National Pqsace. In
appearance this Congress could hardly
he llistlnouished from that of the United
States. Fully nine-tenths Of lts menu
bers are of pure white blood, and the
other tehth have no more colon tnau
fashion demands OF a stylish brunette.
No traces of rusticity, coarseness, 49,
norance or stupidity are visible, nor Y
there any sign Of what is generally
| known as Mexican costume. Both
| bodies are composed of eminent sol
diers. scholars, lawyers and members
of other professions, with young men
whose talents have attracted no.
tice and the members show q de-
gree of politeness and dignity that
would improve many Of our State
Legislatures. Their conversation II
the Hobbies and on the floor shows ~
extraordinary degree of culture an1
education, and both bodies, ere the las
to which one would look fcF subserv
iency to the Executive.
Theoretically this Congress Is elected
by the people. Practically it IS elected
by the President. A note to the Office
in command of the military district, Q
to the political chief-a civil office
whose actual powers are co-extersiy
with the requirements OF any ofneI
gencv-recommen a certain pel
son as a suitable subject fors Cor
gresham, rarely fails. Should II far
the error is easily corrected insthe car
yass, or still more easily in the hpal -
turns. In the federal distri oh
| CITY of Mexico and its envird a.
, elective system il still more TN
: ingly simple. Should there
, candidates, which Is rarely fh4E ~
! the defeated candidate is the last ~
9 on earth to complain or contest Y
, seat
/ IA Congress so elected can be notl
G ing but ratifying committee. Esp
O cially must it be so in country u
e Mexico, with vast ignorant low
q class taking no interest in public 4
q fairs in time of peace, with no lnlfid
e class worthy Of mention, and Wit
upper class too small to resist the arm
S which must be kept up to restrain q
n turbulent part of the lower class. untl
:, such circumstances it is quite usep'
" for representative to DO indepen
It emit The result would be the loss e.
l. good position, with two hundred a
e fifty dollars month for doing next
/. nothing. And should, he find hinase
t. upon some pretext banished to 1ng
1t tan or languishing in prison, his Nos
ID nal constituents are the last ones
n earth to whom he can look for redre
le The visitors in the galleries OF |
ct Mexican Congress sees at once the
10 feet Of this. Day after day tho Houl
l. meet, and adjourn in a few mornei
ly after hearing the minutes of the 4
It. meeting and formal communlcatl
if or two from some State Legislature
Oh officer. Occasionally a bill Is pass
er But it goes as matter Of course,
vo members taking no interest in
ed Many do not even hear their mar
ee called, and their assent Is assliIp
he others give delicate nod orc y
ed wave of the hand; while others fset
lite smile at the Secretary, as # consci
he of the absurdity of the cerelpo
lr- The Congressman cares no more
ct, the "dear people, than the people (
- for him. Respect for them can
get him into trouble, whereas resi-
for the President will insure his reti
His constituents trouble him with
letters, instructions, resolutions, or
an titions; and he in return spares Il
out the4 infiction Of public docuIae
900 prillsed speeches, papers and Az q
M. evidences of his regard 4. s. Z
IT, DgEe. IN Harper's Magast'se.