The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-29
The News from Mexfcc-Warlfke PreDRr
ratfuns Mt Vera Cruz.

The News from Mexfcc-Warifks Prepsr
ratfvns mt Vera Cruz.
The Mexican news, which we publish this
morning, is very interesting and somewhat sig
nidcant. II may not mean war, but Il can
hardly he rcconciled with the Louis Napoleonic
idea that 'the empire is peace" The facts
submitted in the public estimation, viii not
sustain, the theory that The Emperor Of the
French is negotiating for quiet withdrawal
Of his Emperor Of the Mexicans. Since our
reports by the last preceding steamer from
Vera Cruz another instalmcnt Of twelve hun
bred French troops had been landed there and
marched up into the interior Considerable
quantities Of artillery, small arms and NUM-
tons Of war were arriving almost daily, and
moved in the same direction. The old guns Of
the castle were being replaced by new ones
Of heavier calibrc and on the land side of the
city the imperialisis were actively engaged in
strengthening its defcnces. These movements
may be the preliminary steps TO an evacuation,
but they certainly look more like deliberate
preparations of defence against an expected
hostile investment By sea and land
These warlke proceedings, in fact, give
something of color 70 the rumors ut Washing
ton Of an alliance between France, England,
Spain, Italy and Austria to maintain Maxi
milan on his Mexican throne, although these
reports are admitted to rest upon very slen-
der foundation. Unqucstionabiy the interests
Of England 90 not lie in any such coalition In
| support OF the alleged American schemes of
Napoleon, but rather in the opposite direction,
even to the extremity of IN armed alliance
with the United States. Let France be firmly
established in Mexico, and she will next be
firmly established in the Central American
States; and then, commanding all the isthmus
passages between the two oceans, not only
would the commercial ascendency Of England
be thereby endangered, but all her colonies in
both hemispheres What, then, is the meaning
Of these warlike preparations at Vera Cruz!
They are not needed against the Mexican
liberals, reduced to feeble guerilla system Of
warfare. Can they be intended Is . menace
and challenge to the United Satess
We fall back upon President Johnson's Mes
sage to Congress, In which the Monroe doctrine
Is reanarmed, and wherein he says that eat the
proper time" the correspondence between the
United States and France In relation 70 Mexico
will DO laid before the two houses. We infer
from this statement that negotiations are in
progress looking to the abandonment of
Mexico by Napoleon, and that probably the
high contracting parties may bs discussing the
question Of equivalents 10 France for her
pesceable evacuation. In this view, these
warlike preparations at Vera Cruz may be de-
signed TO assist Mr. Seward in coming to terms.
There are tricks Of strategy in diplomacy IS
well - in war.
At all events, we have no doubt that Louis
Napoleon.hss been thoroughly convinced from
bis correspondence with our government that
his Mexican usurpation cannot be recognized,
nor even tolerated much longer, by the United
States He must, then, make his election Of one
OF the two alternatives left him. He must re-
tire for the sake Of peace, or elect TO maintain
his position in Mexico at the costs and hazards
Of war with the United States. II the nephew,
like the uncle, were believer in his lucky star
against all hostile combinations and all con-
tingencies, we might count upon the alterna-
tive Of war, or an inglorious sacrifice Of the
Monroe doctrine; but the disastrous mistakes
Of Napoleon the First have taught Napoleon
the Third the saving virtues Of prudence and
caution to.a remarkable degree.
To the sagacious exercise Of these qualities
he is mainly indebted for his brilliant successes
as the ruler Of France and She arbiter OF
Europe. he has known whom 10 stop In mis-