the government making much headway. The trouble, however, did not extend beyond the state, and in December General Escobedo was sent to take command of the federal forces. The work of pacification was slow, requiring as it did the suppression of a multitude of scattered bands; but he succeeded in time in reducing Michoacan to comparative tranquillity.[1]
In the beginning of 1874 an attempt at rebellion was again made in Tepic; but though this district was for some time more or less subject to spasmodic uprisings, these efforts were insignificant in effect, and in November 1875 the return to obedience of a number of refractory chiefs held out prospects of permanent peace.[2] About the middle of this year a military revolution occurred in the territory of Lower California, which resulted in the capture and deposal of the legal governor, General Dávalos, and the provisional appointment of Emiliano Ibarra as military and political chief pending the decision of the central government. Dávalos capitulated with the insurgents by resigning, and the affair ended without any serious consequences.
Although this period compared with previous years may be considered one of peace, hardly a month passed without bloodshed in some part of the union. Scarcely a single state escaped trouble, generally arising from intrigues of the federal government, and frauds or unfair pressure at elections. Banditti, also, and lawless guerrilla bands, infested the country,[3] while the
- ↑ Besides the Diario Oficial for these two years, consult La Voz de Méj., passim. This was the catholic organ, and consequently represents the action of the government as unfavorably as the law allowed. The original subtitle of this latter paper was: Diario político, religioso, científico, y literario de la Sociedad Católica. I notice that after the 18th of Feb. the words 'de la Sociedad Católica' are suppressed, and in the following number — Feb. 19th — the public is informed that the paper had never been subsidized by the archbishop of Mexico.
- ↑ Telegraph despatch from commander Tolentino to the war office in Diario Oficial, Nov. 16, 1875.
- ↑ The law of 1872 for the trial and punishment of highwaymen and kidnappers was extended to May 1874; and in May 1875 a decree was passed depriving them of all citizens' rights in the civil courts, and declaring them outlaws. Id., May 6, 1875.
