The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-06-16
The War with B1exlc0-The MlssiOn OF the
United States OF the North.


The War with msxlco-The Mission OF tn.
United States OF the North.
We think that the following view of the Mex
can war Is one that our readers will generally
admit 10 be the correct one-
History hardly presents a parallel to the apa
thy of the Mexican nation amid the invasion O
their territory, the defeats Of their armies, an,
the menaced fall of their capital. While the vic
tors OF the Cerro Gordo are preparing for thei
last grand march upon the heart and centre o
the nation. its Congress sits there debating con
stitutional questions, and whether il shall re-
move TO Quereiaro-and with the exception oil
some individual efforts, hardly responded TO-
quietly awaits its disgrace. Meanwhile, we see
our army, mere handful of men, marching con-
6dently to the attack of cities whose very beg
gars are more numerous than they NO longer
hoping for success from their arms, they trust 10
mere vis inerfie to deliver them finally from
their invaders They utter no cry, strike no blow,
and die without dignity Their fall and destruc-
ton as nation would be without greatness, and
equally unaccompanied by the sympathy or re-
spect of the world.
An enquiry into the causes of this condition Of
the Mexican people light be curious and proita-
bic, but would demand more space than we can
now devote TO this subject. This war has suffi-
GENTLY revealed to the world that the singularly
mixed race inhabiting the Mexican territory
have not, and perhaps never have had, any exist
ence as nation, except a mere titular one. 1t
is true that il has declared itself such, and has
been so recognized by other powers; but when il
is considered that its whole history and particu-
larly Of late years, has been mere whirl of re.
volutions, of intestine wars and connections,
and the strife of rival chieftains, without having
learned one lesson of wisdom, or gained one ele-
ment Of progress; and that, invaded in all quar-
ters, town after town captured and the enemy
laundering at the very gates of their capital, it
can find no rallying cry for its hundreds ofthou-
sands of citizens-no charm in the name of home
and fatherland to evoke universal and enthu-
siastc defence. There be but one conclu-
sion drawn, and that is, that the so-caed Mexl-
can nation does not exist. Where then are we to
look for the regeneration of this people Certain
lynot within itself. If so, long ere this, amid the
bitter teachings of revolution, disunion, and civil
wars, would have arisen the Cromwell or Napo-
leon to have guided its destines, and even given
the man; it might be easily shown that the career
were impossible, nasmuch as nowhere does there
exist throughout the State, or rather, agglomera-
ton of States, body of people possessing the
union of feeling and moral force requisite to
overcome and reduce to an equilibrium the other
Earring, distinct, and ever conflicting forces
The fanatcal soldiery of Cromwell were inspired
with faith, and controlled by ideas which, to
whatever excuses they led them, were grand in
their obstinate purpose and intense zeal; 30 the
armies of republican France went forth irresst-
IDLE with their new gospel of the rights of man;
but the people of Mexico are beneath that level
Of cultivation and intelligence which could ena-
bic them to be the recipients and champions of
any abstract ideas.
Whence then is to come the new impulse, the
regenerating ideas which to infuse the new
blood of progress and improvement into this
people Whence the friendly arm to drive from
the political sky of Mexico those focks of vul-
lures who have so long Toasted on the enfeebled
body Of the State, to raise it up heal its wounds,
and bid it speed on its march to order, security,
and general happiness 7?
History shows us, that in almost every case
where nation has advanced TO a new and
higher civilization, from previous state Of
standardization and generalization, that the
transition has been preceded by conquest, and
that conquest coming invariably from the North.
The Tartars overrun China; the Brahmins or
Khetrys, Hindostan the Asae or Goths,
Sweden, and the Turks the degenerate Eastern
empire; in each case infusing into the worn-ou,
race the elements of new progress. But the
role which then belonged to barbarians, has
now fallen to the share of the civilization and
valor Of the North. The conquest which could
then only owe it's completion to the cruelties and
expressions of centuries, may now be perfected
by the mere presence Of nobler, and more bene-
Il
And that mission, which the United States OF
the North has 80 repeatedly declined in her fire.
quent and fruitless efforts to make peace with
her antagonist, may yet be fulfilled, when, in the
ancient capital ofthe Aztecs, she scatters to the
winds the political and military ncendiaries,
and the cut-throat armies of Mexico, and pro-
claims to the people peace, brotherhood, and
rational progress.
Let her then accept the mission, which the
obstinacy of the Mexican Congress will not any
longer allow her to shuttle off; AMI in no spirit
ofgain and covetousness, but under the inspira-
ton Of principles of an exalted humanity, pro-
coed at once, in force, to end this war. Any 60
vsrnment which may arise out of our conquest,
will not long need the presence of an American
army in the city Of Mexico, to guaranty its ex-
istence, but will rest, in due time, peacefully, on
the free suffrage of the liberated and enlightened
Mexicans.
NRws FROM EURoPE.-The steamship Cam
bria is now in her twelfth day, and may be hour
ly expected. She is hardly due until she has been
over twelve days at sea. Unless the French steam
ship c. Colomb should arrive in the meantime,
the Cambria will bring sixteen days later intel
igence from all parts of Europe, which all classe.
are anxiously looking for.
Commercial intelligence of much Importance
il expected by the next arrival, as it was very