The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-26

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that although her course has been downward
and ours upward although she has been lying
for more than twenty years almost helpless at
our feet and has given us cause, time and again,
to chastise her petty insolences and establish on
her soil good government in place of misruie
and rapine-yet we have quietly allowed every
golden opportunity to slip by without making
the slightest use of it. We have. in point OF fact,
initiated the example Of the indolent philosopher,
who expected to see his larks ready roasted, fall
from the sky into his mouth. The recent move
ments of the Court Of Madrid presage very
shake off this insoucidnce, and to do what We
should have done ten years ago, 1. e., extend our
government over the entire area of the late re-
public Of Mexico. We say late republic, because
the protectorate of Mexico, such as il is now, is
no more nor less than the temporary sway of
half dozen petty military despots.
Let us bee how matters stand
IN the first place, il is quite certain that there
can be no hope for anything better or worse
land ii is really no great matter which) than the
utter and irreparable dissolution of the con-
federacy which is presumed to exist between the
Mexican States. The central power is pros
trated and the civil war which is now waging
will be carried on until the combatants are ar
rested by the interference Of some exte-
rior power Now, Spain has always looked
with wishful eye at her ancient colony,
and has some little pecuniary affairs of
long standing which ii is now threatened
must be settled with the strong hand.
Mexico has whipped Spain once and could do
it again in fair play; but the Spanish influence
at the Tuilleries and the jealousy of France aud
England at the extension Of our te1.cry
Cubawards give to the government OF Madrid
an overwhelming power over the sick republic.
The entente cordiale between England and France
is still refreshingly affcctionate, and We have
just read of the amiability of Spain in lending
her troops to assist in the French operations
against Cochin-China. The fleets Of the three
Powers could be concentrated at Vera Cruz
within month, and a force of twenty thousand
men thrown into the City Of Mexico inside Of
sixty days. Our old friend Santa Anna would
doubtless make use of some trick similar to that
which was employed with President Polk in
1916, and manage to slip into the country and
be ready for anything that might turn up. He
is undoubtedly concerned in the diplomatic in
trigues at Madrid and may have repeated his
old promise to assist in putting a Spanish prince
upon the throne of the Montezumas. Such
government once established and supported
by foreign bayoncts, could hardly be I'M
seated without general war. We should
be taught, in the bitter school of expe-
rience, severe lesson upon the evils of that
policy with which Congress wastes its session
in senseless wranglings about few niggcrs
while the interests Of millions Of white men are
damaged by its inanity.
We demand. then-ahd we believe that VIC ey-
press the sense Of the country upon this point
we demand that the United States government
shall take some decided steps to check this impu-
dent and arrogant interference of Spain in our
affairs. We say our affairs, because Mexico pro-
perly belongs 10 us. In ls47 we conquered ii,
at an expense of something like hundred mil
lion Of dollars, and by the treaty of Guada-
lupe-H idalgo we purchased a portion of the
territory which 10y the laws Of war belonged to
the conqucror altogether. No European Power
in the same position that We occupied would
have hcsitated for a moment in establishing a
protectorate over Mexico. by supplemental
treaty-the Gadsden convention Of ls53-wc
purchased more territory Of Mexico; and Of the
area Of that country in lS2l-namely, two hun
H. anIu IL tbnu II sbara
has been cedcd TO US something over one-half
For this We have paid, in addition TO the war
expenses, twenty-five millions. Mexico also
owes to citizens of the United States fifteen mil
lions Of dollars. il must BE- patent even 10 the
European Powers that our interests in Mexico
are Of somewhat greater consequence than theirs.
More than all this, Mexico has placed herself ia
our power by repeated violations Of the Guada-
lupc-H idalgo treaty, - that We really stand now
in the same position that We occupied before that
treaty was made. We have presumption right
over the Mexican territory. which right II will
be dangerous for any European Power. or any
alliance Of them, 20 attempt to infract. This IL
not the language Of brayado. We speak the
words of truth and soberness. Already our
steamers traverse Mexican waters; our mocha
mics ply the axe in the forests Of Tehuantcpec;
our military posts extend from the mouth
Of the Rio Grande in an unbroken cor
don TO the frontier Of Sonora; our flag floats
in every port Of entry on the AtlaR'ic and
Pacific sides. The magnificent country lies In
the palm Of our hand; We have only to close it,
and the deed is done--a deed which would re-
dound as much to the happiness and prosperity Of
Mexico as to the progress and the glory Of the
United States. Unnecessary, we can assume and
pay the foreign debt owed by Mexico, 80 that the
worthless Of the London Stock Exchange may be
relieved OF one great load, those terrible Mexi-
can bonds, over which they have been groaning
for 20 many years.
The duty Of our government In this iuncturc
Is plain. The President has just equipped and
aent n powerfnl fleet 10 Paraguay Our Home