The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-20
Spain and Mexico.

From the London Herald, Feb 8.
When the question yDs asked, nearly year since,
whether we were TO witness war between Spain and
AeSco good deal OF subdued mirth on
continents, the eventuality seemed ridiculous Span
a nation apparently in the imbecilty of premature old
age, nduged in the most magnoqucnt threats against
republic Of It's own progeny lying far away across the
ergetc and powerful neighbor who already looks upon
Mexico as certain acquisition at no very distant day.
The cdsus eli of the slightest character The real
grounds OF the Spanish ire TO be sought for fast
in that excessive sensveness which grows proportion
the substance Of power departs and leaves only the
forms behind Mexico 1t must be confessed showed lit
tie in the matter for its progenitors but Spain
was really strong enough 10 carry war INTO that republic
OF the dsrespect manifested by the persons who for the
moment are supposed to WELD authority in Mexico.
What was the origin OF this dispute which We now find
far subsided 10 be referred to the good Offices Of
European mediationS Money And here is the
point The character Of the Spanish government as a
debtor s toeraby well understood by the Spanish bond
holders; but this convcss her OF than
Willingness TO pay her debts She ignores the great
Christian maxim OF doing she would be done by II
singular enough that large of Mexican securities
she ud be held by Spanish subjects and these have turn
ed out to be nearly Of equal value with spsh securities
themselves. Mexico IL VIGOROUSLY solvent II is indeed
some years since she entered the of last resort
that Of selling her territories 10 enable her TO carry not
the government q the repubc but those continuous civil
wars, cOIs ttdt, and revolutions, which have left
states or She an did So ps 70 pe 10
pay her Spanish creditors, and your Don, who
not distress himself about the payment OF his debts,
is maryeousy ouchy in his dignity a creditor. Per-
has Mexico pIevaTicated little II is certain that she
pleaded fraud NJ honds-but then that is
legal and equitable plea; perhaps, too, she merely
10 gain time. Al any rae, a spec.al Spanish en-
voy despatched To demand satisfaction OF these
claims like a sensible person he agreed to compromise
but the great and powerful admins lraton at Madrid
would listen 20 nothing of the kind. They dsavowed the
at o their penpctcnary. To embter the difference
attack was made about that period little before it, by
some Mexican bandits upon Spanish hacienda, an some
of iS occupants were murdered. We convinced that
the Mexican gov~ nment did what could 10 capture the
mountain bandits and bring them 20 punishment; but se
power of the Mexican authorities being by few shades
less than that OF the Spanish government which cannot
always suppress brlgandagc upon is own high roads, II
was found impossible 10 bring the murderers Of the
Spanish subjects TO Justice Thcrcupon the government
OF her most Catholic Majesty gave orders 10 equip fleet
TO capture Vera Cruz aud military expedition was 70 be
organized FOR months and months politicians, whose
studies had been profound enough 20 enable them 10
understand the impossiblty OF two such countries az
spain and Mexico going TO war, kept a restless
merely sent minister 20 Spain, Senior Tsfrasua,
range the quarrel am'caby and after considerable
tons ssd expenditure Of time he seems 10 have made
good the hrst step towards that end "My august aes
said Queen Isabella, her recent speech 70 the Cortes
"the Emperor OF the French the Queen of England
diaon which have willingly accepted, wishing TO give
new proof OF the spirit of conciiiston with which am
anmaied" 10 ends that storm in teapot
The political condition however Of both spain and Mex
co preeents subject tor deeper reGeoton-a painful sub
ject every respect and not the least in that which
the pocE of the 'libers" school Of English states men s
implicated. spain one Of the European nations which
has been blessed, Ne the phrase s with constitutional
form oi government altogether through The insruep.
tality of English influence Can tnc tpglsh pcope ron
template The result with oomposure aud satisfaction Has
parliamentary government worked well In SPAIN We
bulled and We tntr gusdpsy fought and spent Eng
sh blood and tressureo place the present dynasty on
the throne Of that country Has answered the expecs
tons that were formed Arc the Spanish people
happy and couented, ssd progressing in intelli.
gence and wealth Has the regiWs after the Ri.
fashion aided spain in reganng any portion Of thai
lost influence which she Al former period exercised In
European politics. Never before Span the Spanish
monarchy degraded IN the eyes Of the world the
present momtnt never were It's sovereign and court so
much despsed, among span ards themselves
ts administration less stable, or its finances and
teria condition lower ebb. And yet the Iberian Pc
nnsua posscyscs natural resources not surpassed by
those OF any country in Europe soil, climate, mineral
wealth, geog ographcal position emnenty favorable for
commerce, excellent ports snd people docie 70 indus
Try and cage Tor oncrprsewth all this possible, what
a spectacle docs Span present. DIVISION anarchy, and
constantly imminent revolution Have the doctrnsTes OF
English constitutional liberty, in their propagandism Of
answer for in this maiecrf Could Carlst sovereign and
government OF SPAN, during the last twenty thirty
years, have reduced Il TO it, present condition
Mex hcpclcss from the rst and the fate oftoae
spanish American republics since they throw the DO
mnion OF the mother country instructive coupnena
ry upon the agaciy OF that eminenty liberal statesman
George Canning, who such a hurry to recognise
their independence. Independence With their history
and actual condition before u.s. what blast OF scoru seems
70 whistle through the word WIN thev arc All in far
way of being swallowed upat least far south as New
Granada; and Mexico viii be the first mouthfu Their
exstere an increasing subject OF jealousy between the
two greatest merca Powers of the world: and their
history is one qf internal dscord anarchy and revo-
luton For the moment Ccmcnfort IS again dominant
IN Mexico but who believes u possible for that
leader 70 found stable government No II l.
not in the nature Of things Already has a large
portion uf Mexico become incorporated in the United
States territory and few short years will complete the
absorption. The experiment Of free Spanish American
republics hoxreripent were-our own opinion "a that
nothing mocest as experiment intenied-is an
utter failure the "manifest destiny" Of those coun
tries obvious. AZ Spanish against Mexico IT.
Tie need be said about It, IL nothing ese, Cuba