Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/736

716 Le Trait d'Union, a French journal of Mexico, advocated the dictatorship, and its remarks were copied into the official journal without disapprobation. And yet it is hardly credible that the president could have fostered such a scheme, knowing that he could rely only on the limited number of men that live by politics to support it. He was a man who calculated well his chances before taking any important step. The majority of the liberals, therefore, treated the coup d'état scheme as newspaper clap-trap. Comonfort over his own signature disclaimed such an intention. Then the progresistas made him their standard-bearer. The political outlook was gloomy, however. Seditions broke out in quick succession everywhere on the promulgation of the new constitution. It must be said, nevertheless, that the enemies of the government were not permitted to have their own way altogether. The seditious bands, and some parties of highwaymen, were pursued and defeated; many conspirators were severely dealt with. Governor Juarez in Oajaca expelled all priests who refused christian sepulture to the supporters of the constitution and the reform laws. In Aguascalientes the governor, Lopez de Nava, deprived of political rights every man who failed to take the required oath. In Puebla, Governor Alatriste ordered public prayers to God to vouchsafe wisdom and success to the constitutional authorities.

Just at this time the country's troubles were complicated by the unfriendly state of the relations with Spain, whose government had refused to receive