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104 well-organized, and disciplined army, the first care of the central Government is naturally to promote military rather than secular education; and, accordingly, the National Military School, located at Chapultepec, and modeled after the best military schools of Europe, is in the highest state of efficiency. The system of instruction and the text-books used are French; and the personnel of the school, both officers and cadets, will compare favorably with anything that can be seen at West Point. The army maintained by Mexico on a peace basis is forty-five thousand three hundred and twenty-three, or nearly double that of the United States; and, on a war-footing, was officially reported in 1883 as embracing an effective fighting force of one hundred and sixty thousand nine hundred and sixty-three. That the Mexican people possess all the physical qualities essential for the making of good soldiers can not also be questioned. At the, same time, it is manifest that, upon the patriotism and intelligence of the officers in command of the army, the immediate future and prosperity of Mexico are dependent. The single fact, however, that the present Government and the most intelligent and influential people of Mexico have recognized the necessity of educating the masses of the people, and that probably the best that can be done under existing circumstances is being done,