New-York daily tribune., 1866-04-04
A BLUNDER IN MEXICO.


We arc known not to take any large amount
of stock either in "the Monroe Doctrine" or
in that of Manifest Destiny" We favor all
the modern Improvements, but cannot realize
that there has been any decided advance in our
Foreign Policy since its general principles were
enunciated in Washington's. Farewell Address
In short, we believe that, as general rule, our
Government should mind its own business and
let that of other Governments alone. Such we
understand to be the essence of the Washing
ton doctrine, which we consider decidedly
preferable to that popularly known as the Mon
roe.
AS to the Empire of Macmillan, we consider
it very great and costly blunder on the part
of Napoleon I'LL; but we do not think our
Government should intermeddle with it. ii
France can afford to furnish the Thirty to Forty
Millions per annum required to keep it on its
legs, we see not why this country should inter-
fere. Mexico needs Railroads, and all manner
of industrial machinery she needs security for
property; she needs immunity from inceSsant
revolutions, forced loans, guerrilla outrages,
highway robbery dense ignorance, degrading
superstition, and all that have conspired to make
her what John Randolph called her, "a blank
eted nation of thieves and harlots." And, If
Louis Napoleon can constrain France (sorely
against her will) to pay the heavy cost OF the
process-which cannot be less than One Billion
of Francs-we cannot advise that he be inter-
rupted in so doing.
If our Government should intermeddle with
this matter. and succeed in driving out Maxi
milan, the civilized world would inevitably say
to us, "You have expelled government which
gave promise Of peace, unity, authority, vigor,
security, industry: how do you propose to re-
placeitl Ifyou intend that Mexico shall re-
trograde to her endless cycle of pronuncia-
mentos, revolutions, and military relationships,
we protest. You have no right thus to injurc
the commerce, the industry of the civilized
world. If you destroy the only government
that gave hope Of stability and progress, you
are bound to replace it by better" And as
we do not want MeXico-are in no condition To
spend Thirty or Forty Millions per annum upon
it--aro utterly opposed TO swallowing more
| than our digestive organs can dispose of-wo
insist that our Government shall let Mexico
alone, and let France spend all the money there
that her ruler can constrain his reluctant legis-
| lature to vote. When France yetOcs this, her
troops will be withdrawn; and then the Empire
must take its chance. If il shall meantime have
proved general blessing, it will endure; if not,
it will speedily pass away, as it should.
Hence, we deeply regret the decree of Maxi
milan, published in our last, authorizing the
Asiatic Company Of Colonization" II is based
on the identical blunder that cursed America
with Negro Slavery-the same that misled Rob-
Roy into winning the beef required by his bare
legged followers by marrying the Scotch lowlands
instead Of buying it in the Glasgow market.
There is Fictitious, immediate convenience in
all these mistakes; but their ultimate retribu-
ton is fearful.
Mexico has to-day about Seven Millions Of
people, whereof at least Six Millions must work
for living or steal it. Her urgent need to-day
il such an Organization Of Labor as shall proffer
work and fair recompense to every Me1ican-
shall make it easy and honorable to live and
thrive by honest, useful work, difficult and dis.
graceful to live otherwise. But this proposed
importation of Asiatic Goodies" is a long, a
fatal stride in the wrong direction. II is sySte.
matte remuneration of the hope that Me1icans
can be induced to work. II is virtual con-
demnation Of the masses 10 die out, and be re.
degraded, though not 80 indolent and inefFec-
tive, as the lowest of the Aztecs. We trust
Maximilan-who seems to be enlightened and
humane-will yet be induced to recall this fatal