Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/731

Rh with Montes, the envoy sent with overtures. The conservative journals paraded in their columns a number of retractions, boasting of their triumph. Comonfort, in order to avoid disputes with the clergy during the lenten season, went to reside temporarily at Tacubaya, where he had a garrison of 2,000 men under Zuloaga; but this did not avert the conflict that occurred in the holy-week between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities of the capital. The latter refused admittance on holy Thursday, April 9th, to the governor and other officials into the cathedral, on the ground of their being excommunicated for having sworn to support the constitution. These difficulties did not, however, prevent the execution of the president's decree; the constitution was gradually recognized throughout the republic, even by some ecclesiastics. Zealous catholics much desired to have their religion declared the religion of the state, to the exclusion of all other creeds. Petitions then came from all parts, asking the president to have the powers conferred by article 123 of the constitution used as the basis for the furtherance of their wishes.

The elections fully occupied the leaders of the liberal party, each seeking prominent position for himself. A central electoral committee or club had been installed in Mexico, whose members demanded of