Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/714

694 country had been vested in mortmain, disgusted at the praise thus bestowed on the ley Lerdo, assailed it with all their might. The archbishop asked the president to repeal it, setting forth the difficulties of his position, his conscience struggling between his ecclesiastical duty to protect intact the property of the clergy and his sworn obedience to the civil laws, provided the latter did not encroach on the rights of the church; otherwise, rather than to abide by them, he would willingly bear all the suffering that those laws could inflict on him. Archbishop La Garza acted with moderation, contrasting with the haughtiness and evil disposition of a large portion of the clergy, who openly rebelled against the measure, and resorted to all means to mislead public opinion, alarm the timid, torture conscience by starting doubts, and breaking the public peace. The bishop of Linares, Belaunzaran, and other high ecclesiastics resolved to disobey the orders; likewise, the bishop of Guadalajara and the governor of the diocese of Puebla forbade obedience to the law. On the other hand, the discontented reformers demanded a radical change in the basis of the transfers, and helped to keep up the agitation, which was fast assuming a serious aspect.

Meanwhile the discussion of the articles of the