NATIONAL CHURCH. 327 
them but little knowledge of an authentic character. I am satisfied, that 
this arose neither from a narrow distrust of foreigners, nor a Chinese dis- 
like of divulging the secrets of their country. The want of a general 
work of reference on statistics is denounced, as " shameful and lamenta- 
ble," by Seiior Otero in his treatise on the social and political condition of 
Mexico. 
" In 1842," says this writer, " we possess no publication upon Mexican 
statistics except the work of Baron Humboldt, written in 1804. That 
work, precious as it is, has become useless as a guide, in consequence of 
the immense changes during the intervention of a long and revolutionary 
period. A complete statistical treatise might be easily compiled without 
expense to the National Treasury, by merely obliging the functionaries 
of the Government to make regular and minute returns, which should be 
digested and edited by competent persons in the Capital. Without such 
a work it will be impossible to understand the complicated interests of this 
vast country, or to keep the machinery of its Government in successful 
operation."* 
It is, indeed, difficult to imagine how the adm.inistrations carried on the 
affairs of the nation as long as they have done, without a system of 
statistical book-keeping, which is as necessary for them-as a ledger is for 
the prudent merchant. 
The Ministers of State have occasionally presented reports to the Na- 
tional Congresses upon the condition of their several Departments; but 
these productions have been brief, unsatisfactory, without detail, and rather 
involving the matters of which they treat in doubt and uncertainty, by 
their vague generalization, than clearly illustrating the interests, wants, 
and resources of the Republic. 
Of all branches of the national administration, none has suffered more 
obscuration by this diplomatic rhetoric than the question of the Church, 
which properly belonged to the portfolio of the Minister of Public Justice 
and Instruction. It was a subject that men seemed fekrful to approach. 
They admitted that there were abuses in the body ; — ^that many of its 
members were corrupt, idle, ignorant, and vicious ; — and that it enjoyed 
large revenues, flowing in a narrow stream, which, if suffered to diverge 
into smaller rivulets, would nourish the parched land and improve the 
condition of suffering multitudes. But wealth and property were banned 
and sanctified. The estahlishment was the religion; and he who ven- 
tured to assail the one must necessarily attack the other. Thus, even 
patriots who were not ordinarily affected by nervous dread, stood appalled 
at the first frown of priestly indignation, and trembled for their fate in a 
conflict between the temporal power and that tremendous spiritual influ- 
ence which slept like an electric fire in the hearts of the people, ready, 
on the slightest impulse, to be kindled into a destructive flame. 
It would be unjust, however, to leave you under the impression that 
the ministers of this church have been solely engaged in enriching them. 
* Vide Otfro.CuesMon Social y Politica, p. 30-31. 
