THE MEXICAN ENIGMA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 196, 29 December 1876, Page 8

THE MEXICAN ENIGMA.

The condition of Mexico, our nearest southern neighbor, continues, we regret to say, a puzzle to the American public. About once in six days we receive news from it via Havana, as no information, reliable or otherwise, is allowed to pass over the frontier by the faction that has taken hold of the government of that unhappy country. From the meagrejinformation thus obtained, however, we can' draw a conclusion of the actuil condition of affairs in our sister Republic". Da Tejada, the worthy successor of Suarez, the Grand Master of the Secret Societies, has been re-elecfced President, or, in other words, military dictator, of Mexico, subject to the confirmation of the national Congress. But as the national Congress is composed of his partisans, and doubtless contains many of the members of his Lodge, there can be no doubt that the farce of an election will be ratified with all the forms and solemnity which those usurpers know so well how to assume. But what of the people ? Have they been consulted, or been allowed to vote for a candidate for the highest office in the State ? Not at all. The man who was most potent in overthrowing the Government of Maximilian, one of the most tolerant and enlightened princes, who could have made Mexico a power respected in both hemispheres, was the pet and the pride of the so-called Order of Free and Accepted Masons, His successor stands in the same relation to that order ; and whether he bo used by it, or it uses him, is of little consequence, as long as the liberties of the people, and interests of religion, and the rights of the Church suffer from their combined attacks. No intelligent person will deny that the people of Mexico are Catholics. As a whole they are a quiet, inoffensive, and lawabiding people, of implicit faith, and simple lives, who, under a wise government, republican or monarchical, would be the happiest of mankind. For this statement we have the authority of the late Bishop Timon, of Buffalo, who lived among them and knew them well. But in an evil hour they allowed the agents of sworn secret societies to come amongst them, to establish lodges, propagate antiCatholic and atheistical opinions, and consequently to destroy, as far as they could, all reverence for religion and authority. The evil seed thus sown has brought forth its fruit- In the first place, we have a small military clique, all members of secret societies, all auti-Catholic in their public acts, and pagans in private life, rulinga population of over seven millions who are utterly and thoroughly opposed to dissent and infidelity The consequence is — and those who favor sworn secret organisations should, ponder on it — antagonism between the authorities who are supposed to administer the law, and the people at large who ought to obey and respect them. This accounts for the numerous rebellions or pronunciamenios that occur in Mexico, and for the present disturbed condition of that rich and beautiful country. Though the Lerdists have possession of the capital and one or two of the seaboard States, by virtue of their superior organisation, the great moss of the people, capable of bearing arms, are in the field, and no less than three distinct insurrections are raging in the land, each provoked by the tyranny and intolerance of the present usurping Government. It does not require the gift of prophecy to foretell how this condition of affairs must necessarily cud. In a few years the United States will have consolidated her strength, and then her thirst for acquisition of more territory — her " manifest destiny" — will be againwhetted, and as we formerly annexed Texas, and acquired' California, New Mexico, and the vast territory west of the J&ocky Mountains, so shall we be anxious to dismember the present liepublic of Mexico, and annex it in whole or iv part. Ths only salvation for that distracted country that we can sea is in the overthrow of the present rulers, the restoration of the rights of Catholics and of their C hurch, which would ensure n itional unity, wherein lies the only bond and guarantee of the preservation of the Mexican nation.—' N. T. Tablet.'