The Portland daily press., 1866-12-17
I5.AJLY PRESS.
PORTLAND
Monlay Morning, Dec mber II, 1865
PORTLAND.
At Last.

The New York World which has been for
some time backing and filling unaccountably
in its treatment of the Mexican question,
seems at last to have got some light upon ine
subject and to have settled down upon pol
icy which will probably be adopted by the
Democratic press throughout the county,
The World began by denying that Juarez mad
ever been elected President of the Mexican
Republic and roundly asserted that the Mexi-
cans are incapable of self-government. The
authentic fact Of Juarez's election and inaug-
uration is well known to all readers of the
newspapers who remember anything about
the recent history of Mexico. Whether the
Mexicans are capable of self-goyernment re-
mains to be proved, but Americans who be-
lieve in popular government anywhere will
probably want to see the experiment fairly
tried before pronouncing it failure. Just as
>Juarez had succeeded in putting down the
infamous Chnrch party which has been the
fomenter of all the disturbances which have
distracted that unhappy country, the French
invasion supervened, and the Liberals have
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antagonist, the Church party, plus the Empire.
Learning after while that Juarez had not
only been elected but that he had been uni
tormly recognized by our own government as
President of the Mexican Republic, the World
graciously accorded to him its own recogni-
ton. Last week it went further. The World
now proposes that we assume protectorate
of the Mexican government, becoming sure
ty for her debt, and receiving in return some
portion of her territory. This pretty arrange
ment we are bound to undertake, because we
have ''plucked up institutions transplanted in
to the country from Europe, which, had they
taken root, would have given to that country
the inestimable blessings of order, stability,
&C., &C." If we repair the injury accomplish
ed by our interference" we shall see her "ris-
ing into national Importance as the second
power of the western continent"
1t would be sufficient answer TO this prop
osition, so far as the United States are con-
cerned, to say that we are not just nowin
pressing need of more territory, and that we
have use for our surplus earnings to pay our own
ucUlS, WltuOut dccuAluSo OpuSdtAOuo dSSuultu
by the refractory Church party and uniformly
repudiated by the government of which Jua-
rez is the head. Mexico can pay her legiti-
mate debts. She win no move pay Miramon's
forced loans than we shall pay Jefferson Da-
vis's The two cases are precisely similar
Ii England should make war upon us to in
demnify British holders of rebel bonds, she
would have identically the excuse which was
taken to justify the French invasion of Mex
leo.
The question of >.uty remains to be consie-
cred. What is this interference of which
the World complains? Simply this. We
have protested from the beginning against
the attempt to impose upon the Mexican
people by force foreign ruler. They have
never acquiesced in the establishment of the
Empire. The Archduke has never held a
foot of Mexican soil outside of his shifting
military lines 1t is natural for people who
believe with the World that European insti-
tutions On plain words, a monarchical GOV
ernment) are "inestimabIe blessings" to adj
vocate for the United States the same policy
which France reluctantly abandons Most
Americans, however, believe in American in
situations, and so believing incline to leave
the Mexicans to manage their own affairs
Our interference was simply protest against
any foreign interference. and ef1ectually pro-
hibits us from any attempt to regulate Next
co. Our course is very plain. 1t is simply to
continue to recognize the rightful government
encouragement from the rebels. The moral
influence of such policy will strengthen the
hands of the Liberals and assure their peace
Jul supremacy after a brief struggle.