Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-18
w CES Err:
WEDNESDAY, JUNE Is, 1869
Thc French in Mexico.

lettle interest in foreign news. The arrival of |
an Atlantic steamer scarcely engages atten-
ton, save when newspaper readers give way
to vexation on seeing the intelligence 1t
brings printed where they expected to ind
news from our armies. A war IN Europe
would be a secondary matter with most OF us,
even though carried on in Italy with repetl-
ton of the battles of Magenta and Solferino.
This comparative indifference to foreign al
fairs has diverted public attention from the
proceedings in Mexico, which in ordinary
times would excite great interest in this coun-
try, and, probably, very active Indignation.
We have all taken some notice of the fact
that Mexico has been invaded by troops from
ope,-French, English, and Spanish
and finally that the French have been left to
carry on the war alone. England has crept
out of the tripartite invasion, and Spain has
drawn off. There are secrets connected with
their disturbed alliance in this affair, yet to
be made public; and there is ill feeling that
may result in rupture of the close relations
between France and England if not in war.
IL lilG uldICll VI lllG IItuCu tON aus lllS eAtS
of Mexico had been successful, this Interrupt
ton of cordially might not become serious.
But the MeXicans have beaten the French in
a pitched battle, killed some 500 OF them,
taken many prisoners, and driven the rest
back towards Vera Cruz. Louis Napoleon
did not expect this. Nobody in Europe ex-
pected it. The Mexicans were regarded as
weak, inefficient race, incapable of vigorous
warfare, and quite unequal to a contest with
French soldiers; but they have beaten the
French, and even overpowered the French
Zouaves by charge of bayonets. The news
of this defeat can not be very pleasant to the
French people, and it will cause great irrita-
ton in government circles, which may seek
to vent itself in hostility TO England, who
withdrew from the invasion and left the
French to encounter defeat alone.
This invasion of Mexico is one of the most
atrocious occurrences of modern times, and
every right-minded man will rejoice to see it
defeated. Its aim is to give success to a gi-
gantic swindling plot, in which certain French
capitalists are engaged, and to suppress the
Mexican government and establish monar-
chy on its ruins, for the benefit of some beg
carly European prince. 1t is likely that Lou
is Napoleon has been deceived in regard to
the opposition of the Mexican people. and the
present character OF their government. He
undoubtedly expected to find them divided,
and believed that a powerful ''church party
would be ready TO accept his intervention and
aid his plans. The result proves that they
were never more united, and that it
will cost the French emperor a vast deal
more in men and money to make the in
vasion successful than he can afford to
WITT De more benehcial than harmful to the
Mexicans themselves. 1t has united them,
and will do much to strengthen and establish
firmly their present liberal government,
which is altogether the wisest and best they
have ever known. 1t may be that the French
will be largely reinforced, and that they will
make another effort to push on to the city of
Mexico; but it will require 4 much larger
army to succeed than is likely to be sent
across the Atlantic this year or next. Louis
after, to waste so much of his strength in this
way.
Mexico would not have been attacked in
this way if our government had not been oc-
cupled with the southern rebellion. Probably
the attack would not have been made if those
engaged in it could have seen beforehand that
we should make such rapid progress towards
putting down the rebellion. They believed
the secession conspirators would succeed in
their attempt to effect permanent division of
the Union, and thought the hour had come
striking a fatal blow at the existence of re-
publican institutions on this continent. in
situations that are quite as annoying to the
imperialists of France as to any 9TH
er monarchists in Europe. The govern
ments of France and England especially de-
sire to destroy that influence of the great re-
public which has stimulated discomfort with
monarchy, and has contributed so much to
strengthen everywhere the popular aspiration
for political freedom and equality. In the
contrivance of this war against Mexico there
was design on our welfare. 1t is to be hoped
that, when our nation is restored to harmony,
prosperity, and still greater strength as it will
be, Mexico also will have a nobler national
life, and take higher place among the ma
tons, and then, no government in Europe will
dare to undertake any interference whatever
with the affairs of this continent.