Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-06-10
INSTRUMENTATION.

Three hundred years ago, fernando de
Cortez, crossed the wide waters of the At
lantic, and landing with three hundred brave
Spartan followers, on the coast of newly
discovered America, entered their wealthy
provinces and conquered their inoffensive
people. Over mountains and hills, across
valleys and ravines, climbing high rugged
rocks, fording bridgless streams, down aw.
full precipices and up rough quarried banks ,
wearied and fatigued, but not disheartened,
they moved on their slow and almost silent
pace to the capital of the ancient A.tecs.
How many years this doomed race had occu-
pied those auriferous hills will remain a
hidden mystery until he who holds the des-
tiny of nations in his hand shall .lraw aside
the dark curtain Of futurity and reveal to a
world 8 astonished gaze the forbidden secrets
Of time.
Ever since the day Cortez made his con-
quest, Mexico has been the theatre of civil
wars, discord, strife aud contention. Her
country, unsurpassed in wealth and luxury,
could never rest tranquil or contented with
out causing internal confusion and external
disorder; and if her people excel in any
one thing it must be in theft unc easing love
of coInmotion and turmoil. Ravaging their
own country and plundering their own peo-
pie has been their pastime, while the
screams of unprotected females and their
innocent offspring has always been sweet
music for their ears. Incapable of govern
ing themselves they have run. wild like unre-
strained urchins over their own beautiful
fields, and laid waste in utter desolation that
country which it had pleased infinite heaven
to adorn with its most exquisite skill.
Such has been the condition of this
people for the last three hundred years,
and We certainly could not expect to behold
a different state of affairs than the painful
tragedies now being enacted. 1t is true they
have established form of government, and
as if to mock the very institutions of heaven
they have dcnominated it republic =
What consummate folly! What an outrage
upon the principles Of religious liberty!
What burlesque upon every known gov
ernmental rule! Why! its government is
but fragmentary mob of Impoverished ad-
venturers! Mexico a republic Heaven
forfend! 1t possesses, on the contrary, a
government having no settled plan-with
no object in view-with no desire to benefit
mankind-a potent defender Of riots, mobs
and connections; and, finally, her govern
mental plan Of procedure is wholesale in
| fringement upon the almost universally re-
cogn;zed statutes of infinite wisdom. Her
people have chosen malignant and blood
thirsty tyrants for despotic rulers, and then
by committing wanton outrage upon the
intelligence of the civilized world, she has
given them the appellation of President
Now it is well settled fact that any form
government, tyrannical, despotical, or even
maniacal, is more conducive to human hap-
piness and prosperity than no plan Of gov
eminent at all, and did we find no other ev-
idence Of this fact in the pages Of recorded
history, the condition of Mexico would be
satisfactory proof of its truthfulnes,.
But, says the objector, "you do not advo-
cate the annexation of country so corrupt
and barbaric as you have pictured Mexico
. yes, my friend, We DO, and that same de-
plorable state of affairs is the strongest ar
gument we can use in justification Of such a
course. A nation in so eminently prosper
GUS condition as ours, could never perform
an act that would be more commendable
in the sight Of heaven and civilization, than
to bestow upon people degraded, deluded,
oppressed and tyrannized, the means where
BY they could rise from their degraded bar
barisn, and receive that inestimable gift
which shall place them on an equality with
our own enlightened country. Great men
desire great occasions ane objects of mo
mentous interest to bring out their latent
. energics-they do not wish to grapple with
things unbccoming their strength. Thus it
is with nations. They always perform deeds
of daring skill and bravery commensurate
with their abilities. Do they do deed of
charity, it is done on gigantic scale. And
civilized nations, like great men, are always
on the look out for suitable occasions to
display their greatness and goodness. Now
the occasion is about to be offered for
this country to inform the world that it has
found an object of charity worthy its espe-
cial attention, and between the intent to do
and the performing the deed, compare
lively short space of time will intervene.
Mexico is in suffering condition. Her
people cry for succor; her would be "Na-
poleon of America" screeches SO as to be
heard across the Atlantic for shelp, help,
or perish.' Hear what the wooden-leg-
ged scoundrcl has done:
''The new chief Of the Mexican Republic has claim
ed Spanish protection as the only means of making
front against the inUasicn Of the United States, the
danger Of which is every day more imminent and for
preserving what remains Of that rich country against
the conquest Of its powerful neiglbors. According
To the version have heard the same idea has been
communicated to the Cabinets Of London and Paris
by whom, it appears, it was favorably received
We quote from Madrid Journal, and the
editor goes on to say in the matter it will be
necessary to proceed with much tact and
caution, Stalking care of both interests in
America and in our island of Cuba"
That Santa Anna foresees war with the
United States, we have no doubt, and that
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