The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-27

principle; believed mankind required to be
governed by force and corruption in equal
pests Bagot was simpleton; Gosiord an
absolute fool; Colborne and others mere SOL
diers. The only man of intellect comparable
to Lord Elgins-Lord Durham-failed in every
thing he tried, reused the worst passions Of the
Canadians without try ing to calm them, alarm
ed the mother country without suggesting q
remedy, and finally broke his word and his
heart by flying from the storm which Lord Ell
gin has surmounted.
Central and South American Anairs-Impor-
tant Crisis In their History.
The accounts that we published yesterday
from Central and South America give de-
plorable aspect to the political affairs of those
portions Of our continent. Nearly every re-
public in the former, and several of those in the
latter are more or less in state Of revolution
San Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Bolivia,
New Granada and Peru have all contributed
their chapter of events to the revolutionary his
tory of the day. 10 some the struggle Is occa-
stoned by efforts to centraize the administrative
functions Of government in the hands of individ-
ual rulers, and to approximate its forms to the
old and corrupt monarchical systems-in others,
by q logged resistance to the reformation of
abuses which are eating up the resources OF
the respective States, and Ietarding their ad-
vancement in moral as well as in material
point Of view. Thus, for instance, in Guate-
mala, the principal State of the old federation
Of Central America, we find Carrera following
the example of that arch-traiasr, Santa Anna,
and converting the dictatorship, which he has
maintained for several years, into ahereditary
monarchy, qualified only by the mockery Of a
republican title In Nicaragua there is q fierce
contest waging between the partisans Of Cha
MORO and Castellon, the one chief being the
pet Of the hidalgos and the moneyed aristocracy
and the advocate of commercial monopolies
and high tariffs, and the o.ber the representa-
tive of the principle of progress at least
50 far as the question of free trade is con-
cerned.
But whatever may be he ostensible motives
which in each case sway these movements, their
causes lie much deeper, and are to be traced to
a common source-the absence Of all political
knowledge and the incapacity for self govern
ment which have always been the distinguish
ing characteristics of the popula ions Of the
Spanish American States. They are, in fact
the natural results Of the absard attempt to
blend in one common condition of equality a
strange mixture Of different races-white, black
and red. Wherever we see this fusion exist
there we may mark constitutional Incidence
the absence of all patriotic spirit, and conse
quent Indifference to progress tits fatal in short
to the march Of civilization, and to the extension
of material prosperity. Even religion exerts no
and in the bone, and can never, we fear, be
eradicated. Hence it is that we go frequently
see those vagrant States, amongst which for
a similar reason may be classed the Sandwich
Islands, Cuba and Dominica, casting longing
eyes towards this country in the desire to be
rescued from the consequences of their own
inherent weakness and political incapacity.
The same chronological cause which has re-
duced the governments we have named to such
a condition of helplessness aud political des-
titution should make us pause before we admit
into the bosom Of our Union such doubtful and
dangerous elements. Here the AngloSaxo
has, by clear-sighted and justifable policy,
considering the examples we have noted,
been kept carefully apart from the Indian and
African. He has been taught that mixture
with races differing 50 widely in their
physical and mental conformation endan-
gered the perpetuation of those high
physical and moral qualities upon which
he so justly prides himself and our
institutions have been framed so as to en-
courage this idea. The consequence is that
the Anglo-Saxon race on this continent have
preserved un1iminished all the constitutional
vigor and energy Of their forefathers--qualities
that have already conducted them to splendid
results, and that will yet enable them to build
up one of the grandest empires that the sun
has ever shone upon.
Whatever, therefore, may be the issue Of
the conflicts now waging in the Central and
South American republics, we will be slow to
profit by any apparent advantage that volun-
tary demands for annexation may afford US.
The desire Of swelling the extent of our terri
tory, natural to an ambitious and enterprising
people, will, when each individual case presents
itself for our decision, be held in some degree
subordinate to the considerations we have
pointed ont. Unless the difficulties in every
instance can be reconciled with the require
ments Of our institutions, we will prefer to wait
for opportunities which will enable US to inn