MEXICO.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 193, 21 July 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

MEXICO.

A TROUBLED HISTORY,

CORTEZ TO CARRANZA

The struggles of Mexico to establish herself as a nation form one of the most romantic stories of the history of the last century, and now that the country is on the verge of a war that will h.Hve the greatest effect on her future, it is interesting to recall how she rose from an ill-governed Spanish colony to be a separate Empire, and finally a Republic. From the time when Cortez and his Spaniards broke up the ancient Aztec empire, and drenched the country with the blood of its defenders, Mexico was under Spanish dominion for three centuries. After bitter warfare that lasted three years, Cortez, assisted by tribes hostile to the Aztecs, made the position of the invaders secure, and was proclaimed Emperor ol New Spain by a decree dated October 15, 1522. A steady immigration from Spain set in, and in time three classes grew up. The first comprised white settlers of pure Spanish blood, and the second the Mexicans oi pure European descent, or Creoles proper, together with those of mixed blood, who were classed as Creoles but were also known as Meztizos. The third class were the pure-blooded Indians, who existed in a state bordering on slavery The Creoles only occupied subordinate positions to the Snaniards, for that matter, and these ciusu distinctions caused an evergrowing feeling of discontent. This «as largely heightened by the imperialistic policy of the Spanish Government, which restricted the trade of the colony with nations other than and exploited the country with but little regard for the inhabitants. HIDALGO, THE PRIEST. The American War of Independence nnd the French revolution were events that tired the imagination of the Mexicans, and awakened ths spirit of independence In the people. During tiie Napoleonic wars, when Napoleon put his brother Joseph on the throne or Spain, a Junta was torirwxl to saieguard the interests of Ferdinand VII. in Mexico, but it was an act ot gross injustice on the part of the Spanish authorities in 1810 that caused the first blow for independence to be struck. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a parish priest at Dolores, had worked among the Indians for their betterment. with tlie result tna* In his district a factory had been erected, and many mulberry trees planted, to roster tlie production of silk. The growth of a native industry was regarded by the new Viceroy, Francis Xavler Venegas, as a menace to bpanlnii revenue, and by his orders the mulberry trees were cut down and :r-e lactory destroyed. Uu b'eptemuer j.", 1810, tlie incensed priest raised am: organised an army ot 2U.OUU, and had gained notable successes. In the following January, however, the army or Independence' was defeated, and dispersed, and Hidalgo and other leaders captured and put to death. A new leader named Morelos arose, but in December, IS 15, he shared the fate of Hidalgo. Better and wiser government caused the revolution to flag, but changes which occurred in Spain, and the return of Ferdinand to the throne, reacted i Mexico. A proposal to seize the tithes of the clergy, on the ground that the monoy was urgently neded by Spain, caused the priests to intrigue with the revolutionaries, arid the appointment was secured to the command of a viceregal army of Augustin de Iturbide, a distinguished you:.g soldier of mixed blood. His symapthies were with the reform party, and he joined forces with Vicente Guerrero, a revolutionary leader, who had maintained resistance to Spanish authority throughout. They demanded certain constitutional reforms, and their "Army ot tlio Three Guarantees" —religion, independence, and union—was so formidable that without bloodshed they gained their ends by the Treaty of Cordoba, signed on August 24, 1821. Ou September 27, Iturbide entered the capital, and in July the following year was elected Emperor. His notions of despotic government and outward display, however, fell far short of those ideals for which Hidalgo and other heroes had died, and dhcisc cmfwyp shrdlu cmfwypmbmb such discontent was caused that ho wisely abdicated in March, 182 a. He was permitted to retire from the country, but intrigued with factions at home, and incautiously returning in 1824, was seized and executed. Hr« was buried in the Cathedral at Mexico City. CONSTITUTION PROCLAIMED. The national flag in Its present form was adopted at this time, and the constitution of the Republic of Mexico was proclaimed on October 4, 182 4, Felix Fernandez being the first president. In 1525 the last of tho Spanish forces left the country and the United States and England formally reconised the Republic. It. was President Monroe's message to the young republic in December, 182;;. that gave rise to the now famous Monroe doctrine, and had an important bearing on the subsequent history of Mexico. Spain withheld her recognition of the Republic till IS.jfi.

From IS3G till the time of Diaz. Mexico met with grave troubles and lost considerable territory. The Texans secured their independence In 1 s (>. and eventually" .Mexico and America went to war over the peaceful annexation of Texas by the latter. O.i September 14, 1547, the Mexican capital was occupied, and the subsequent peace treaty ceded New Mexico and Upper California to America, the latter paying 15,000,000 dollars for it. At this period. President Herrera was In office, lie was succeeded in I ST. | by Mari ano Arista, who was followed two years later by General Fanta Anna. The latter rashly declared himself "Perpetual Dictator," and Juan Alvarez led a successful revolution against him. Benito Juarez was Minister of Justice under the new regime, and in IST.S lie himself became President, ruder his administration the Republic made excellent internal progress. New laws were made that reflected to the credit of the statesmanship of tho President, who held office till his death in IST-.

Juarez's period as President, however, was a stormy one, for it saw win with France, and a greater part of tho country occupied by the enemy.

THE EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN. Napoleon 111., desirous of placing the Austrian Archduke Maximilian on the throne, persuaded England and Spain to join in an expedition, the ostensible object of which was to collect large sums of mouey that haa

been advanced to Mexico under different Presidents. The French went further, and invaded the country, cap turing the capital in ISC3. On June 12. 18G4, the Emperor Maximilian entered the city, and the second Empire was established. Meanwhile, tW Republican Government had withdrawn to less accessible parts, and Juarez did not abandon the struggle. The close ot' the American Civil War put the United States in a position to inform France tbftt the Monroe doctrine had been infringed, and the French troops were withdrawn. Teh Emperor would have been wise had he done likewise, but ho stayed and resisted the Republican forces. On May 1">, 1867, he surrendered after the siege of Queretaro, and was subsequently court-martialled and shot.

Juarez's successor on the latter's death was Lerdo de Tejada, but his integrity was open to grave suspicion, and General Porfirio Diaz led a successful revolution against him, Diaz's first term as President was from 187 to 1 880, Manuel Gonzalez taking the next term. Thereafter the Constitution was amended as regards the tenure of Presidency, qnd Diaz being re-elected remained in office til) he too was overthrown by revolution in 1 'J 11.

While Diaz did much for the prosperity ana good government of Mexico, those who benefited were the wealthy classes, and the peons remained" in a state that wus practically serfdom. It was this cauje of discontent that resulted in the revolution led by Madero being successful, and it was MaderoV, tardiness In br'nglne about the expected reforms that resulted in his own overthrow at tte hands of Huerta and his followers. Huerta himself abdicated in 11)1.4. and Carranza is now at the head of the Government at h time when Mexico enters upon a second war with the United States In circumstances even less promising of success than iu IS 17. >