Page:Margaret Shipman - Mexico's Struggle Towards Democracy (1927).pdf/11

 church was so bitter that neither of these measures was carried out. Freedom of the press had been virtually abolished. The secret police became oppressive. A conspiracy law was passed, according to which anyone suspected of opinions adverse to the government or the church was tried before military court and punished by imprisonment or death. Santa Anna proclaimed himself dictator but he was, in reality, the tool of his conservative cabinet, the chief of whom was Lucas Alaman, mouthpiece of the church and an outspoken monarchist.

The creole ruling class, represented by the conservative party, and standing for a strongly centralized government, opposed the middle class, represented by the liberal party, and standing for autonomy of the states. The working class, though divided in its allegiance, fought mainly with the liberals, As the struggle progressed, imperialistic France, England and Spain, and the Pope of Rome assisted the conservatives while the influence of the United States and the liberal elements of Europe aided the revolutionists.

The conservatives, forming less than one-fifth of the population, were composed of the ecclesiastical, military and civil aristocracies, and were dominated by the Catholic church. The church is estimated to have owned in 1856 from one-half to one-third of the most valuable land, and one-third of Mexico's real and personal property. It owned the schools,