Mexico

(měks'e-ko,) [Sp. MEJICO; Mex. ANAHUAC,] an extensive republic and quondam empire of N. America, bet. N. Lat. 16°-320, W. Lon. 95°-115°, b. N. by the United States, E. by the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, S.E. by Central America, and S. and W. by the Pacific Ocean; area, 773,144 sq. m. Its extreme length, N.W. to S.E,may be taken at 2000 m.; and its maximum breadth at 800 sq. m. Its political distribution comprises 27 States, 1 Territory (Lower California), and 1 Federal Dist. (that around the city of Mexico)-making in all 29 divisions. Its chief centres of trade and pop. are Mexico (the C.), Vera Cruz, Tampico, La Puebla, Jalapa, Mat am or as, Acapulco, San Blas, Mazatlan, Durango, and Chihuahua; of which Vera Cruz and Tampico are considerable seaports. M. one of the richest and most varied zones in the world-occupies the major portion of the long and narrow isthmus that connects the two American peninsulas, and consists of 3 grand natural divisions-the tierras calientes, or " hot regions" along its coasts; the tierras templadas, or " temperate tracts," occupying what is called the " table-land of Anahuac," and the tierras fri as, or " cold climes," found high up among the Cordilleras and the Sierra Madre, 2 mountain systems that intersect the republic in almost parallel lines. Connected with, or outlying from these chains, are some of the loftiest volcanic peaks on the N. American continent, the highest of which-Popocatepetl-reaches an altitude of 17,783ft. The frontier line separating M. from Texas is the great Rio Grande del Norte, besides which river there are the Bravo del Norte, Colorado, Grandede Santiago, and Conchas - all streams of magnitude. The chief lakes are those of Chapula, Mexico, and Parras. The soil of M. is among the richest in the world, producing the finest of tropical fruits and flowers, valuable timber and dye woods, the cereals, and important medicinal drugs and spices. The products of the Mexican mines include silver-long the great staple of export, the annual average produce being valued at $15,000,000 - | iron, copper, lead, tin, quicksilver, alum, and precious stones. The manufacturing industry of M. is almost nil, owing to the chronic political convulsions under which it has suffered for over half a century. The foreign commerce of the country is carried on chiefly with the U. States, England, and France. In 1869 there were 2,000 m. of telegraph wires, and 240 m. of railroad in working order. The govt., re-established in 1867, is a federative republic, the powers of which are divided into executive, legislative, and, judiciary functions. The first consists of a president and vice - president, elected quadrennially: the legislature of a senate of two members for each state, and a house of representatives to which one member is returned by each political division of the commonwealth. The established religion is the Roman Catholic; and the Mexican priesthood are not remarkable for their intellectual cultivation. Education exists but in name. More than one-half the pop. are Indians, who speak the Aztec or old Mexican Janguage. The Spanish Creoles, or " whites " born in America of European descent, constitute the aristocracy of the country. The finances for the year 1869-70 exhibited a deficit of $1,373,834. The public credit of M. stands at zero in the money markets of the world. The army within the last three years has been reduced from 30,000 το 18,000 men. Navy M. has none, unle 3 small war-ve els can be called such. This country, supposed to have been first peopled by the Toltecs, an Indian race from near the Rocky Mts., became, in course of centuries, displaced by the Aztecs (q. v.). M. was conquered by Cortez, 1519. From that period it became a colony of Spain, governed by a succe ion of viceroys, till 1813, when an insurrection broke out against the foreign rule, a national congre was a embled, and a declaration of independence given forth. In 1821, Iturbide (q. v.) established a brief constitutional monarchy. Then followed 15 years of endle revolution. In 1836 Texas declared her independence, and in 1845-6 war broke out with the U. States, resulting in the triumph of the latter in 1848. In 1861, England, France, and Austria intervened to put a stop to the anarchy which prostrated the country, and to obtain satisfaction for outrages inflicted on, and debts due to, their respective subjects. A French force landed; next followed the arrival and crowning of the unfortunate Maximilian of Austria (q.v.) as emperor, after whose defeat and death, the govt. reverted to the hands of Juarez (q.v.), the former president. From 1868, the old state of insurrection resumed its sway until after the death of Juarez in 1872. Under the rule of his succe or, Lerdo, the country had become comparatively tranquil In 1876, a revolution underDiazwas succe ful, and Lerdo compelled to fly the country. Pop. (1874) 9,276,079.- MEXICO, a finely situated and well and regularly built city, C. of the above republic, is situated on an extensive elevated plateau, in N. Lat. 19° 27′ 5″, W. Lon. 99° 5'. This, the oldest city in America, po e ed, under the Aztec empire, and prior to its subjugation by Cortez, a refinement and civilization which recall to us that of Thebes, in ancient Egypt, and which are admirably depicted in the graphic pages of Pre scott, the American historian. Pop.(1874) 230,000. [s. 597]