The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-04

present troubles should produce their worst effect,
which is the separation OF which we speak the
may be enough for il is sufficient incentive to the
ambition of the neighborng republic.
The dangers OF which we speak are now greater
than ever, in consequence OF the election to power
of that party which, under the cloak Of liberty,
would carry the dominion of the stars and stripes to
all the countries of the continent. We must not
forget, then, that it, under the presidency OF Polk,
taking advantage of our dissensions, there is no
reason why they should not do the same now that
our dissensons are greater and our strength less.
The Situation of Mexico In n Central American
Point Of View.
From the Gaceta de Guatemala.
The intelligence which we receive from the repub-
lie of Mexico, becomes daily more alarming. Now
we hear that the ministry Is changed. because the
men that filled the highest Offices have been obliged
to abandon them, in despair of being able to con-
tnue the direction of affairs Some time back we
had serious diplomatic difficulties; the government Of
the capital deprived of the management of the scanty
national funds which it unemployed; pronuncia-
mentos at Guadalajara, Acapulco, and Vera Cruz;
authentic rum0rs that the American government is
disposed to occupy the lsthmus of Tehuantepec, in
one way or another; war at Matamoras; irruptions
of the indigenous inhabitants of Durango and other
places within the territory Of the republic; disobe.
dience; want of harmony; scantiness of resources
impotency in fine, to do good, proclaimed before
the 0dtlOn Dy ltS very le0QerS-Sucu IL cOmpeu-
dunn Of the situation Of Mexico. This loosening of
the social bonds-this choas Of ideas and principles
this continued agitation-this slow and prolonged
agony-are in a great measure the necessary results
OF the inadequate institutions OF the federal system
whose adoption was counseled, at an evil hour, by
a neighb0ring nation which was far from desiring
the good of these republics.
The government Of Mexico is now reduced to de.
Tending ITSELF to proong its existence for time un,
til the hour shall have come when shall be dissolved
by impoteucy, or swallowed up by anarchy. All
dsplore the eS-hone deem 1t posss.e .o aaminster
any remedy. An enterprise worthy of the philoso-
pherhistorian it undoubtedly will be to examine
with impartiaty into the causes which, in less than
quarter OF century, have reduced to so painful an
extremity q nation called to be the greatest
weathiest and most powerful Of this continent. He
will say II this calamity was not brought on in
great measure by the vices Of the so-called refined
class of society which changed the valor, the nteg
rty and the honor of its ancestors for foreign GUS
toms and systems-for peurile reinements; that
after having become blOated with vanity, scorned
as absurd, the principles, the ideas, the traditions
and the elements OF government which 1t found
already established on separating from the mother
country.
A country where magnanmous and generous sen.
timents have made way for the cxigences of sordd
ternal appearance, is the case with Mexico, must
unavoidably meet with ruin. Then it is that we see
many Of the individuals rise into prosperity and in
fuence, while the nation is gradually disappearing
TONS but do not destroy them they may lessen their
power diminish their influence, narrow their limits,
but they do not blot them out indelibly Corrup-
ton and vice cut of nations at the root, and the In.
credulity that materializes men and smothers all
generous instincts, is capable of annihating peo-
pie and destroying natOnalities. Thus it came to
pass that Egypt, once so powerful and tlourshing,
t ana into the hands OF
prc fell beneath the axe Of the northern barbarans
who imposed on old Europe their customs and their
legislation.
1t is in reality astonishing to see Mexico situated
she is, striving with all her might to assemble
Congresses that devote themselves to discussing
theoretical questions and issuing great DEGREES and
regulations which no one cares to obey, instead Of
calling on all to unite and front the danger and de-
fend the country, threatened with death. But what
must fill the measure of our establishment is the
blindness with which some still insist for the main
tenance of order Of things which has hurried the
country to the brink of the most dreadful precpice
These men, 0bstinatey bent on exalting and pro-
claiming as good fortune the cause of their mis-
fortunes, remind us Of the energetic comparison of
modern writer, who likens them to madmen running
along the street Of plaguestrcken community, and
crying franticaly Hurrah for the plagued Long live
the plague!'
And yet this country, no more than any other,
is not wanting in intelligent men, who per-
ceive the extent of the evil and IL may be,
discern its only remedy-generous hearts, private
and moderate virtues that trembe at the sight Of the
danger impending so imminently over their country,
and yet disposed to every kind of sacrifice to conure
1t. But what We do not as yet see, Is the popular
masses taking that energetic attitude, and bringing
about that social restoration, by means Of which
other nations have been enabled to save themselves
when their institutions and government have become
weak and powcrlcss as most always happens in the
case Of countries ruled by what is termed democracy
Still, notwithstanding the sad truth Of the picture
which we have just drawn and which is, in the
main, scarcely different from that daily drawn by
the papers Of The neighboring republic, we must de-
clar hot in 0ur rnus untl Oaa aIl
hope Of savation--a cOnsoling idea, founded we
think the consideration Of two notable features to
be observed in that country. The first which we have
lightly touched upon already Is that the masses of
the people have not been contaminated by certain
species Of vices offspring Of false civilization, and
that the political and religious scepticism which,
like dev0uring gangrcne, usually preys upon the
classes of society conventionally called the re-
fined classes has not yet descended into the country
at large We are far from pretending that the Mex
lean people are exempt from the defects to be OBJ
served in the same class OF society in all these coun
tries: but We do believe that these vices are I'M
doubtedy of a less pernicious character than that
which marks those which dsfgure certain social
categores The cause OF this is that the excuses to
which the people abandon themselves, leave two very
important and powerful sentiments untouched-taith
and love Of country; while the poison which circu-
lates among the upper classes reaxes and destroys
those two vigorous cords, which are sometimes sufl
cent, by themselves, to operate q salutiry regene
ration in nations that were considered On the point
Of death.
Mexicos other hope Of salvation lies, we think, In
the fact notable indeed that in the midst Of this
complete disorganzation and these pronuncamentos,
founded on the most absurd preexts, the idea Of dis
solving the national unity has not yet been preached
The States do not pretend TO become independent OF
Mexico nor are there to be discovered any symp-
toms Of that blind provncalism which has caused so
much injury in Central America Neither Puebla,
nor Vera Cruz, nor any other Of the principal com
munites Of that republic that we are aware of looks
with envy upon the prosperity Of Mexico, or cons-
ders its interests and those Of the capital opposed to
or conflicting with one another; and we doubt not
that this powerful element Of unity strengthened by
adequate institutions will be powerful auxiliary in
the work Of regenerating the Mexican people.
In some papers which we lately received, we saw
the suggestion made, MS resource, Of calling Gene
ral Santa Anna to the dictatorship but this mea
sure, which has already been tried without sue
witty Of the evil. On the other hand, similar