Kelsey Sheridan, Josh Utter, Amy Kirkpatrick, Anna Barber, Nick Czeshinski, Samantha Reynolds, Matt Slaby
Mexico, May 1856 – Town square with a crowd of people
I was born Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada in Veracruz, to a Criollo family. I studied theology in Palafoxiano Seminary and received minor orders, but never entered the priesthood. Instead, I ended up graduating with a law degree. Later I served as a prosecutor for the Supreme Court and became known as a Liberal leader, and supporter of President Benito Juarez. Today, with President Juarez, I come to bring new hope to the people of Mexico.
I’m Raphael Escalante: landowner, shameless manipulator, and a strong proponent of the Lerdo Law. My liberal upbringing and indecent lust for money makes this new law all the more enticing to me. The Lerdo Law is my key to riches far greater than anything previously imaginable. Together with my fellow aristocrats, we will bring down the supremacy of the Church, revoke their lands, and claim their fortunes as our own.
However, we need the poor to support this endeavor if it has any hope of succeeding. That is why I’m here today: to convince these paupers that the Lerdo Law is worth supporting, even though they will likely gain nothing from it after its inception.
I am Diego, a humble farmer of the mestizo class. I currently work on a small plot of land for Señor Escalante. Currently, I scrape by with just enough to feed my family. My wife, Matilida, and I struggle to clothe and provide necessities for our five children. As they grow, I would like to see a future for my son, Leonardo who is approaching his sixteenth birthday.
The Lerdo Law sounds as if it might be a wonderful opportunity for my family, but we are devout Catholics and are not willing to put our eternal souls in jeopardy for this law. I am here at this assembly today to better understand this new movement, and discover if it really is worth supporting.
…
“My friends,” Juarez shouted over the crowd gathered in the town square, “it is good to see you all here today. I’ve been thinking lately about the Church – not religion – and about the power and authority the Church holds over our country. The concerns I have are not only held by me, but by other members of our country and government as well. In response to these concerns we propose a new law be implemented. This law – which will be named after my colleague and college friend, Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada – will allow the government to revoke the Church land holdings, and redistribute them to the people, for the benefit of all! So now, without further ado, I give you the master mind behind this movement, Sebastian Lerdo!”
“Thank you, President Juarez,” Lerdo said as he stepped to the forefront of the platform. “Greetings, to you all! Many people, especially those in the Church and positions of ecclesiastical power, will see this new proposed law as an attack against the Roman Catholic faith. Let me assure you, this is not the case. We are not trying to alienate the Church at all, we are just trying to provide a better life for our citizens, by giving them the opportunity to acquire more land and provide for themselves. We are only asking the Church to look at the lands they currently have in their holding, break them up, and allow people to access this rich, arable land for themselves.”
“Excuse me, Señor Lerdo,” a humble but loud voice called out from the massive crowd. “Señor Lerdo!” A ragged farmer pushed his way to the front of the assembly, frantically waving his arm for attention.
“Sí?” Señor Lerdo looked down at the man expectantly.
“My name is Diego; I’m an employee on one of the large haciendas in this town. It has been my dream to someday own and farm land of my own. Through this law will it be possible for even a mestizo like me – and later my son, Leonardo – to own some of this land?”
“If both you and Leonardo can afford to buy the land, no one could legally stop you. But without this law, neither you nor your son would even have a chance at that land,” Lerdo responded benevolently.
Then to the rest of the audience he said, “By giving the land to the people we are allowing them to work for themselves and become self-sustaining. This new found individualism will boost our economy and create a more independent nation! We will move Mexico forward, following the examples of European nations, and taking our place in this thriving, global economy!” A great cheer arose from the crowd with this last motivating statement.
“Yes, but Señor Lerdo,” Diego insisted, his doubts not yet quelled. “What will happen to the parish priests when the fueros are taken away? Where will the people go for guidance if our priests are run out of town?”
“Señor Lerdo,” a baritone voice called out, “allow me to answer this.”
“And who might you be?” Lerdo asked, as an ostentatiously clad gentleman sauntered towards Diego.
“I am Raphael Escalante,” he introduced with more than a small tinge of aristocratic arrogance. “Diego here is an employee of mine. Allow me to address his question.”
“By all means,” Lerdo acquiesced.
Turning to the curious Diego, but addressing the whole assembly, Escalante replied, “These fine men” – indicating Juarez and Lerdo – “don’t want to destroy the Church, they just don’t want the priests and bishops stockpiling all this land that could be yours. After all, greed is one of the seven deadly sins.”
That made more sense to Diego, who spoke the Catechism better than he did politics.
Still hoping to drive this growing sense of support further, Escalante added, “The Church doesn’t exist to be a political power. It exists as a guide for the people. Therefore, its power shouldn’t diminish even if its land does. So why not try to better your lives?”
“Sí,” Diego nodded slowly, “I understand, but still isn’t it a sin to rebel against the Church in such a way?” This time he looked directly to Lerdo for the answer.
“It is not our intention,” Lerdo began, “to seek direct confrontation with the Church on these matters. We hope to persuade the ecclesiastical hierarchy to accept the reform process so that we can work together to make a brighter future for our nation.”
Then to the general assembly, “This law allows people to take their lives into their own hands and be the authority in their own lives, instead of following the Church in all matters. So Mexico, I ask you, are you with me!”
Again, a great cry of support resonated through the mass of bodies. And the assembly was deemed a success.
Lerdo went home that night feeling like David after the fall of Goliath; Escalante could practically taste the sweet flavor of burgeoning wealth; and Diego, though still not quite sure which way was up, felt hopeful for the future. Perhaps the Lerdo Law was the key to a better tomorrow.
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=1043115&imageID=1559353&word=sebastian%20lerdo%20de%20tejada&s=1¬word=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&total=1&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=1
Mexico, May 1856 – Town square with a crowd of people
I was born Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada in Veracruz, to a Criollo family. I studied theology in Palafoxiano Seminary and received minor orders, but never entered the priesthood. Instead, I ended up graduating with a law degree. Later I served as a prosecutor for the Supreme Court and became known as a Liberal leader, and supporter of President Benito Juarez. Today, with President Juarez, I come to bring new hope to the people of Mexico.
I’m Raphael Escalante: landowner, shameless manipulator, and a strong proponent of the Lerdo Law. My liberal upbringing and indecent lust for money makes this new law all the more enticing to me. The Lerdo Law is my key to riches far greater than anything previously imaginable. Together with my fellow aristocrats, we will bring down the supremacy of the Church, revoke their lands, and claim their fortunes as our own.
However, we need the poor to support this endeavor if it has any hope of succeeding. That is why I’m here today: to convince these paupers that the Lerdo Law is worth supporting, even though they will likely gain nothing from it after its inception.
I am Diego, a humble farmer of the mestizo class. I currently work on a small plot of land for Señor Escalante. Currently, I scrape by with just enough to feed my family. My wife, Matilida, and I struggle to clothe and provide necessities for our five children. As they grow, I would like to see a future for my son, Leonardo who is approaching his sixteenth birthday.
The Lerdo Law sounds as if it might be a wonderful opportunity for my family, but we are devout Catholics and are not willing to put our eternal souls in jeopardy for this law. I am here at this assembly today to better understand this new movement, and discover if it really is worth supporting.
…
“My friends,” Juarez shouted over the crowd gathered in the town square, “it is good to see you all here today. I’ve been thinking lately about the Church – not religion – and about the power and authority the Church holds over our country. The concerns I have are not only held by me, but by other members of our country and government as well. In response to these concerns we propose a new law be implemented. This law – which will be named after my colleague and college friend, Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada – will allow the government to revoke the Church land holdings, and redistribute them to the people, for the benefit of all! So now, without further ado, I give you the master mind behind this movement, Sebastian Lerdo!”
“Thank you, President Juarez,” Lerdo said as he stepped to the forefront of the platform. “Greetings, to you all! Many people, especially those in the Church and positions of ecclesiastical power, will see this new proposed law as an attack against the Roman Catholic faith. Let me assure you, this is not the case. We are not trying to alienate the Church at all, we are just trying to provide a better life for our citizens, by giving them the opportunity to acquire more land and provide for themselves. We are only asking the Church to look at the lands they currently have in their holding, break them up, and allow people to access this rich, arable land for themselves.”
“Excuse me, Señor Lerdo,” a humble but loud voice called out from the massive crowd. “Señor Lerdo!” A ragged farmer pushed his way to the front of the assembly, frantically waving his arm for attention.
“Sí?” Señor Lerdo looked down at the man expectantly.
“My name is Diego; I’m an employee on one of the large haciendas in this town. It has been my dream to someday own and farm land of my own. Through this law will it be possible for even a mestizo like me – and later my son, Leonardo – to own some of this land?”
“If both you and Leonardo can afford to buy the land, no one could legally stop you. But without this law, neither you nor your son would even have a chance at that land,” Lerdo responded benevolently.
Then to the rest of the audience he said, “By giving the land to the people we are allowing them to work for themselves and become self-sustaining. This new found individualism will boost our economy and create a more independent nation! We will move Mexico forward, following the examples of European nations, and taking our place in this thriving, global economy!” A great cheer arose from the crowd with this last motivating statement.
“Yes, but Señor Lerdo,” Diego insisted, his doubts not yet quelled. “What will happen to the parish priests when the fueros are taken away? Where will the people go for guidance if our priests are run out of town?”
“Señor Lerdo,” a baritone voice called out, “allow me to answer this.”
“And who might you be?” Lerdo asked, as an ostentatiously clad gentleman sauntered towards Diego.
“I am Raphael Escalante,” he introduced with more than a small tinge of aristocratic arrogance. “Diego here is an employee of mine. Allow me to address his question.”
“By all means,” Lerdo acquiesced.
Turning to the curious Diego, but addressing the whole assembly, Escalante replied, “These fine men” – indicating Juarez and Lerdo – “don’t want to destroy the Church, they just don’t want the priests and bishops stockpiling all this land that could be yours. After all, greed is one of the seven deadly sins.”
That made more sense to Diego, who spoke the Catechism better than he did politics.
Still hoping to drive this growing sense of support further, Escalante added, “The Church doesn’t exist to be a political power. It exists as a guide for the people. Therefore, its power shouldn’t diminish even if its land does. So why not try to better your lives?”
“Sí,” Diego nodded slowly, “I understand, but still isn’t it a sin to rebel against the Church in such a way?” This time he looked directly to Lerdo for the answer.
“It is not our intention,” Lerdo began, “to seek direct confrontation with the Church on these matters. We hope to persuade the ecclesiastical hierarchy to accept the reform process so that we can work together to make a brighter future for our nation.”
Then to the general assembly, “This law allows people to take their lives into their own hands and be the authority in their own lives, instead of following the Church in all matters. So Mexico, I ask you, are you with me!”
Again, a great cry of support resonated through the mass of bodies. And the assembly was deemed a success.
Lerdo went home that night feeling like David after the fall of Goliath; Escalante could practically taste the sweet flavor of burgeoning wealth; and Diego, though still not quite sure which way was up, felt hopeful for the future. Perhaps the Lerdo Law was the key to a better tomorrow.
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=1043115&imageID=1559353&word=sebastian%20lerdo%20de%20tejada&s=1¬word=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&total=1&num=0&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=1
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