Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-10-05
C.,,u.,, AZ mc.ico by France.

powers; that they are endowed Oy ha1uTS
with superior genius, which, whether wen
used in the cause Of right, or perverted 10
purposes Of evil, still exalts them above their
fellows; but to circumstances and position
alone are they indebted for the consequence
which attaches to them. II is because they
fill high positions Of important trust because
their words and actions whether original or
inspired, is Of little or no moment,) have
practical significance, and powerfully affect
the well-being Of whole communities.
Just now, and for such reasons, the public
eye is fastened upon the Arch-duke Maxi
milan, the present Emperor Of Mexico. We
do not mean to affirm that he is not man OF
ability and requirement, that he has not
filled many positions in which he has been
placed in manner creditable to himself, and
worthy Of his illustrious descent, or that he
would not be a prominent man in ordinary
circumstances Of life. He may possibly be
all these. Still there are thousands posses
sing as much ability as he, who, strutting
their little hour on the stage of life, pass of,
and are forgotten. But the Emperor will
always be character Of interest; whether
he possesses any extraordinary capacity or
not; whether he succeeds in his endeavor TO
found an empire in Mexico, or fails utterly
in the attempt, his name his written on the
annals Of the Mexican Republic, and will be
inextricably woven into the story OF American
history. = 4
The long season of disturbance and an
archy, which has swept over the Aztec table,
land has made period Of repose to be most
eagerly desired by its war-wearied inhapit.
ants. The fiery education, which they had
been receiving, led us to hope that some
government strong enough to preserve IN
ternal peace would result from it; that the
genius of President Juarez would establish
permanent tranquility, and that under its
benefcient influences Mexico would take
that stand among the commercial nations Of
the world for which she is so eminently fitted.
But we have been doomed to Disappointment.
Just at the time when our hopes seemed
about to be realized, and the by-gone period
of anarchy and mis-rule about to pass away,
the French Emperor, under the pretext Of
demanding the payment OF certain money,
claimed BY his subjects, has invaded the
country, and, by a system of treachery and
deceit, aided by $4,000 of his best troops,
forcibiy placed foreign prince on throne,
built upon the ruins OF the republic.
The Emperor has done what he has con-
stantly been declaring was the very farthest
from his thoughts. Over, and over again,
did NJ. Thouyenal declare to the English and
American ministers, that France had no in
tention of interfering in the internal affairs
of Mexico. In July, 1862, General Forey re-
ceived a communication from Louis Napoleon
himself, in which he says: 1.-THE end to be
attained is not to impose on the Mexlcans
form Of government which will be distaste-
full to them" Immediately after this, Gen.
eral Forey marched into the capital, and the
Council of Notables, under the direct in
huence of the French army, and Of the exiled
members of the church party, declare the
Republic at an end, the Empire established,
and the Austrian Arch-duke Emperor This
may be n very satisfactory mode Of procedure
in some quarters; but as the Council Of No
tables never made even pretence Of submit
ting its acts to be ratified BY a national vote,
it is not exactly in keeping with our ideas Of
a 4" free" and " unanimous" election.
But while we denounce the treachery and
deceit of France, and condemn in the
strongest language the lawlessness Of the in
teryention, we do not hesitate to acknowledge
that strong government, firmly maintain.
ing order, cannot but be blessing to Mexico.
1t is childish to speak in general terms OF
liberty, independence, universal suffrage, and
self.government. The anarchy which Mexico
has been enduring is worse than the hercest
despotism. What Mexico wants is quiet, the
restoration of peace, and the maintenance OF
tranquility. We should remember that 1t is
not in the mere name Of "republic" that
liberty consists. A monarchy is not neces-
sarily despotic, nor a republic necessarily
free. There is nothing in either which inhe-
rently threatens tyranny, or promises free
dom. 1t is the peculiar and individual pro-
visions of the constitution Of country,
which insure or destroy liberty. All people
are not fitted for self-goyernment; indeed,
we think it self-eyident, that the governing
power should reside in the higher classes,
which, as a general rule, land it is upon
generalities that legislation must be
6ased,) are the better educated portion
of the community. Whether a republic,
with qualified suffrage, or monarchy, I'M
der an aristocratic control, affords the best
means Of placing that power in the hands
most fitted to WELD it, is problem not yet
entirely solved. A republican form Of gov
eminent, with universal suffrage, requires, We
fear, higher degree of intellectual culture,
on the part Of the masses, than any people
has vet reached. Even we, with all our
boosted popular intelligence, are reaping
some Of its bitter fruits. Look at the con-
trolling influence in the government Of our
great cities observe the motive forces work.
ing in our State legislatures visit the halls
of our general government, in the place sane
tilted BY the name Of the great father Of his
country and what do we see: Public money
souandered, when the strictest economy is
necessary; hard working and law abiding
people heavily taxed-not on account Of the
necessities of the State, but to fill the pockets
of greedy politicians, and to give gold medals
to- unworthy demagogues. The low and un-
educated, by means Of their numerical super
iority, have taken the power away from their
betters. Instead of being governed by an ed
ucated intelligence, we are largely domineered
over BY the superficial and the base. Would
this be fit government for Mexico; Past
wears Of anarchy can best answer this ques-
ton. If we stagger under it, whose people,
almost to man, read and write, and possess
some knowledge Of the world. what would be
the consequence in Mexico, where nine-tenths
of the population neither know nor care
whether they live under agovernment Of their
own, or under that of the great Mogul?
Yet although Mexico is unprepared for
Republican form Of government, that is no
reason why France should receive our SYM
pathy now; nor why we should not oppose
with all our power this new made Empire.
The truth is, we should long ago have taken
the protectorate of Mexico into our own
hands. The better class Of the inhabitants
wanted us to do so. They asked General
Scott to become their dictator. They saw
that the peace and order, which strong gov
eminent could give, was better than the law
lessness of their own misrule; and, tired Of
war, wearied with violence, disguised at
bloodshed, they were willing to lay their
all at the feet of foreign conqueror:
Do we blame them for this, and call
them base Consider the condition the
country was in. Notwithstanding all the
beauty and sublimity which expand the
souls Of the poet and the artist, the physical
part Of mans nature is the first to claim his
care. tits useless to talk to the starving
man Of the gorgeousneSs Of sunset, or to
the houseless wanderer ofthe merits OF works
of art. Food will be the craving Of the one,
shelter the first desire Of the other. Supply
him with the necessary, and he will appre-
ciate the grand. So it is with nation.
Mexico, torn to pieces by faction, dashed,
for long years on the sharp rocks Of civil dis
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