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742 only Juarez. However, the liberal party was large, having in its ranks a majority of the most enlightened as well as of the lower classes. What they lacked was a sufficient number of able commanders to give them the superiority on the battle-fields. And yet the situation was almost desperate. Parrodi and Doblado had become much disheartened, and Juarez could count only on Degollado for the moment as a man of acknowledged firmness.

The reactionary government was also experiencing serious trouble from the uncompromising spirit of the clergy. Among its several measures was one that did not please the people, namely, changing the organization of the states into mere departments, thus restoring the central régime with a complete territorial and administrative modification. Its unpopularity was further increased by the conduct of its agents in arresting and persecuting persons, in extending espionage, enlarging the number of informers, and violating the privacy of domicile under the pretext that the inmates were conspiring. Besides the difficulty of capturing Vera Cruz, the conservative party, in whose ranks were included Zuloaga's personal supporters, had another of a very serious import; it had İecome divided into three branches, namely, Santanistas, Zuloaguistas, and fusionists: the first named wanted exclusively conservative principles leaning toward the aristocratic, and being aware of Zuloaga's administrative incompetency, looked upon him as a mere tool to carry out its ends; the second branch, equally exclusive in principles, was for sustaining Zuloaga; and the third desired the fusion of parties, and leaned toward moderation. The liberal party used its best endeavors to widen the breach, and to