The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-09-02
THE LAND Off MONTEZUMA
Mr.. W. s. Anthony Writes Enter.
tainingly OF Old Mexico and Its
Historic Scenes and Battles.

Editor Pennington Times:
| have just returned from trip
to Monterey and Saltillo, Mexico,
and since these cities are the cen
tiers of the present political troubles
in Mexico, | thought my ohscrva-
tions concerning them would not be
embarrassing to my friends in Mis-.
suuli:
Monterey, the capital of Nueva
Leon, has a population Of about
ninety thousand, and is considered
by many the second city of the Re
public. Certainly it is the Capitals
most formidable rival commercially.
The city was named after the ninth
viccroy of Mexico, which in those
days was called New Spain. Tie
present city, dating from 1886, occu-
pies practically the same site as the
original village of Santa Lucia
founded by Spanish explorers in
1860. 1t is beautifully located in a
valley surrounded by the famous
Saddle" and "Mitre" mountains
While the city has about 700 Ameri-
can residents, it is decidedly Mex
lean. We stopped ut the Iturbide
Hotel, and were entertained in pure
~ Mexican style.
Church 400 Years Old
Within two blocks of the hotel is
located the Church of San Francis
co, erected in 1850. 1t is fast failing
into decay, hut it's massive walls,
wooden stairways and wonderfully
carved wooden doors and affairs
from which incense has assembled
for nearly four hundred years, bear
evidence of Spanish civilization at
its height, and adcyOtinn Ia religion
inspiring to the heart OF every Cath
Ollie who has the pleasure of kucel-
ing within its sacred precincts.
Facing the Main or Xaragosa
Plaza, in the heart Of tn" city, and
within block of this famous church
il the Cathedral, one Of the most
magnificent ecclesiastical temples in
Mexico. As ] stood within its sacred
walls, heard the chimes Of its four
toen bells, and saw knceling on the
floor in the democracy of religion
the pure Indian, the Mexican and
the American, | think ! saw the
strongest tie that binds together the
inhabitants Of this great Republic
Without an appeal to religion, Hi
dalgo, the priest patriot, could never
have caused Il revolution sufficient
to crush the power Of Spain In Mex
leo.
Reyes, the Man Who Opposes Diaz.
This city is the home OF Governor
Reyes, the man around whom all
the so called revolutionary forces
center. He represents the opposl-
ton to the DiaZ Government, al
though he was ut one time Secre-
tary of War in the Cabinet of Presi-
dent Diaz. He is the candidate for
Vice President of the Republic
against Ramon Corral, the admin
istration candidate. II is under
stood that the person elected Vice
President will succeed to the Prcsi
dency, since President Diaz is now
very old man; hence the impor-
lance Of the election.
We visited the State House and
were in the Office Of the Governor.
The magniflcence OF the building
and its furnishings are in keeping
with the wealth OF the State. We
were shown the guns which ended
Maximillian's dream Of Empire,
and hanging by them was his ban
ner inscribed with the simple words
"lmperio Mexicano. An immense
statue of Juarcz, the greatest hero
in all Mexico, stands in front Of the
Palace and just behind it, on the
building, is the statue Of an angel,
holding crown above the head of
the nero.
The gaido In showing us n paint
ing of Juarez in the Hall of Con-
gress said with great pride "Juarez
was an Indian" He was evidently
actuated by the same feeling which
caused the Secretary to the Cover
nor at Saltillo, when exhibiting to
us painting OF the heroine of the
city, Leona Vicario, to state, "She
was q Mexican; She was against
the Spanish"
Where Montezuma's Daughter Found
Health.
About three miles from the city |
are located the famous Topo Chico
Hot Springs. These springs, gush-