

MEXICO. 



537 



Government. It was in evidence that the cat- 

 tle crossed over the river near Brownsville and 

 stolen from American citizens numbered 60,- 

 000, and were valued at $1,000,000. Custom- 

 house inspectors testified that they had dis- 

 tinctly recognized officers in Cortina's army 

 directing the operations. Herds of cattle, to 

 the number of from 4,000 to 6,000, had been 

 hurried across the river in open daylight. 

 Cattle had been driven three days without rest, 

 to reach the river, and 1,000 perished in the 

 sand. On one occasion the thieves picketed 

 the road, and made passing travellers assist 

 them in crossing the cattle. 



Early in the same month the revolutionary 

 chiefs began to lay down arms and accept of 

 amnesty. Negrete, Aravarrite, Jose Postillo, 

 Mariano, and Gonzales, were the first to take 

 the step, and their example was immediately 

 followed by all the others, except Garcia de la 

 Cadena, who, holding out defiantly, was cap- 

 tured, and sent a prisoner to Trinidad. As a 

 member of Congress, he was tried by that 

 body, who acquitted him, and restored him to 

 his seat. Martial law was revoked in the 

 States of Zacatecas, Tlaxcala, San Luis, Puebla, 

 and Hidalgo, and the State governments re- 

 stored to their full powers. 



Eiforts were made to organize Juarez's sup- 

 porters at the last presidential election into a 

 political party, entitled " Eadical Reformers." 

 Ex-Governor Baez was mentioned as their 

 candidate. Juan Jose" Baez was also promi- 

 nently spoken of as another candidate. 



All the formalities attending the concession 

 granted to Colonel Lever for establishing a 

 steamship-line from the Gulf ports to New 

 Orleans were completed, and a commissioner 

 proceeded to New York to organize the service 

 immediately. 



A fire which occurred in Mexico City in 

 August, and destroyed the palace of the Na- 

 tional Congress, was caused by the negligence 

 of a tinsmith while repairing the roof. The 

 powder and other explosive and inflammable 

 materials stored in the building were removed 

 the moment the fire was discovered. The ar- 

 chives of the Congress were saved. The utter 

 uselessness of the fire-engines made it impossi- 

 ble to stay the progress of the flames, and they 

 were not extinguished until there was nothing 

 left of the palace for them to feed upon. 



It was reported that the historic sword of 

 General Iturbide, the hilt of which was 

 thickly studded with diamonds and other pre- 

 cious stones, was stolen in the confusion inci- 

 dent to the fire. 



The death of President Juarez was made 

 the occasion by the masonic fraternity for 

 holding a Lodge of Sorrow in the Iturbide 

 Theatre, where, on the centre of the stage, 

 was raised a heavily-draped catafalque. The 

 ceremonies were of a very imposing character, 

 and were witnessed by a large concourse of 

 citizens. President Lerdo and other high dig- 

 nitaries of the state and municipality were pres- 



ent, and ladies dressed in deep mourning filled 

 the boxes. 



The soldiers of the regular army, stationed 

 at Guanajuato, mutinied, assassinated their 

 commandant, and robbed the public treasury 

 of $50,000. 



Florez, the federal Governor of Sinaloa, 

 while riding in the suburbs of Mazatlan, was 

 seized by a gang of kidnappers, composed of 

 late rebel soldiers, and carried into the moun- 

 tains. A large- ransom was demanded for his 

 release. 



The election for President took place Novem- 

 ber 1st, and resulted in the almost unanimous 

 choice of Lerdo de Tejada ; the votes against 

 him were few and scattering. 



Porfirio Diaz sent in his own submission to 

 the government, and the surrender of the forces 

 under his command. The paper was dated 

 October 23d, near Durango, and the general 

 promised to present himself at the capital. 

 With this act the pacification of the republic 

 was complete. 



Sefiors Mendoza, Bliss, and Manfred, were 

 appointed by the Geographical Society to visit 

 the Pyramids of Testihuacan. 



An Italian journal is to be published in the 

 city of Mexico. 



The railroad war continues rife. 



The supporters of General Eosecrans were 

 ready to furnish the security necessary to in- 

 sure the completion of their road, and prom- 

 ised to begin work immediately. 



A heated discussion took place in Congress 

 between the advocates of the rival roads. 

 Private correspondence represents that the 

 friends of the plan urged by General Eose- 

 crans were hopeful that they would be ulti- 

 mately successful. The road projected by Mr. 

 Plumb seemed to be preferred, because it will 

 make a direct line to the United States and 

 will be a broad-gauge road. 



Congress intended granting a subvention to 

 the line of steamers proposed to be run be- 

 tween New Orleans and Mexican ports. 



Astonishment was manifested at the per- 

 sistency of the new President in retaining in 

 high office the appointees of the late President 

 Juarez. 



Sefior Eojo, the new President of Congress, 

 is a Juarist, and Sefior Zamacona, the new 

 Vice-President, an adherent of General Por- 

 firio Diaz. 



The sacrificial stone of the Aztecs was re- 

 moved to the National Museum. 



President Lerdo's inauguration took place 

 on December 1st. 



The President contracted a loan of $1,000,- 

 000, the first instance of the Government en- 

 joying credit for a long time. 



Mr. Nelson, the American minister to the 

 republic, speaks in enthusiastic terms of the 

 agricultural resources of Mexico. "It can," 

 he says, "supply the world with sugar of a 

 quality superior to that of Cuba." Its coffee 

 is unsurpassed in quality and in the quantity 



