later O'Donoju arrived at Veracruz in his character of Viceroy, and upon being informed of the state of affairs issued a proclamation and entered into communication with the insurgents. He after wards signed the treaty of Cordoba, which ratified, with slight amendments, the plan of Iguala. Iturbide made a triumphal entry into the city of Mexico, on the 27th of September, 1821, and the country was then organized under a regency, succeeded later by an empire under Iturbide I. A revolutionary movement led by Santa Anna

of two political parties formed, one by the Spaniards, who wished to be ruled as in the time of the Spanish domination, and the other by the Republicans, who desired the country to adopt the most liberal political and social reforms, explains the series of revolutions which followed from 1828 to 1846. The United States of America declared an unjust war to Mexico the latter year, and succeeded in wresting from her, weakened as she was by so long a period of domestic disturbances, and unable to cope with her more powerful

formed a coalition against Mexico, and sent squadrons to Vera Cruz. The first two powers withdrew, and France alone remained to carry out her scheme of establishing an empire in America. The Republican government under President Juarez accepted the war and fought its powerful adversary from 1862 to 1867. Maximilian of Hapsburg, brother of the Austrian emperor, was chosen by Napoleon III. as the first ruler of Mexico. The invading forces took the capital and most of the principal cities, and held them until they were withdrawn by the French monarch, who saw the many difficulties which were in the way of the success of his scheme, and abandoned Maximilian to his fate, which was soon

decided by his capture and execution at Queretaro in the summer of

1867. Benito Juarez remained in power until 1872, when his death occurred. He was succeeded by Lerdo de Tejada, whose administration was abruptly brought to an end by the revolution of Palo Blanco, which proclaimed the principle of the non-re-election of the executive. General Porfirio Diaz was then elected president, and his inauguration took place in May, 1877. He was succeeded by General Manuel Gonzalez in 1880. Four years later, General Diaz was elected a second time, and is still at the head of

from each state and two from the federal district, half of the body being renewed every two years. The annual salary of the senators and deputies is $3,000. Congress holds two regular sessions annually, the first beginning September 16th and closing December 31st, the second opening April 1st and ending May 31st; the former can be extended thirty days and the latter fifteen days.

The executive power is vested in a president of the United Mexican States, who is elected by electors chosen by the people every four years. He is in

elected by indirect popular vote, and their term of office is six years; they are required to be native born.

The state governments are organized very much on the same plan as the general government.

The federal government derives its revenues from import, export, and transit duties, stamp tax, excise duties, tonnage, lighthouse, pilotage, and storage duties, etc. The state governments are supported by excise duties, levied on all foreign and domestic merchandise, and by certain direct taxes; the abolition of state taxes