Mexico - Its Revolutions: Are They Evidences Of Retrogression Or Of Progress? A Historical And Political Review

MEXICO - - ITS REVOLUTIONS ARE THEY EVIDENCES OF RETROGRESSION OR OF PROGRESS --- 1866 --a U pp S lic ations for . a pamphlet edition of my Historical Review of Mexico have ii1d ced me to revise that which appeared ili the NEW YORK R ERALD of May 25th, 1866. For a clearer understanding of the subject, many details have been introduced, appertaining to tlie period from the ccRevolution of Ayutla to the French invasion for it was during that time that the great principles for which . the country, had been battling were raising their heads above the revolutionary surges which had so long deluged the land. A supplement has also been added, containing some of the later political developments relative to Mexico. GEORGE E. CHURCH. PROVIDE R N . C I. E, July 4fh, 1866. - MEXICO A HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL REVIEW. PART I. GEOGRAPHIC P A O L SITI O O F N M EXICO-HER COS ERCX A A D L V AN TAGES-THE TRADE CURRENTS OF THE WORLD-CLIMATE, Son, ETC.-HER REVOLUTIO E N LE S X ENTS O F PROGFRESS ERA O F THE SPANISH CONQUEST-OCCUPATIO OF N THE NEW WORLD-GOVER EN OF T THE VICEROYS-LAWS O F THE INDIES-EDUCATION. . From the peculiar and commanding geo raphical position of Xexico, there is, perhaps, no country in t e world destined to play a more important 8Ze in the history of mankind. git uated midway between supply and demand, she stands like a bmier, interrupting and claiming tribute from modern European civilization on the east and ancient Asiatic civilization on the west. At her western doors she ma bathe her commercial enterprise in the products of Japan, C E ina, India, Australia, and all the islands of the Pacific. To the eastward, the vast wave of progressive civilization is fast rolling onwardtowards. her shore, beazing with it the demands for ceaseless activity, and the gems of national development. It is upon her territory that the wave of empire, which has for so many centuries heeqsaeeping westward, reaches the confines of that great sea from whoae westerr it parted. Northward she enjoys the immediate contact of the wonderful national progress of the great republic, while to the southward, within easy reach, lie the trade and wealth of South America, There is not a commercial country in the world which she cannot reach by easy water communication and in almhst a straight line. With such a mfgnificent geographical position, there should spring up great cities and commercial centers upon her territory for, as commerce advances, it will place her, with reference to the modern, trade of the world, in nearly the same position that Syria, Mesopotamia, and the whole of Western Persia occupied to its ancient trade. It was the East Indian and European trade currents, flowing over these countries, which gave birth to the cities of Selucia, Palmyra, Sidon, and her colony, Tyre. The same causes, later, forced into notice Byzantium and Alexandriq made Rome and Cartha e centres of tribution for East Indian products, and gave en ice wealtohf adnisdpower to turn back the Ottoman sword from Europe. No better illustration of the importance of occupying a central position, with reference to the reat trade currents, can be selected than by the comparison of P u rope in the latter part of the fifteenth with the beginning of the sixteenth century...