The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-03
THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO AND HER PEOPLE
Authorities Quoted.

dent of Mexican history and an OBJ
server of affairs current in Mexico. In
my former article | referred to many
authorities which disproved the Wifi
cations upon the Mexican people to
which Mr.. Robertson gave utterance. I
shall now take occasion to quote
others. In so doing may not perform
task quite agreeable to the sensibil-
tiles of the gentleman from Faribault.
However, it is always proper to bear
in mind the ancient Spanish proverb:
"No Sc puede hacer tortiIas sin
romper huevos," which signifies, in
our vernacular, "One cannot make
omelets without breaking eggs"
Regarding Mr. Robertson's arraign-
ment of religious conditions in Mexico,
cite from the article, Mexico, in the
Eleventh edition of The Encyclopedia
Britannica;
"The people of Mexico are almost
wholly of the Roman Catholic faith,
the census of 1900 returning 13,533,013
communicates Of that church, 51,795
Protestants Gin great part foreigners),
3,S11 of other faiths and 1850 of no
faith. The Constitution of 1857 grants
toleration to all religions, and since
1868 several Protestant denominations
have established missions in the
towns, but their numbers are still COM
paratively SMALL
THE Church still exercises a bound
less influence over the Mexican lower
classes, and is still the most influential
organization in the Republic"
In regard to education, the same
high authority says:
Education in Mexico may be said
to have entered upon progressive
phase. # In 1857, the adoption
of more liberal and democratic con-
stitution paved the way for new
period in the educational history of the
country It's realization was delayed
by the wars that devastated the conn-
try down to the overthrow of Maxi
milan, but the leaven was at work,
and with the return of peace marked
increase in the number of primary and
secondary schools was noted. Col
| leges of law, medicine and engineer
| ing were created in Mexico City in
1865 in place of the old University and
were successful from the beginning.
Professional schools were also estab-
lished in several of the more important
provincial capitals, and, everywhere in
creasing interest in educational mat
ters was apparent. The best proof of
this was to be found in the develop
nent of the primary schools, of which
there were 1925 in 1874, with an at
tendance of 100000 pupils. Of these,
SOB were supported by the National
Government, 5,240 by municipalities,
2,260 by private enterprise, III by the
Catholic Church, and the remainder by
Protestant denominations. Handsome
schools were built in the cities and
| larger towns and schools were opened
| in all the villages and hamlets. In
some parts the natives made most
creditable progress in all branches OF
| learning. This was especially true OF
| the Mixtecos and Zapotecas of Oaxaca,
from whom have come some of the
| leading men of the Republic
On the 10Th of May, 1896, a general
public education law was promulgated,
which provided further regulations for
the public schols, and outlined COM
| prehensive system. Compulsory at
| tendance had been adopted in 1888, but
| did not come into effect until after the
enactment of the law of 1896. 1t pro-
| vides for uniform, free and non-sec-
tartan primary instruction and compul-
sorry attendance for children of 6 to IL
years of age. Preparatory courses for
professional training in the government
schools were also made free and secu-
lar AS the states have control of the
schools within their own boundaries,
there was at first great lack of uni
formity, but the national system is be-
ing generally adopted. In the official
report of 1904, the number of public
schools, exclusive of infant schools, was
returned at 9,194 against 5,843 in
1874, with an enrolment of 620, ,476.
lOf these SASS were supported by the
national and state governments and
2,7O6 by the municipalities. The pri-
vate, religious and association schools
numbered 2,2S1, with 1858 pupils.
For secondary instruction the national
and state schools numbered 36 with
4,642 pupils and for professional in
struction IS with 9018 students, of
whom $3.50 were women. Normal
schools for the training of teachers are
also maintained at public expense and
! are giving good results. Besides these,
the government maintains schools OF
law, medicine, agriculture and veter
mary practice, engineering, mining
commerce and administration, music
and fine arts. There is also a mechan
, les training school (artes y oficios) fol
t men and similar school for women
, schools for the blind and for deat
3 mutes, reform schools, and garrison
j schools for soldiers. Early estimate:
Y were that 800 of the population were
j illiterate. In 1895, this percentage wa!
e reduced to about $40 and the work 0
r the schools is slowly cutting it down
e Mention must be made of the Nationa
d Library in Mexico City with about 225
r 900 volumes, and 1873 public Libraries
Z. Tin 1000 in other parts of the Repuh
n lie, 81 museums for scientific, educa
= tional and art purposes and IL mete