Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-21
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

The assassination of President-elect
0bregon of Mexico was not merely
terrible murder, but it Is recognized as
an indication of smoldering fire OF
revolution which may yet drench the
whole country with hloodshed and lead
to anarchy, Only with knowledge of
general conditions in Mexico, which
ha,. persisted ever since Cortez con-
Guered Monteguma. is 1t possible for an
outsider to conceive perils as they are
which endanger the peace OF the coun-
try. President Gales officially accuses
church conspiracy behind the Oregon
murder.
Following the Cortex invasion in 1919
and the overthrow OF the Aztec Empire,
Spain ruled the country with an iron
hand. and aristocratlc Spaniards eA
plotted the natives until the example Oh
tn, American colonies In breaking away
from British rule inspired the nalt -oFeso
Mexicans TO revolt from spain IN 4oIo
In a war which lasted 10 years, nut was
finally victorious for the Mexicans.
It is noteworthy that the Washing
ton" who led the revolters against
Spain was a patriotic priest, Father
Miguel Hidalgo Costello Of GUIANA :
iuato noteworthy because Of recent ana
present status of the relations OF the
church to the state. On February "a,
1891, the Spanish flag, which naa
fioated over Mexico for 800 years, was
hauled Own and the republic was es-
tahlishad.
In the fight for independence the
royal army of Spain was commanded
by Iturbide. and even after the war
with Spain had ended he was sup
rarted by the church party and pro-
claimed Emperor of Mexico, e,.t soon
he was captured and executed. In s!l
of Mexicos disturbances, with the eAr
ception of what the Mexicans cali inc
''invasions Americana" the powerIui
church party has supported It's own
interests and those OF the great feudal-
istic landholders against the common
masses of the people. and the outstand-
ing causes of contention have been the
immense holding of landed property oy
the church. The church is estimated 10
have owned In 1855, when second
revolution broke, no less than one-tniFd
of all tillable land in Mexico. bp some
authorities the estimate was one-hah.
II owned all schools. most OF inc me
buildings and collections OF art ana
literature. Catholicism was the only
legal religion of the country, and ac-
cording TO the Encyclopaedia Britain
MICA slotl, the clergy were exceed
ingiy corrupt. both in private and pnnnc
life and church officials had repeat
edly plotted with rulers in Europe toF
the establishment OF monarchy III
Mexico"-~iong before the MaNsnli,latl
fiasco. Americans who are unfamiliar
with church domination, Sucn as mas
existed in Mexico can nave no consep-
ton of the difference between condl-
tions here and in that country.
There came revolt III 1887, following
the defeat of the Mexican government
hv the Americans. Up TO that time the
Mexican ruling class had been eXcln-
siyelv OF Spanish descent, From tne
administration of Cortez III lo20 the
masses were peonS~practically slaves
In the centuries there developed
middle class of half-hreedS, VINO pc
came artisans, traders and small prep,
ertv owners. but they were eNciucea
from government and higher economic
rank, 1t was this middle class WHEN
had started the revolution OF loIu Lut
independence, and again IN 1897 1ot tiie
overthrow of the ruling class OF span
ISL AfkNtCGtAtS a~A@N~s NAeMN
led bv Benito JuareE. an lnoian Oh
Oaxaea of the far south. In con-
troyersial article by Mexican IN SYM
pathy with the reactionarles. THIS
statement of the Laws Of Reform,
enacted by the supporters OF tie 1897
Juarez revolution, Is made:
s.When the revolution came and Win
II the laws of reform Of Kenito Juare1,
an end came to what little freedom the
church had, She was deSpoiied OF sucn
nossessions as had been left her. she
was forbidden to teach, which means
"a open schools OF any kind, except OF
theology. Her ministers could not even
dress as clerics. The law OF May IL,
is7S, forbade any religious demonstra-
ton outside Of q church building ana
forbade clergymen or sisters TO oresS
any way that would indicate their call
Inc, The constitution or 1897 inter-
fered with personal liberty to the eN~
tent OF forhidding anybody TO enter
religious order and refused religious
orders a legal right 10 hold property,
The law Of July L. 1889, suppressed re-
lirious orders and religious societies,
forbade the foundation Of new eongre~
cations, ordered all books. manuscripts,
prints and antiquities belonging 10 such
orders to be given up. The law ot July
IL, 1859. took away all property from
the clergy. but that OF 1861 returned TO
the church Its parochial residences,
blshnns houses. etc. Then. September
Is, 1919. saw new law which forbade
any religious institution to acquire
or the revenue derived from 1t,
Later laws forbade church to con-
duct hospitals or charitable institutions.
or to act as administrators or patrons
Of private charities,
- u
Yet while these restrictions were put
upon the church which In It's heydey nI
power had acquired from 0 third 70 y
halt OF the real property Of the nation,
and together with the Spanish seudal
lords held 81 per cent Of the land al
the country. the missionaries OF nom
mononolistic churches We're invited 10
enter and were not subject 30 hard
Limitations hampering their work
Same vars aga, In the DsaE admins
iStratlnn. the nlfnent writer sauNterias
thro,lph the strxsN4S and ShnfaS al Outer.