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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
and the diffusion of knowledge will not permit that this beautiful country should remain forever in its present condition. In time it will necessarily be compelled to accommoda,te itself to the spirit of the age and march in accord with the other nations in their vast undertakings and progress. It is not possible that any nation can exist in the same state, fixed and permanent in the midst of an almost ,universal progress; it has to go forward or backward; it has to unite itself in the great designs and objects of the world, or fall into decadence, and finally into total ruin. I hope that Your Excellency will not interpret this as a threat. I only offer the observation as a general truth. I do not wish to say that if this country does not advance on a level or side b_y side with other nations in civilization, it will be exposed to conquest by any power that takes a notion to it. On the contrary, I only say that a nation that excludes the best of the times, and does not wish to avail itself of the moral and intellectual enlightenment with which it is surrounded, runs the danger of experiencing the same fate as Mexico. Alas, this unfortunate nation! What a great power it could have been; and now! how miserable is its condition! Is it not the victim of foreign arms. It is destroying itself, and very soon will lose its nationality if it does not change its policy. If on gaining its independence from old Spain, it had liberated itself, not only from the tyranny of that nation, but likewise from its own most fanatical prejudices and intolerance toward the Test of the world, and had begun at once, the work of improvement, adopting the enlightened institu- tions of other countries, and following their examples in the diffusio'n of knowledge among the people and in the practice of liberal principles, then would it be found today second to the United States in power, wealth, and greatness. On account of having deviated from this course, behold the lamentable consequences. Such is the law of nature. Na- tions must progress or retrogress to their final extinction.- Until a few years ago this country was scarcely kno,vn, and little considered in the world. Now it is different. Situated between two great oceans; and having the commerce of the world to pass across it, it has come to be better known, and naturally to assume some impor- tance with reference to other nations. Forced-as it will be by its geographic position, and other considerations, to become intimate with them in their social and commercial relations it will become necessary to change its character in many ways, discarding many of their anti- quated ideas, adopting others more modern, and conforming itself generally to the usages and needs of the century- The destiny of this country, being then so obvious and inevitable, I consider that it is the most sacred duty of the patriot to inquire, what is the best part to take under these circumstances. According to my judgment, the country should begin without delay, to prepare itself for the new order of things that, doubtless, will take place, within good time, making the necessary and suitable changes beforehand, to the end that the nation may 11ot be shocked by sudden and violent changes. All transitions from one state to another require much care, and should he gradual and imperceptible, so that the people can scarcely per- ceive the changes, except by the evident improvements which they bring.- Is this attainable in the present condition of the country? Without doubt. Never was an epoch more fayorable; but how to com-
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