MEXICO. 



499 



many of the mines being at present only nominally 

 worked, among which is that of the largest- com- 

 pany in the republic, the "Real del Monte," and 

 there are many laborers without employment. There 

 is a general complaint in mercantile circles of a leth- 

 argy and dullness in trade. There has been a re- 

 peated delay in the promised Construction of rail- 

 roads to the interior, to the Pacific, and to the Amer- 

 ican frontier, which has been the greatest industrial 

 demand of the country. Immigration has not set 

 in, as was hoped, with the restoration of peace and 

 a stable government. As a consequence, many ex- 

 perience a feeling of disappointment, and others a 

 spirit of restlessness, which to some observers of 

 the situation forebodes pronuntiamientos and revolu- 

 tion ; and of this state of the country the Conserva- 

 tive party has been very ready to take advantage. 

 The departure of the Sisters of Charity and the 

 "Protests of the Ladies," added to the Pope's de- 

 nunciation of the Mexican laws of reform, have re- 

 vived much of the old religious fanaticism and hatred 

 of the present Government, which was believed to 

 be dying out. This spirit has developed itself in 

 the number and strength of the bandits in differ- 

 ent parts of the republic, and in attacks upon 

 Protestant churches and adherents. Inappropriate 

 as it may seem, the rallying-cry and professed object 

 of the robber-bands and guerrillas is that of the de- 

 fense of the Church. These bands, whose numbers 

 are swelled by the numerous unemployed laborers, 

 have become so formidable in the States of Michoa- 

 can and Jalisco as to give currency to the report of 

 an organized revolution. But, in view of the recent 

 vigorous measures ordered by the authorities, it is 

 anticipated that these bands will soon be suppressed 

 or scattered. Frequent notices of outrages upon 

 Protestant congregations or individuals appear in 

 the daily papers, or are reported to the superintend- 

 ents of missions ih this city. 



The common remark is, that the country was more 

 prosperous in the times of revolution than in these 

 days of peace. The army then gave employment to 

 the idle laborers, their subsistence occasioned a large 

 expenditure of money, and their movement created 

 life and animation. The people, accustomed to war 

 and changes of government, become restless under 

 the present comparatively long peace. But the ad- 

 ministration of Mr. Lerdo is impressed with the ne- 

 cessity to the nation of a continuance of peace, satis- 

 fied that, under its influence, the republic will, in 

 time, experience such a revival of business, mining, 

 and agricultural and manufacturing interests, as will 

 give the country an era of prosperity never before 

 enjoyed; and it will be successful in repressing out- 

 breaks so long as the army remains faithful. The 

 latest official report of the army places its strength 

 at 23,000, and it is better armed, equipped, and dis- 

 ciplined, than in any former period in the history of 

 the country. ^There are just now rumors of a threat- 

 ened pronunciamiento, and of the discovery of a plot, 

 the ( chief instigator of which was General Eocha, 

 division-general and commander of the Federal troops 

 in this capital, which had for its object the deposi- 

 tion of President Lerdo. While there has been some 

 basis for the rumors, the conspiracy does not appear 

 to have had any definite organization or well-settled 

 plan, and the Executive authority was not greatly 

 endangered by it. It is doubtless sufficiently grave, 

 however, to require the removal of General Eocha 

 from his command. 



Within the Liberal party there are no differences 

 of principles sufficiently marked upon which to or- 

 ganize an armed opposition to the present adminis- 

 tration. It could only be of a personal character, 

 without justification or palliation. Eevolution at 

 present can be organized only upon a reactionary 

 basis, and that does not appear probable. 



A comprehensive view of the general state 

 of affairs in Mexico, in the first half of the 



year, is afforded by the following extract from 

 President Lerdo's speech, delivered at the open- 

 ing of Congress, on April 1st : 



... In order to strengthen them more with Gua- 

 temala and Italy, representatives of the republic 

 have been sent* especially charged with expressing 

 to those Governments the wishes which that of Mex- 

 ico entertains for the prosperity of the people over 

 whose destinies they preside. 



Among the amendments to the Constitution re- 

 cently made, with all the requisites which the same 

 provides, the creation of the Senate, which will be 

 realized in September next, will become, in the com- 

 position of the executive power, the complement of 

 our constitutional organization. 



The Executive has strictly observed the organic 

 law of the constitutional additions and reforms. 

 The remains of old prejudices in the religious senti- 

 ment of some persons, artfully and unreasonably 

 excited, have given occasion or pretext for the for- 

 mation of small armed bands in a limited section of 

 the States of Michoacan and Jalisco. These small 

 bands, which will soon be dispersed, have not had 

 it in their power to compromise the peace of the 

 nation. 



The Executive has submitted, and recommends to 

 the consideration of Congress, a bill of a new and 

 important mining ordinance, so useful in a country 

 in which that branch of industry is one of the prin- 

 cipal sources of wealth. 



The project of the code of commerce having been 

 completed, it will be submitted to Congress as soon 

 as the observations of the Chamber of Commerce of 

 this city are examined. 



Instruction in the art of teaching, etc., being now 

 given in the National Secondary School for Girls, 

 that institution now partakes of the character of a 

 normal school, in order that there may be furnished 

 a good corps of female teachers. The Executive is 

 also occupied in organizing a normal school of male 

 teachers, the project for which will be duly pre- 

 sented to Congress for its examination and approval. 



The project of a law for compulsory primary in- 

 struction, which the Executive has presented to Con- 

 gress, has the highest and most important interest 

 for making education general and elevating the moral 

 condition of society. 



The commission sent to observe in Asia the tran- 

 sit of Venus reported that it had complete success in 

 the observation. 



For the important work of the railway from Mexi- 

 co to Leon, the investigations and surveys necessary 

 for the entire distance from Mexico to Quer^taro 

 have already been commenced. 



Near the end of the last period of sessions, the 

 Executive submitted to Congress a project for a rail- 

 way from Leon to the Eio Bravo (Bio Grande), and 

 another for a railway from Guaymas to the Sonora 

 and Arizona frontier. 



The basis of a project is already settled, which 

 will soon be presented to Congress, for a railway 

 from Matarnoras to the Laguna de Jesus Maria, and 

 for the necessary work in said lake for the purpose 

 of forming therein an excellent port, which shall 

 offer to vessels ample space and security. 



The funds necessary for the lighthouses of Ane- 

 gada de Afuerza, in Vera Cruz, and of Tampico, 

 have been deposited. These improvements in the 

 two harbors will be of great utility. 



The labor for completing the canal from the lake 

 of Tamiahua to Tampico is well advanced, as also 

 that on the canal which will convey the waters of 

 the Rio Armeria to the lagoon of Cuyetlan. 



No effort is omitted for pushing forward to com- 

 pletion the several extensive telegraphic lines now 

 in process of construction. Already all the material 

 for the line from Tampico to Matarnoras, via Ciudad 



* For the first time since the days of the late empire. 



