The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-07-31
Prom the London Times.
jlaaaas I'D meKleN.

wen TO our childhood. The city of gold,
IDOLS and of hecatombs, the reckless
nrtes. the unfortunate Mentezuma, and a
(h and populous empire overthrown by a
pdful OF foreign adventures, excite by
ms the wonder, the admiration, the SYM
Inv and the ambition of our nature. Ii
;ll sometimes occur, Would that We had
I'd in those days! How did the world
live the successive reports Of those IN
able events =" We can scarcely expand
minds to the breadth of expectation
|;ch the discovery and the conquest OF 4
~ world must have universally raised
Perhaps, however, many who have III
iced in these reflections are entirely IN
vare thai after three centuries that history,
- wonderful coincidence, is acted over
n. At this moment, the very path OF
les is trodden by men who, ii they pre-
some strange contrasts, are moi less he
hot less confident in the inialllblc for.
Of their cause, than the famed Con-
Tor. The flag of Republlcanlsm sup
place Of the cross, whose reign the
Cavaliers chose To believe them
bely commissioned TO enlarge
hing destiny Of the Union is an
Nh across the Atlantic, and one
any a citizen would rejoice to
Such is the spirit and such
who are making their way with
badow ofoppostion from Vera Cruz
Eco. Such is the enterprise OF which
{hree or four DAYS now brings us fresh
13g. :,
Hitherto the Mexicans have represented
Sther the ancient natives of then country
ban the conquerors from whom they are re-
ly descended, On their side, II has been
all defiance. obstinacy and rashneSs. The
notes of preparation have been loud, and
the threats Sanguinary. Al tic moment
when these promises should be realised, the
hubble seems TO burst. After the stand al
[AIouterev. there has scarcely been anywhere
>esistance worthy Of an independent ma
h. The impremable san Juan d'ulloa
no sooner known to be invested than
ugs of It's capture arrived. Even where
ksge was not wanting, Mexico could not
FL the means of resistance. Since that,
~ fresh occasion has proved both the IN
bacity OF the State and the degeneracy of
frhieis. Tire battles of Buena Vista and
BIO Gordo have proved. that, whatever
e numbers, there is not the strength nor
morale in the Mexican republic to
maintain an efectual war obedience. City
after ci,y-Tampco, Tuspan, Matamoras,
Monterey, Vera Cruz, and last Of all, Jalapa,
are in The quiet occupation of the enemy.
As for the Mexicans, one is almost tempt
al 10 ask bv what accident of birth or of
Circumstances they exhibit 80 grotesIue
character in 80 serious drama. Last year
tney were standing out for empire and for
honor. This year they fight for nationality
and Independence. But how are they now
meeting an occasion which usually brings
GU, all the powers and all the virtues of
man Pomposity and weakness, trucu-
lence and cowaIdice are the chief varieties OF
the scene. Armies diappear with a sudden
ness and completeness which make it doubt
ful whether they ever existed, except in the
bombast of maniies,os The Commander
michel is a man whose only power seems
TO be that Of raising expectations which he
is the last 10 h.lEi.
Himself deceiyer, he is deceived in re-
turn. The state which chooses him for lack
Of a better does not really trust him.
While The war Tsges in the frontiers, and
shores, and peneuaies into the provinces,
49, -, n..,- Ill. - .bo.a -, ,,a,nral
barriers that surround the capital, that city
is divided. harrassed and weakened by civil
strife Battles and revolutions, the pres
ence Of an invading army, and the conflict
Of domestic factions, are too much for any
nation.
Mexico BIDS fair TO exhibit one OF those
tremendous catas,rophes which stand out hor- |
Tb.y distinct in the annals OF human ca
lanl;y. Santa Anna and his colleagues are
not men to be deferred by any consideration
Of social consequences. His present object
seems akin 10 tina; Of the desperate who
blows up his stronghold as the assailants
enter. He wishes to involve the cOnqueror
and tie conquered in a common ruin. The
proclamation of a guerilla warfare, giving
authority 10 every score Of ruffians TO con
GER their own plans, 10 make their own at
lacks 20 compel the cooperation Of the I'M
wiling, 10 ia1rdeT all the Americans they |
can Ind, OF whatever age or condition, is !
The act Of one who gives up honorable war,
and would efface or eclipse the memory of
ms failures by mutual and universal mas |
sacre. Il Is impossible to say how the plan
OF guerilla warfare will work but Santa
Anna still near enough to his antagonist |
to cause him serious annoyance Oh his road |
to the capital
There, as We are credibiy informed, has
Just occurred one Of those acts of absurdty
which can give an air of the ludicrous to the !
most gloomy conjecture. The Mexican
Congress has been gravelv discussing wheth- |
er II should not now accept the mediation
OF The British government, profered many
months since, and then CONTEMPORARY de-
cllned. They who thought the matter could
De SO easily re-opened, realize as little Of the
meaning OF the mediation as they appear to
% Of the meaning of war. This proposal
was graveiy discussed, and stoutly declined,
not as being useless, but an attempt upon the
sacred Liberties of the Republic!
The prospects Of the Americans are not
without their gloom, far and near. As they
approach the capital, their army melts away.
War, even with MeKicans. takes its quota.
a