The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-24

MaximiIian's BIOckade-President john
son Taking Hold of Our Foreign
Affairs.
From the Herald
President johnson quickly followed up his
proclamation of the 18th inst, declaring Maxi
milian's blockade null and void, by decided
action. Two war vessels have been ordered to
be stationed at the mouth of the Rio Grande,
and the commander of the Pacific squadron has
received orders to send two men.of-war to Ma
zatan and Guaymas to protect the interests of
our citizens and country. We think we see the
hand of the President in all this, and that the
timid, temporzing policy of Mr.. Seward in our
foreign affairs is now to give place to moro
decisive, vigorous, and elevated policy. The
dignity of this great republic as well as our in
teresls, required such change. We have lost
much by weak time-serving course. The
national flag has been lowered In compll-
mentary Difference to foreign nations, when
it ought to have been thrown boldly to the
breeze. Had this been done we should have
been saved from much trouble and from those
complications with European powers which
grew out OF the war, and are not yet adjusted.
There is no necessity to go 10 war to maintain
the dignity OF the republic; there need be no
fear OF war; our position Is too 1mpregnable and
we are too powerful Tor any nation TO attempt
war with us except under such extreme provo
cation as we are not likely 10 offer. We can
afford to be maenanimous, as, indeed we nave
surest way 10 avoid difficulties is to firmly MAIN
tain the dignity and rights of the country before
all the world. Taking this view of the matter,
we arc happy to know that the President has
commenced a new and determined course in
our foreign policy. He has proved himself to
be an able statesman in the management oil our
domestic affairs, in bringing the country
through unparalleled difficulties to the polnt'ot
restoration, harmony, and good feelng, ana
now he gives us reason to believe that he will
place the republic III that high position among
the first powers OF The world to which 1t Is en-
titled.
The proclamation of the President, asserting
that the declaration OF blockade made by one
Of the belligerents in Mexico, "namely, the
Prince MaXlmihan," will be dsallowed by the
United States and that it is null and void, will
undoubtedly create a sensation both in Mexico
and France; but when 1t becomes known that
our war vessels have been ordered botn TO the
mouth of the Rio (irande and the ports on the
Pacific, there Will be, we imagine, very lively
cOmmotion in both countries. 1t should be
observed that the Presidents disaoWing the
blockade is put not only on the ground OF there
being no competent military or naval force to
support the declaration of blockade, but also on
account OF treaties existing between the United
States and Mexico. This we regard as a signi6-
cant clause, especially when taken in connec.
ton with the fact that both this country and
NexicO have common right to the navlea alton
ana trade OF the Rio Gran1e, and that we have
never recognized but one legitimate Govern
nent in Mexico that of the Republic. Itseems
TO us, alter carefully examining the tenor O.
the Presidents language, that the position o.
S'the Prince Macmillan" IN Mexico is REGARDED
by our Government as little else than that of
fIibuster, just as Kinney and Walker were re
garded as tilibusters in Nicaragua.
The consequence of this action on the part o
the President may be very disastrous, and tha
before long, to 'the Prince Maximilian," AM
very humiliating to the Emperor Napoleon
Beyond all question IL Is very ticklish state Q