Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-11-29
Change in Our Foreign Policy
The Army and Navy Handed
Over to the Juarists.


formed ''that official information has
been transmitted from Washington
to the Mexican Consul in this city,
tbat he trhois polesr Of Tie army
and nary OF The United STATES has been
placed ot he disposal of President .Is.
drez for las restoration 10 po1er." The
same paper asserts that JUAREz
himself admitted as much to recent
visitors at his residence in Chihua-
hus.
General Sherman is of opinion
that ninety days will suffice to ac-
complish this. But after the army
of the United States has restored
Juarez to power, that is, put him in
the Mexican Capitol, snd given him
the direction of the Government,
will it not be morally bound to sus-
tain him in that position, at least un-
til his successor shall have been con-
stitutionally elected. With all defer
ence to General Sherman as a man
of sound military judgment, we can
not agree with him in the opinion
that ninety days will see the end of
the Intervention, the first act of
which is the indefensible arrest of
General Ortega.
We may be sure that the adherentS
OF Ortega will not accept Juarez rs
their lawful President, and they are
a very numerous party. Wemay be
sure that the Church party-which
invited French Intervention, just as
the Juarist faction invite the inter
yention OF the United States-and
which has steadfastly adhered to the
fortunes OF Maximilian and loathe to
see him violate the traditions of the
House sf Hapsburg by abandoning
his post, will not acquiesce in the
return of Juarez to power There
is mortal enmity between them.
Here, then, are two rather formid-
able clements of opposition to the
Juarists. The implacable hatred OF
the Mexicans to the Yankees will
weaken the adherents of any man
who invites them into the country to
support his claims to power. The
moment Yankee soldiers cross the
frontier and proceed to occupy and
garrison the towns and fortresses,
we should not be surprised to hear
of 4 popular prenunciameRto against
JusreZ and the fusion of ChurShmen
and Liberals in war upon the for
eign solaiery called in to protect and
sustain him. A war is inevitable,
and General Sherman will not see
the end of it in ninety days
Once in this business there will be
no backing out On the part of the
United States; but we are much mis-
taseu If the Administration will gain
strength or popularity by it. 1t is a
very serious and costly business, as
we shall all see. More important
than all else, il makes a change IN
the foreign policy OF this Govern
ment. 1t is the first time since its
formation that q departure has been
made from the policy of non-inter-
vention. Heretofore We have been
contented TO give expression to our
sympathies with struggling nationali.
tiles by resolutions and contributions
of individual aid, but never before
q. Government has there been ac-
tive interference in the internal af-
fairs Of another power. The prece-
dent now set is pernicious enc
II will laoI tO nflar aufar,zpi-ns 30
like character, and in few years we,
who have so much labor to regulate
our own domestic concerns, will be
engaged in regulating those of other
peoples. Having settled the fate OF
Mexico, the Central American States
and South American Republics,
should they be divided among them
selves, and kept in strife by factions,
VIII be intriguing, as President Jua
rez and Senior Romero have in
trigued, for the armed interference
Of the Great Republic.
Perhaps this is one of the inevita-
BILE phases in the career of a power
ful nation. 1t has happened to every
great Power in its time, TO be called
in to arbitrate or decide by force the
fate of weaker States. But we do
not regard it as inevitable or neces-
sary. We had euly to go on as we
began, attending to our owR affairs,
and instructing by our example, how
governments established and con-
troDed by free people may be or
derly and prosperous beyond prece-
dent, to have created universal de-
sire for institutions that secure so
much happiness and SO great privi-
leges TO their poSsessors. That is
the true policy. That Is the way to
proselyte in favor of republican gov
ernment.
Even were change of policy ad-
visable, this is the least favorable
time for it. We have not yet defn-
itely settled eur own troubles. Ten
States of the Union stand in an ano-
molous relation to the Federal Gov
ernment. They are unrepresented in
its legislative council, and the ques-
ton of the conditions upon which
they shall be admitted in that coun- /,
Gil is not determined. Besides, we
have an enormous debt to pay off,
and the people are taxed to the last
limit to raise the means to meet the /
interest upon it and create fund /
for its ultimate extinguishment. To
these burdens they cheerfully submit
SO long as the means supplied by
them are applied to the purposes for /
which they are exacted.
1t is fortunate, all things consid-
cred, that Congress will soon cen
vene. II it should appear that this
change in the foreign policy of the
Government does not have the ap-
proval of the people, who will be
ant to make themselves heard