The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-10-05
Flippant Talk About the Next
can Question.

Some persons talk about settling the Mexi.
can question as speedily as two men would
settle an old grudge by walking out and fight
ing an cld-fashioned "6st and skull." This
kind of talk may be worthy of aippant youths,
yet unfedged in diplomacy, and mandlin
groups, but it is unworthy of the rejecting
and patriotic.
We most cordially adopt the following re-
marks Ct the New York Times, as expressive
of our own sentiments on the subject:
Those hot headed and hair Drained men.
who, is they had their way, would ere now
have plunged our country into gigantic war
in behalf of Mexico. have no comprehension
of the scope of craftsmanship, or the dignif
canoe of history.
They would carry their wild passions into
international discussions, and would solve the
points in dispute between rst-class Powers
=. after the fashion of q street scuf1e. If their
doctrine is ''word and blow" they would
deliver the blow before the word. They can
not see beyond the present moment, nor i'm
agine but one mode or exit from q present
emergency. Probable consequences they
never consider The dgnifed selfposition
and considerate movements becoming to q
Their theory of national action is like the the
DRY of war held by some ofour early Generals.
that consists solely in chdrging. fierce and
fast, upon whatever stands in opposition.
They forget the nations are destined for a
long existence; that ours, especially, as we be-
heve will last through the ages. and that We
shall have plenty of time to accomplish all our
work.
1t is not necessary that we should rush
headlong to reetify every real or fancied wrong
in the world. Had we been fated to this. and
had our time been Unite to the brief space
of single human life, there would be occa-
son for the utmost haste and heat. We
should not only have to keep our armor al.
ways ready, but to wear it continually; not
only have 10 keep orr swords sharpened. but
to use them ceaselessly. We could only
breathe from the Tray to gather strength for
the next onset
This nation has the Present and the Future
IN which to achieve its work and its DESTINY.
The individual man has no assured future but
the people have. We, as a nation, have but
come on to the stage of time, and surely. du.
ring our term. we have had our labors, both
of peace and war. We are growing greater
and stronger: and, with added powers. come
new duties; but We would do well to wait for
the powers before attempting the duties.
lake, for illustration, this Mexican oues-
ton. Why be in such hot haste for the ex
puision OF Maximilian? Why, at this time 90
to war about him? Will the few years. more
or less, of his reaideace in Mexico. make any
difference in the fortunes of that unhappy
country Is there any danger of his standing
IN or way? We are thirty millions strong.
Presently we shall be fifty; and those now live
who will see the American republic number a
hundred millions. In presence of such pi-
gantic Power, what viii be poor Mexico, with
It's eight or ten millions of mongrel inhabi
tants What usurper viii dare sit on IT'S
throne then, IN opposition to our interests
what European power or powers will then
dare TO confront rs. by retaining It's hirejine
troops on our frontier? We do not saw that
the foreign usurper should be permitted to re
main in Mexico till we are hundred mil
hons strong. and he IS blighted by the very
SHADOW OF our power, but even were TO do 50.
his dominion would be briefas compared with
the existence we may anticipate for the great
republic. five ourselves offend Heaven and
are shattered, 1t will make little odds who
rules IN Mexico.
Those who would drive Macmillan ont now
might possibly be successful, fit were tried.
at a cost Of hundreds ofthousands OLIVES and
thousands of millions Of treasure. but if the
same end can Ia due time be ACCOMPLISHED
without wasting rivers ofblood, why is not the
craftsmanship that would 50 accomplish it
wiser than the hotheaded propagandism
which would hastily adopt the opposite course.
and which if successful in its immediate OBJ
J-ct, would only have precipitated us into new
and understandable difficulties?