The Portland daily press., 1863-05-28

After siege conducted with extreme actv-
ity and increasing desperation for nearly sixty
days, the French appear to have been finally
repulsed from Pueba.
They came to Mexico full of boastful conf
dence; they marched on Puebla, sure that it
would not withstand their first assault: thew
have invested 1t for two months, and assaulted
1t eight times, and were, at last advces, re-
treating with shattered columns before the
Mexlcans, who were about to assume the Of
fensive against their baffled and weakened
enemy.
The French will be fortunate if they get
down TO the sea-shore without further loss
The yellow fever, the guerrillas, and the effect
OF defeat upon the French soldiers, combined,
may yet complete the ruin of Foreys army.
The way to Mexico is not so easy as General
SCOTS brilliant campaign led the French EN-
peror TO believe. The Mexicans, for once led
by honest commanders, have shown them
selves gallant race. This war with Mexico,
from which Napoleon expected only glory to
himself and destruction to their liberty, is
likely to be the salvation of our southern
neighbors, TO give them better opinion of
themselves, and inspire them to take a better
place in the society of nations than that in
which priestly demagogues have too long kept
them by such selfish intrigues as only our pro-
slavery politicians could match. 1t would not
cause surprise to find the regeneration of Mex
aSO uaOhiS mum tHlc NdI-luSL rs tlp SalNatlO n
and publication of our own country will be
dated by the historian from the attack of the
slave aristocrats upon our national liberties.
Out OF the nettle danger both nations are
plucking the flower safety.
Next to our own welfare, and, indeed as vi
tally concerning that, Americans have a right
to rejoice in the prosperity of Mexico. The
new attitude which this country is likely to
hold towards that state here AFTER now that fl
IhuSfpric,, tl,n da,, ,rlt ~ al.
ing from the land, makes the interests of the
two nations identical, and gives us the pros
pect. If Mexico is free ard peaceful, of a trade
with her of almost incalculable value She
lies on our southern border, an India ready
made TO our hands-a vast field for American
enterprise and industry. But these must be.
exercised in the arts of peace
The attack of the French Emperor on Mex
ico is so entirely without justification. that it
Is not inaptly described in this nonsense rhyme:
There was an old Louis Napoleon,
Whose ideas invasion wholly on,
lie looked into some lexicons,
And found the word 'Mexicans'-
Here's at EN- = cried Louis Napoleon"
He wanted an India, and thought Mexico
the best field for forming a new Empire for
the culture OF French glory. lie saw a nation
weak but growing stronger; and made haste
to attack it before it should grow too strong
Ii II is true, as there is good reason TO believe
that he had been sounded beforehand by ennis
saries of our conspiring Shareholders, and had
encouraged them to hope for his help if they
should rebel, then it may be that he saw a
double opportunity in Mexico; and counted
not only on the weakness of the Mexicans
but also meant TO cheat the Shareholders of
their predestined prey. Whatever moved him
to the war, the whole world regards the inva-
sion as a wanton interference with the rights
of others, and in the defeat of his attempt he
will find himself without the sympathy of
either Europe or Amer;ca.-lN. Y. Post