Year: 1870

The condition of Mexico at present is as
bad as bad can be. Every telegram, letter
and item Of information from there shows
that the country ia rapidly sinking beneath the
load that dscontented, unprnciplcd and rcck-
less politicians, demagogues and military
leaders are heaping upon it. State after State
rebels against the national authority. Pro-
nunciamento succeeds pronunciamento, and
treason forms the basis for their utterance.
Only short time since revolution broke ont
IN San Luis Potosi, and to such formidable
extent had 1t spread that the government was
powerloss to suppress it. So bold had the
revolutonists become that they issued
proclamation declaring the independence Of
the State, and although the latest kilograms
from the city of Mexico inform us of the vic
tory OF the national troops under General
Escobedo over the rebel General Agnirre, yet
| the recent successes are not Of such charac-
ter as might lead to the belief that the reyo-
luton in that State is effectually crushed.
The news that General Garcia de Cadena, ex-
Governor Of Zacatecas was at Lagos, at the
head of two thousand men and with twelve
pieces of cannon, may also be regarded as an
indication of fresh troubles, when it is con-
sidered that Cadena aims TO Oil the Presi-
dental chair now occupied by Juarez.


Every day brings with it additional dangers
to the Mexican republic. Among the foremost
of those who lead the rcbellious factions in
their reasonable opposition to the national
government we find the names Of Lozada,
Negrete, Placdo Vega, Agurre, Espinosa
and Daville From the Rio Grande to Ia
basco and from tho Gulf Of Mexico to the
Pacific Ocean the peace of the country is dis
turbed by hloodshed, robberies and contempt
for the law and its administrators. The revo-
utions which now curse Mexico have assumed
greater proportions than any which have
afflicted this unfortunate country since 1859,
and threaten to bring On universal disregard
for restraint or the establishment of abso Lutte
anarchy. In fact, the political and financial
problem Of Mexico is no nearer solution now
than it was forty years ago. The last dol
lar which the government could raise by
mortgaging its diseased credit is being
brought to bear to postpone tho reign
Of anarchy, while the people, having no
confidence in themselves or not desiring to
preserve their own institutions, refuse to
volunteer their personal aid in the field to
sustain order Even when volunteers are
found willing to enter upon campaign and
attempt to restore order once more they stand
in danger OF becoming tainted by the treason
able influences which surround them, and not
unfrequently succumb to these influences. for
get their loyalty to the republic and join the
standard of some revolutionary demagogue.


Amid all these turbulent spirits the
unfortunate Juarez stands almost alone, vanly
endeavoring to stem the tide Of disorder that
sweeps over the whole face of the country.
Wherever he casts his eye revolution, gaunt
and bloody, meets his gaze. Even the
national troops are not to be trusted. Dis
content among leading officers is common;
and, such being the case, is it any wonder
that when led to battle the troops sustain
defeat under leaders whose conduct suggests
the suspicion of insubordination, if nothing
worse to the higher authorities? Apart from
this lack of confidence in many Of the officers
we cannot lose sight Of the fact that men
forced into the ranks make poor soldiers; and
|
empty treasury, which is anything but a
stimulant for men to fight. Patriotism is left
out of the question: for were we to judge the
Mexicans by the last forty years experience
there would be little to place to their credit
for love of country.


In view of the present situation of affairs
and the progress of the revolution, how long
will the Mexican people persist in following a
course which leads into the very depths OF
misrule, anarchy and confusion? There are
scarcely half dozen States Of the twenty two
comprising the republic in which revolution
open and avowed does not exist, where the
laws are de6ed, the executive condemned,
murder an everyday occurrence, robberies
prevalent, outrages committed without dread
of consequences, and fear, distrust and con-
fusion everywhere. This is Mexico of to-day,
and pitifui picture it presents. 1t almost
seems as if self-government by the people oi
that rich and fruitful land was a failure, and
that every day draws us nearer and nearer to
the time when, in the interests of humanity
and civilization, the subject OF Mexican self
government will be brought before the govern
ment of the United States for It's consideration,
and possibly for its action.


THE POSTAL TELEGRAPH IN ENGLAND
: The Western Union monopoly has been
enabled through the Atlantic telegraph to
create the impression in this country that the
government system of telegraphing in England
was failure. But it is always well to take
| those desnatches with manv grains Of allow
ance. General G. G. Washburn has received
letter from Mr.. Scudamore, Director General
of Postal Telegraphs in Great Britain, saying
that the working Of the scheme is improving
daily, and the delay occasioned at first was
owing entirely to the rush of business brought
/ IL hx~ll H.. lie. e