Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/732

712 a declaration of principles before giving him their support for the chief magistracy; but as he declined to give such a statement, alleging that he had no aspiration for that office, they took up Miguel Lerdo de Tejada for president of the republic, and Benito Juarez for president of the supreme court, both of whom also refused to issue the manifesto required. The committee then split. Lerdo's organ in the press, and his most strenuous supporter, the Clamor Progresista, lowered his prestige by declaring, to catch wavering votes, that a man may change his political opinions as circumstances demand. The consequence was, that the whole liberal press threw the weight of its influence in favor of Comonfort.

The institutions of the country were yet in jeopardy, not merely from the boiling of the political caldron, as seen in the attacks of a hostile press and pulpit, but also from the armed bands, and the repeated attempts at revolt in different quarters. Mejía and his followers refused to submit, unless on terms inadmissible by the government. There was an outbreak in Aguascalientes, and Puebla showed signs of insurrection. A plot was discovered in Tacubaya, in which several officers of the garrison were concerned, said to be for murdering the president; similar discoveries were made in Mexico and other places. A serious Indian revolt occurred in Guerrero.

One of the great obstacles to a proper administration of affairs was the want of a compact and firm ministry, and the situation was rendered more precarious by