Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/820

800 is wholly unprepared, with undisciplined and poorly armed troops, and with jealous and incapable officers, who drive veterans to despair, needlessly sacrifice the raw recruits bravely offering their blood for home and liberty, and encourage the foe to become more and more exacting. Even in the midst of evil may be found some good, however; for while half the national domain is ceded, the region is really a wilderness, so far as Mexico is concerned, and a source of weakness by demanding a costly defence against white and Indian invaders. Its loss is merely precipitated, to serve more speedily to open the portals for an elevating intercourse.

The church stands side by side with the army in being a prime mover in the turmoil. It is no longer the great bond between the races. Its influence has been sadly lessened, its holiness sadly battered during the war of independence, dimming the sacred character of its servants; while its wealth, to the very altar vessels, lures an ever-swelling host of hungry spoilers. Its very existence is threatened, prompting to steps for defence, in an alliance with the aristocratic party, with similar motives and sympathies. But this action only exposes it to a double buffeting. Its wealth is not only subjected to a heavy drain in support of revolutions fostered by the clergy, but the hostile factions find herein an excuse for carrying out their schemes of spoliation and reform, thus cutting off resources which have served to feed desolating wars, and restricting privileges employed to keep the masses in superstitious subjection and deplorable ignorance. The church assumes at last its true position, as a consolatory, humanizing medium, subordinate to the state and depending on the government; divested of dangerous fueros, and purged of noxious drones in the shape of religious communities. This may be regarded as the greatest triumph of the people, bringing as it does tolerance, civil marriage, and freer