The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-22

Diaz and His Government-The Pres.
idential Palace and It's Curiosities-
Roles of the Aztec Civilization.
THE APPEAL has been allowed the priv.
ilege of printing the following letter from
Mr.. Il, j. Semmes, now travelling in
Mexico:
Cry OF MEXICO, July l0-I wrote YOU
on the Sth hurried letter, emitting much
| wanted to say. Nj. is still confined TO his
bed and owing to this we are unable TO get
about rs much as We ought, and have to
60 at intervals and in broken parties or
separately TO see what we can. We are
comfortable, in large rooms, and have an
| excellent table, taking our meals as we
can, sometimes all together, and Mt any
hour we choose, some OF us always being
with Mac. My room is the one Patti used
when here, large, with two beds, very high
ceilings, has u balcony looking on the
street and u gallery overlooking a lovely
garden of flowers, plants and trees, nine OF
which are the largest banana trees ever
saw. This "Ilotel del Jardn" (thc gar
den" coniiscatcd by the Juarcz govern
ment) was once monastery, and over one
| portion isa large dome that covered the
chapel, the roof of which is covered by
colored porcelain tiles, and on tour sides is
the coat of arms OF Spain in porcelain OF
red, white, blue and yellow. The garden
| belonged TO the convent and shows age,
though in good condition, and is bcauti-
full and refreshing sight to look down upon
from our gallery. My room is next 20 the
parlor and next to that the dining room,
both under the dome alluded to. Wchavc
visited several old churches, but Sunday
went TO
HIGH MASS IN THK CATHEDRAL.
This church perfectly overwhelms one.
II is larger than the great cathedral in New
York, but constructed very differently.
| The grand altar is a church OF itseli-nll OF
precious marbles, onyx, lapis, layuli, etc,
aud has four sides, each with an altar
The church is filed with shrincs, chapels
and paintings gilded and rich ornamental.
ton. The choir is n wonderful church OF
itself, with carving in wood and stone, and
| two immense organs. At the mass. besides
| the organ there were about twenty-five in.
struments and drums, aud the music was
| grand. The superb railing around the
altar and down the length from them TO
the choir, in which also are the stalls OF
the canons Of the cathedral, twelve in
number, making a rallied oil aisle in the
center Of the church, il composed OF gold,
copper or tin; an English company offered
! 10 give 81, OOO, 900 for IL and put one Of
silver just like IL In its place.
During mass we had sermon IN Span.
ish, aud | occupied the time in going
behind the grand altar Ia full hour aud
looking at some of the pictures and
| chapCls. In the immense sacristy, a
church itself, besides many other pic
lures, there are six OF enormous
1 size, with hundreds OF figures, life
size, representing the assumption (af.
/ ter which the church Is called,
| the coronation, the battle OF ~. Michael
aud the angels host with Luciicr and the
rcbellious hosts, aud the triumph OF ~.
/ Michael, who, with the other heavenly
warriors, is hurting Luciicr and his army
into the flames OF hell. These pictures
are full OF force and beauty OF color and
expression, There ac two Murillos In
the cathedral, but as vet have not found
them, IA there are perhaps 1000 pictures
there. Did ! tell YOU Of the effect on me
| Of the cathedral chimcsY Well. there are
more than thirty bells; one Is sixty feet in
circumference and nineteen icct high.
When they are rung IL is like a musical
thunderstorm or artillery battle.
the GOVERNMENT.
Today we made n partial visit 20 the
presidential palace, building 600 feet
square, ., 100 feet OF building with nm
open square in the center We only took
a casual look at things there before taking
our party for half a days visit We saw
Maximillians magnificent state coach,
(indcscribahly iine), aud q magnificent
portrait Of him full size, mounted ON
horseback and his stall around him.
Poor fellow, lac was wonderfully hand.
some and fine looking man, aud the
picture Is said 10 be- perfectly true, that OF
President military dictator, really Diaz,
Is said 10 bc perfect, and shows n deter.
mined, confident man, who would wade
through blood 10 accomplish his purpose.
lie rules absolutely this republic With a
regular army Of 5000 men, aud the man
who criticikcs his government Is a doomed
man in about twcniy.inur hours. An cdi.
tor who mildly criticized his method Of
election was shot next day. A French
editor Of a sort Of Punch male n Joke
about the same thing. and was elapsed
into prison for two weeks aud his family
did not know whether he was dead
or alive. We weru In san Luis
Pola-i when the election took place
las, month when Diaz was reelected
Prcsidcnt-in n city Of $1,000 We did not
hear 81 an election or Of anybody voting.
In fact, there isno voting IN this country
At ALL Tho returns are made up by OIL
cials, when no one has really voted. OK.
cept in some cases where the President =
adhcrrnta are active and numerous. An
American told us today. who has lived
herr eighteen years, that II the army was
disbandcd the present government would
not last a day. Yet with all lis dcspotism
Diaz has made much improvement In the
condition Of the country. Since 1853 the
radical governments have confiscaied over
SiO0,OO0,OO worth 81 church property.
In san Luis aud hero We Heo signs oi Il
everywhere, yet they get little bcnciit from
their robbery. The faithful would not buy
NJ any price. the Radicals bought for a
song what the government pets and 9TH.
cials lid not steal. Tho Bishop of San
Luis Potos, and the Archbishop Of Mexico
have bought back from other Owncn. some
Of this property, and ! don't think any
government will again try 70 rob the
church NJ lhoy have done in the past II
has not paid. ! started 10 tell you some
thing Of
WHAT . saw ~ tHE PALACE,
but can at present mention only fen
objects. There are many portraits of dis
tinguishcd rulers, generals aud ecclesiastics
One Il Phillip H., q Spain, Is fine; one 81
Ferdinand AMI his Spanish warriors rout
| inV tho Moors bslofs t,fpuada aud n mum,