No. 330.
Mr. Nelson to Mr. Fish.
Mexico, July 24, 1872. (Received August 14.)
Sir: At daybreak on the morning of the 19th instant the inhabitants of this capital were startled by the roar of artillery, followed by a gun each quarter of an hour, which indicated the death of the head of the government. The news was quickly circulated that President Benito Juarez had died during the night. No intimation of his illness had prepared the public for this calamity, and even the morning papers contained no announcement of the fact.
It was subsequently learned that Mr. Juarez had been ill for two days, but without alarming symptoms, until the evening of the 18th, when another attack, similar to that which so nearly proved fatal to him in October, 1870, was developed, and he died at half-past eleven the same night. He had received the usual visits of his ministers on the day of his death, and had dispatched several matters of business, one of them being a subject pending with this legation for more than a year. Two or three of his cabinet were with him at the moment of his death. General Mejia, minister of war, proceeded at midnight to the house of Mr. Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, chief justice of the supreme court, on whom the presidency now devolved, and that magistrate passed at once to the house of the deceased, adjoining the palace, as did also a considerable number of other authorities summoned thither. By order of Mr. Lerdo the corpse was transferred to the palace, the mortuary certificate was drawn up, in the presence of the ministers, and the process of embalming immediately begun. The new President requested the existing cabinet officers to continue in their posts, and the minister of war proceeded to telegraph to the authorities throughout the republic the news of the death of Mr. Juarez and the accession of Mr. Lerdo.
During the morning of the 19th the permanent deputation of congress met to receive the oath of office from Mr. Lerdo, and to provide for the funeral of Mr. Juarez, which was fixed for Tuesday, the 23d instant. The municipality and other corporations assembled for the latter object passing resolutions in honor of the deceased, and appointing orators for the funeral.
The diplomatic corps made, in the afternoon, a formal visit of condolence to the new President, as will be mentioned in another dispatch.
[Page 439]According to law, the corpse of the President, when completely embalmed, was exposed to public view in the hall of embassadors. It is estimated that more than 100,000 persons went to the palace to view the body of President Juarez. The funeral was magnificent, beyond all previous example in Mexico. The procession, which started from the palace at 9 in the morning, occupied more than two hours in its transit through the principal streets of the city to the cemetery of San Fernando. The streets and squares were densely crowded with people, and every window and house-top affording a view of the procession was occupied. Most of the edifices, public and private, exhibited badges of mourning. No religious ceremony was performed at the funeral. Orations were pronounced in the name of the government, of the permanent deputation, of the municipality, the press, the masonic orders, and several other corporations. The utmost order and solemnity prevailed throughout the proceedings, which were participated in by a very large part of the population of this city, and by deputations from the nearest States. In several of the State capitals funeral services were performed at the same time, and in others at a later date.
The municipality of Mexico has resolved to erect a statue to President Juarez in the square of Santo Domingo, which is henceforth to bear his name. The authorities and people of the State of Oaxaca petitioned that the body of the President might be buried at his native place Ixtlan, now called “Villa Juarez.” Many other States have expressed the prevailing sentiment of respect for the memory of the late President by appropriate demonstrations.
The attitude of the press has been notable. All the papers both of this city and of other parts of the republic appeared in mourning. Even the most violent organs of the revolutionary party have published eulogistic articles, and have refrained from discussing politics during the interval between the death and the burial of President Juarez.
I inclose a copy and translation (A and B) of a note from the minister of foreign affairs, announcing the death of the President, and a copy of my reply, (C;) also a copy and translation (D and E) of the official invitation to the funeral, and a copy of my answer (F) accepting the same.
I am, &c,