The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-11


over General Scott, in securing the democratic
nomination as one Of the chieftains Of the Mexi-
can war. So with the breaking out Of this re-
bellion, looking at the military glory and poll
teal hOnors won by our volunteer generals In
Mexico, new crop of such generals sprsng up
and took the field; but with far different results
How are they to be explained Very easily.
The Mexican war was comparatively ridi-
culons little farce, while this Is tremendous
tragedy. The losses Of Hood, for example, in
the single battle Of Franklin, were equal to the
whole army Of General Taylor at Buena Vista;
while Hoods losses near Nashville, In two
days, were larger In numbers than all the forces
of General Scott in the Valley Of Mexico. In
war, too, the poor Mexicans are but little better
than Indians; for in every encounterlwith our
troops, regardless Of numbers or positions, they
were invariably beaten.
In this war it is Greek against Greek, and
great armies, led by scientific officers, with all
the modern improvements in arms and equip
ments, arrayed against each other. Hence, as
we have seen, civilian general, competent
with five or six hundred Americans to win
glorious victory over two or three thousand
feeble Mexicans, signally fails when required to
lead twenty or thirty thousand Americans
against On equal number Of their rebellious
brethren in charge of our educated soldiers.
Thus our distinguished volunteer generals of
the Mexican war are reduced to their proper
dimensions, and the subordinate regular officers
of that war, such as Brevet Captain Grant, now
rise to the command of our armies. General
Gideon J. Pillow was great soldier In the
Mexican war; but in this he has even more
signally failed than General Butler.
The Monroe Doctrine the Grand Rally
Ing Point for North and South to Meet
On.
From time to time In the past two years we
have called the attention of the country to
point upon which the people Of 10th sections
could unite, without any compromise Of the dig
nifty Of either-a point upon which the men Of
the North and the men Of the South could meet
and join hands in the brotherhood Of glorious
cause, and forget in new and noble emula-
ton all the bitterness and heartburnings Of the
past. And we have also pointed ont practical
rife could be turned to the advantage of the
country at large, and in which there would be
ample employment for the armies that would
be left in existence by sudden peace. The
point upon which North and South can come
together is the Monroe doctrine-one Of the
grand ideas that the South contributed to the
common greatness of the republic; and the
noble argument that will give employment to
our armies is the enforcement of that doctrine,
on the whole extent of this continent, against
England, France and Spain.
Though we were at one time the only sheet
to urge this we are glad to see that the policy
has more advocates now, and that it seems to
commend itself as the one idea of American
policy for the future, to men Of all parties.
and to men Of the most diverse views ON other
subjects. Democrats and republicans-the ex-
tremists Of the North-join hands on this ques-
ton, and the Richmond editors glance at it as
possible fact. The Albany Atlas and argus
recommends that the Southern generals should
ignore entirely the bogus Richmond govern
ment, and march with our own brave men to
carry out this programme; and it also recon-
mends that we should treat directly with the
Southern generals for this purpose. 1t advo-
Gates this as glorious American policy, and
as the only safe plan to avoid still more dan
gerous European complications on this CONT
nent than those that now menace US. This
article is quoted as "the political future" by
the New York Daily Times. The Tribune looks
hopefully to the overthrow of the foreign
power in Mexico, and expects that that nation
will "soon again be republic, ruled by her
own sons and part of a grand alliance of
American republics The Richmond Enquirer
considers it not improbable that Napoleon will
be startled some day by this very union of the
North and South for the avowed purpose Of
the enforcement of the Monroe doctrine. II
thinks that even if the people retain bitter
ness of sectional hate, the armies will fight
generously side by side for this purpose.
Peoples alienated as the Northern and South
ern people have been can come together again,
and have done so repeatedly; but for that pur-
pose they must have as rallying point some
grand common cause. This is the cause above
all others for the purpose. Fighting under the
same flag, the hearts Of the men will once more
recur to the old traditions Of our nationality.
and the Southerner will give vent on the enemy
to the bitter spirit that every Southerner feels
against the Powers that have played fast and
loose with Southern interests in this quarrel,
while the Northerner will fight IN a not less
fierce spirit against the nations that have added
so many years to the war, and that have seized
the occasion to heap so many insults on us as a
people. Fighting in such a spirit the war
would consolidate our nationality and make us
more really one people than ever. And what
would be the effect Of such q war in Europei
II would revolutionize that continent Our sue
cess in Mexico would tumble down the imperial
dvnaafx In Eranca like n houao of carda DUR