Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/718

698 Let us now retrace our steps to glance at the general political situation. The clergy of Puebla were resolved to obstruct at all hazards the execution of the Lerdo law; whereupon the government adopted stringent measures. Excommunications were fulminated, but they produced little effect. The transfers of estates went on, though slowly, owing to the conscientious scruples of some and the fear of political persecution on the part of others. Several riots broke out in spite of official vigilance, and numbers of ecclesiastics and military officers had to go into exile. The restless Vidaurri had revolted on the northern frontier, seizing Saltillo and Matehuala; under his name many disturbances occurred. He was favored by San Luis Potosí, now a reactionist centre, which kept up correspondence with other large towns, the capital included, and was offering money to win over the government troops. The whole country was in turmoil. No sign of revolution appeared in the city of Mexico, however, till September; on the night of the 14th a lady gave the president particulars of a seditious movement that was to break out on the national anniversary during the civic procession. Further evidence being obtained, on the night of the 15th the Franciscans were arrested, and their convent being occupied by an armed force, a number of conspirators, some of whom were friars, fell into the hands of the government. In view of this, the