Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-11

RECORD-UNION, SATU]
was now as tranquil as only tropic seas can
be, and at last anchored second time
OFF THE Low SHORES OF TAsrPICo.
This port is situated some nine miles
from anchorage, up the Panuco river-or
the Rio Tampico, as it is oftener called.
The bar at It's mouth carries less than
eight feet of water at high tide. and thus
vessels OF the lightest draught are COM
PEELED to lie at distance, exposed to all
the winds that blow.
One by one we clambered over the side
OF the old-iashloned packet, for one peril
Gus moment suspended, like Mohammed's
coffin, between heaven and earth, and were
safely transferred TO tiny sail-boat toss
ing upon the blue-green waves beneath
Though the day was calm, the sea upon
/ the bar was tremendous, and numerous
rolling wrecks strewn all about testified
that the bad reputation of the place is not
undeserved. II is formed by long lines of
submurged sand hills, which cross each
other north and south. The treacherous
| passage between them varies with the shift
ing sands, and pilots can be guided only by
! the surf
\ row of enormous white pelicans, with
thoughtful, eagle-like faces, sat perched
upon sand-bank, watching how we passed
! that dreaded bar. Doubtless they have
clapped their great wings and screamed a
| wild sea-dirge over many 4 drowning
crew; but we crossed in safety and soon
sea and bar were forgotten rs we rowed up
| the tranquil river.
Even in this out-of-the-way section of
| Mexico
| POLITICAL EXCITEMENT
Runs high. The Clerical party are doing
all in their power to oppose the continual
ton in office of Presiden. Diaz the arch
| Liberal, whom they consider the Church's
greatest enemy Their chief allegation
against him Just now is his well-known
partiality toward Americans, and the con-
| sequent introduction into Mexico of Amer
lean capital and customs.
One of many election stories started by
the opposition is to the effect that Diaz
contemplated selling to the Americans the
| peninsula OF Lower Observation-Disclosures
only Territory. Mr. Masae, Government
| Inspector of the colonies in that section,
being interviewed on the subject the other
day, said emphatically that there is not
word Of truth in the story that the Pres
| ident has never dreamed of such a thing,
and the colonists themselves would be the
| strongest opponents To purchase or annex
alton. Under Mexican rule they enjoy
exemption from taxation, and in all bust
ness endeavors receive more liberal treat
ment than they could expect from the
| United States.
Another scare is afforded by Free
masonry. 1t is alleged-but with what
! truth | cannot say-that the clerical party
in their ancient stronghold of Puebla
have declared that they would kill every
Mason in that State-the cause being that,
throughout the Republic, the Freemasons,
to man, support the reelection of Gen
eral Diaz. Within the last three months,
in remote districts of Puebla, several
prominent Masons whose political and
religious ideas are repugnant to the cleri-
Gals, have been mysteriously assassinated
The long of bill for
COMPULSORY EDUCATION,
After thorough discussion on its general
scope, has been approved in the Chamber
of Deputies, by a vote of IA against +
but subject to future discussion and passage
of each article of the same. Senior Don
joaquin Baranda, Secretary of Justice
and Public Instruction, when asked to
give his views on the matter, said that
while the Executive did not take the
initiative with reference to this bill, vet
| that branch of the Government has Il de-
cided opinion on the subject, and has made
known its views thereon with the utmost
trankness. 1t firmly believes that the
maintenance of political institutions,
peace, progress, and even the existence of
the Republic, depends upon the diffusion
of primary instruction; and to attain that
end no other means has been discovered so
effective as free and compulsory education
Said Secretary Baranda, " l do not think
| II necessary to discuss whether the princi-
pie is good one. because the discussion
has been carried on for many years, and at
last the method of compulsory education
has been adopted by the most civilized ma
| tions of the world, whether in those ruled
by an absolute or monarchial form of gov
eminent, or in those where there Is a re-
public and democratic administration
Germany on the old continent, and on the
new the United States and several Span
lSh-American countries, eloquently demon
strate that compulsory education is the
basis of prosperity and the secret of ma
tional strength"
In the educational asylum recently es-
tablished in Mexico City by Mrs. Diaz,
the Presidents wife, there are already
more than sixty children in regular at
tendance.
a law providing that each year the 18th
of JUly-anniverSary of the death of
Benito Juarez, the Indian President
shall be set aside as a day of public
mourning, has been published and gone
into effect
An important decision has Just been rem
dered by the First District Court of the
Republic, affirming the validity of the
Bell telephone and Blake transmitters pat
ents, under the laws of Mexico The de-
PENDANTS in the case, a German mercantile
house, were ordered to deliver their stock
and instruments TO the Mexican Telephone
Company, also to make statement of
profits and hand them over, and to pay all
costs of the suit.
y monster petition against bull-ighting
Is being circulated in the Federal district.
and will shortly be presented to the Gov
ernment. Most Of the newspapers denounce
these spectacles as barbarous, and there is
strolg and growing sentiment against
them; yet, whenever bull-fght is on, the
Plaza de Torras is always crowded, by pa
tricians as well as paryenus and visiting
strangers. Likely as not President Diaz
will now prohibit them altogether. Verify,
we are getting too Americanized down here
In Mexico. FANNIE b. WARD.
.s,s.z.s-...--@s
COLUMBIA's FLAG.