Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-29

surprising. Some of the statuary seems
to be copy from that of Egypt. Arch.
biologists nave found nothing yet, how
ever, which can with certainty be
claimed to ante-date the year A. d. 900,
but research is by no means exhausted,
and it is not improbable that ruins which
can be proved as ante-dating the Christ
ian era, by perhaps hundreds and thou
sands of years, will yet be unearthed in
the State of Mexico. A hurried trip to
Pueblo, hundred miles south, and lit
orally City of Churches, was exceeding
ly interesting, and especially short trip
out of Pueblo to visit mound, appar-
entity made solid with adobe brick, with
base larger than that of the Egyptian
pyramids, and an altitude as high, sur
mounted now by Catholic church in
place of the old temple occupied by the
ancients. From this church on the hin
l looked down upon village of scarce
2,0O0 inhabitants and counted twenty-one
churches, well built and occupied by
priests and pious visitants. The little
money the poor people get is mostly
used in their religion-the confessional
taking the place of amusements and the
saloon. Outside of this little hamlet
within a radius of five miles, more than
twenty additional churches and converts
are to be seen. 1t is not surprising that
these people are poor. The church was
rich beyond computation and no wonder
the government of Mexico, poor and in
debt almost beyond possibility of pay
ing, appropriated to its own use quite a
portion of the church property, return
ing to the people that which came from
the people, and reducing the number of
church beneticiares to be supported
from the earnings of the people. Some
church and convent buildings have been
converted into railroad stations.
The government of Mexico needs a
passing notice. 1t is called Republican,
but, as we understand the term it will
hardly bear that name. The elections
are anything but free and untrammeled
The president is arbitrary, acknowledge
ing but little responsibility to people,
court or Congress. He is self . .erpetuat-
ing, yet he is a statesman of pure native
blood, man of great ability, progress
sive and just, and has given the Mexican
people better government than they
ever before enjoyed. Mexico pays Its
debts and now has fair credit among
the Nations of the world. The summary
way the government deals with criminal
classes is admirable in its results, If not
quite in accordance with our ideas of
law.
the fact that but once in Mexico has
there ever been a railroad train held up
by robbers. The train was stopped, pas
sengers and express car robbed, but not
man of the rascals ever lived to get the
benefits of trial. which with us too
often means acGuittal, however guilty, as
they were shot at sight by Mexican SOL
diers, thus saving court expenses and
risk of their escape. No band has since
dared to repeat the otfense on Mexican
soil, preferrIng to 90 just across the line
to Uncle Sans domain, where they are
supposed to be innocent until proved
guilty, and proved guilty only after the
prosecution has run the gauntlet of ali
bies, injunctionS, removal of venue, the
influence of money and all that it i'm
plies, packed JurieS, escape from custo-
dy, and innumerable legal safeguards to
save the guilty and rob the gallows ane
prison OF their Tighttul victims.
In the Cathedral CHURCH at Pueblo, L
was amused and somewhat Mortified at
the sight of paintings representing a
poor wretch in each picture, writhing in
flames with the words issuing from his
mouth: No one prays for my soul.'
1t is needless to add that boxes were un-
derneath to receive contributions, result
ant from the liberality aroused by these
uncanny pictures. We returned to Mex
leo, passing through thousands and thou
sands of acres devoted to the culture of
species of, the century plant, from
which is made the great drink of the peo-
CONTINUED ON FIFTH PAGE.