314 



MEXICO. 



action of a free press, or of a press comparatively 

 free, is not much less remarkable. It displays it- 

 self chiefly in the form of newspapers, which start 

 up in every corner where the ancient authority has 

 been removed. These papers treat not only of 

 the news, and of the political discussions of the 

 day, but their columns are often filled with trans- 

 lations from French and English works, hereto- 

 fore rigorously prohibited. A vast number of 

 pamphlets also are scattered over the country ; 

 many of which, it is true, consist of local and 

 transitory topics ; but there are many others 

 which contribute essentially, by means of original 

 essays, as well as translations from foreign works 

 of acknowledged excellence, to enlighten the 

 minds of the people. Occasional abuses of this 

 liberty have occurred ; but, upon the whole, it is 

 truly surprising to see how discreetly this formi- 

 dable weapon has been handled by persons quite 

 untrained to its use. 



It was originally my intention to have related, 

 at this place, some circumstances within my own 

 knowledge, illustrative of the effect which a per- 

 version of the Roman Catholic religion has had 



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