The evening herald., 1917-03-05


parlnS a constitution for Mexico the
JOB has been completed II had been
thought that the constitution would DO
modelled along broad and modern
lines. bat Il appears that scnor Car
rama and his cohorts have no idea
Of the meaning OF those terms as
portions Of the document which have
been made public Indicate that
the constitution is about as drastic and
antiquated as Il Is possible for such a
document 10 be. The following extract
from the constitution has been pub
llshed by the FL Paso Times:
Strict government regulation of the
church IL provided for in the new cone
stitution All ministers OF whatever
cult must be Mexicans by birth This
regulation will cause removal from
their pastorases about $500 Spanish
priests. There are few American min
listers In Mexico. al the present time
probably less than ten. English and
German clergymen are equally few.
but there are quite n number OF
Frenehmen among the Catholic clergy
OF Mexico.
No minister OF any cult will bel
permitted 10 teach in the public
schools and only may give instruction
In the higher grades OF the private
schools. nor may any religious sect be
permitted to establish or direct schools
81 primary instruction.
The constitution, states that the
state cannot recognize any compact
which win tend 10 lower. iose or sae-
rifice the liberty OF man. either
through work. edrcation OF religious |
vow. and that therefore the Law will
not tolerate monastic orders nor per- !
nit The establishment OF such hy any
denomination for whatever object
Every man will have the liberty
60 profess the religious belief OF his
beside and to practice the ceremonies
and devotions OF the religion in the
churches or In his private house. and
this shall not be considered a n,isde- |
ineanor punishable by law. All pub
lie religious Observance shall be cell
ebrated within the churches. whiehi
always shall be under the vigilance ot
the authorities
Marriage Ia TO be regarded as a |
civil contract. The simple promise TO |
speak the truth and assume the obli- |
cation is sufficient TO constitu,e mar
riage. Tho law will not recognize tho
personality OF any sect. Ministers will
be considered an professional men aud |
subject 70 the laws and regulations
governing professional men. The state
legislatures. according to local needs. |
VIII regulate the maximum number
OF ministers Of each cult within their
states. Ministers in pIblic reunionI
or formal private meeting or In the
acts OF The cult or in religious propa-
ganda shall not critlclse the fundae
mental laws OF the country. the au-
thorities In particular or the govern
inent in general. They shall not have
tho right 10 vote or to be voted for
nor the right 20 associate themselves
in political affairs.
Evidently religion Ia not regarded
very highly in Mexico. All ministers.
you viii observe, must be Mexicans by
birth. and even these are forbidden 10
"critieise the fundamental laws 81 the
country, the authorities in particular
or the government In general" Fur
thermore. they shall not have :he
right 10 vote or 20 be voted for nor
the right 20 associate themselves IN
political affairs"
Even Paneho villa. who Is looked
upon as an outlaw, a murderer and
most everything else in the criminal
calendar could hardly have drafted a
constitution containing more drastic
provisions than the one Just turned
out by carrEnza and his satellites.
This Ia the gang with whom the
kaiser wants TO form an alliance. Truly.
they would make a fir bunch Of COM
padres for Emperor William.
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