Year: 1870




Errptions In Noxice.


Nothing surprising transplres in Mexico.
Excitement Is the rule in this strange and in
explicable land. Whether we regard the people
or the country it is all the same. Rest there
is nowhere. Action everywhere. If not an
eruption among the discordant spirits that find
a local habitation within the confines of the
republic, then it is an eruption in the shape
Of a volcano or, what is still more terrible, an
earthquake, which deals death and destruction
all round. Year in and year out it is the same
thing. Scarce had the recollection OF the May
festivities, which this year were celebrated
with great eclat throughout The republic, passed
from the minds Of those who participated in them
than the dreadful shocks Of an earthquake
were experienced in many parts throughout
the country. In the State Of Oaxaca the shock
was really terrible. The city Of Oaxaca suf-
fered most and is to-day nearly heap Of ruins,
and hundreds Of lives bear evidence to the
severity OF the visitation. According to re-
ports published by the Minister of the Interior
the earthquake was felt in Orzava, Cordoba,



Canada, Acatcingo, Huamrtrfa, Tampico and
other places. In the city Of Mexico the aque-
duct was injured, and in Jalapa and Orizava
several buildings were ruined II twill be seen,
therefore, that this convulsion of nature, like
the revolutionary convulsions that too fre-
quently seize the Mexican people, was con-
fined to no particular section of the country.


While the forces Of nature were at work de-
strdying life and reducing to ruins the handi-
work of man the turbulent spirits Of neigh
boring republic, as if invited by the course
pursued by the Mexlcans themselves and
in unison with Mexican aspirations, in
vaded the State, and, joining fortunes
with adventurers whose patriotism ever
has consisted in opposition to law and
order, endeavored to set up an Independent
government OF their own creation. This move
ment, rash as it may seem, may cos. Mexico
much treasure before it is stamped out. And
while the South has thus been busy in foment-
ing revolution and addi g to the perplexitics
which distract the republic affairs in the North
have not flowed in as calm a channel as the
best interests Of the country require. Ia the
State of Sonora the Apache Indians are meet
ing with rigorous treatment and the noble red
men are being hunted down. There is pre-
MUM of two hundred dollars for every Indian
scalp. This barbarous offer is made by the
State Legislature, and yet we question whether
the number of scalps will be great, for the
Mexicans love the show of fighting better than
the reality and SO long as there are treasure
wagons to rob, after the novelty Of Indian war
fare wears of, this cruel war against the noble
red man will possibly be dscon' 'inued, for some
time at least.


From all we can learn it is evident that
Mexico is making little headway in the march
of civilization. She lays behind while other
nations advance. Disturbed and distracted at
home, her weakness aad impotence are the SUBJ
jec4 of comment abroad. That climatic inlu-
ences may have much to do with this state of
things is belief entertained by many. Long
the prey of contending factions aud parties the
republic has suffered, in credit and in name
This is an evil which we have ever deplored,
but when the forces of nature act, as it were,
in sympathy with The unruly and discontented
children of the republic, who really know not
what they want, then, indeed, does the condi-
ton of Mexico appear sad.