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706 reactionists were thus struck another heavy blow, and hopes of peace revived again. The above happy event coincided with the adoption of the new constitution, a settlement of difficulties with Great Britain, and the sending of Lafragua to Spain to arrange, if possible, questions pending with that government.

According to a report laid before the nation by the president and his cabinet, on the 4th of March, there were no considerable hostile bodies in the field. But Comonfort's government was not to have peace. It was a peculiar feature of it to have new difficulties arise as soon as former ones that beset it had been overcome. Miguel Lerdo de Tejada, minister of the treasury and of relations, had resigned his offices in January, which gave rise to strange rumors. There were popular demonstrations, and a change in the policy of the government was foretold, grounded on the supposition that inasmuch as Lerdo had been the author of certain reforms, his separation from the government would be the forerunner of retrocession. Indeed, there was a general apprehension that Comonfort intended a coup d'état. The Estandarte Nacional, official journal, and the officious organs denied it; but the conservative press called it a good idea, and abused the congress with such bitterness that the government suspended the journal Las Novedades.

Comonfort issued a pardon to all partisans of the reaction soliciting it, with the exception of such as were taken with arms in their hands. The last attempt at San Luis ought to have taught him the folly