The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-22
The Proposition for American Mediation
IN MextcO-A Policy Wanted.
Ffonn The TinneA

Vhe proposition for American Mediation
IN MeHlcO-A Policy Wanted.
From The Times.
proposition for mediation between the
belligerents in Mexico was recently made by
Mr.. Reverdy Johnson before the Senate in
Executive session. According to such ac-
counts as we have, it was vigorously opposed
and on Thursday last was withdrawn.
1t was shamefully remiss in Congress, at
its late session, to take no notice of the hor-
rible state of things in Mexico. By menace
and argument we had expelled the French
army and broken down the intervention. We
| had practically assumed the right of regulat-
ing the affairs of Mexico, guarding her inte-
rests and sustaining her republican institu-
tions. We had rendered ourselves liable to
war, on her account, with the foremost mill
tary nation of the world. We had, by the
arrest of Ortega and the restraint of Santa
Anna, done something in the way of sup
pressing factious leaders. In fact, we had
carried our interference, our our guardianship,
so far without remonstrance from the Mexi-
cans or from foreign powers that there seemed
no limit to our action except our own will.
We stopped short, however, Just at the
worst time-just at the most critical and peri
lOus moment for Mexico. We stopped short
with abolishing one form of government, and
without doing anything to establish another.
We upset the French plans for reducing
Mexico to order, and did nothing in the way
of setting up order under any other authority.
If our efforts in behalf of Mexico began when
she was in war, they ended when she was in
anarchy, and even more helpless anarchy
than ever before.
There is no doubt as to the duties that re-
mained for our Government after the expul-
sion of the French. After notifying Maximi-
lian to leave the country, or at least to cease
making war upon it, we had positive duties
towards Juarez and the Republic. 1t was i'm
perative upon us to give effective assistance
in the erection and consolidation of the re-
publican system. If the foreigners had left
everything in confusion and ruin, it was but
fit and in keeping with what we had already
done that we should lend hand in rebuild
ing the civil order If moral aid promised to
be as successful against faction as it had been
against intervention, all our moral power
should have been directly and instantly
brought to bear. If diplomacy had any re-
| sources, they should have been promptly put
forth to their full extent. If the republican
| Government, rising from its ruins, needed
| pecuniary guarantee for which proper security
| could have been given, that also it was in our
! province as it was our interest to furnish. And
| even if a corps of American troops were re-
| ouired to put stop to the horrors of anarchy
! and secure the establishment of vigorous Re-
! public, our Government would have been JUS
! titled in despatching them to Mexican soil
That one or another of these means would
! have been successful in putting an end to the
greatest scandal of the nineteenth century,
| scandal for which we shall not be held entirely
| irresponsible-is quite certain That without
| our moral or material assistance Mexico will
ever be other than she has been during the
last half century, is not within the range even
| of the most sanguine hope. Our correspond
| ence and other information from time to time
| give too certain proof that even the exit OF
| Maximiian will not secure the suppression
! of faction and fighting, or the supremacy OF
| the Constitution and its legitimate admins
| traitors. Hafa-dozen of the most prominent
| Mexican leaders are ready, even after the En-
| pire and Emperor have disappeared, to con-
tinue the war against Juarez, in behalf fthe
Church and themselves. In the Republican
camp itself there are dissension, disatfection,
and turbulence and without mentioning the
| Imperialist officers we have no doubt that
every Liberal general now fighting for Juarez
| has pronuncidmientO in his pocket ready to be
stuck up ON the walls of the capital as soon
| as it shall be taken. In fact, every sign Will
| fail if the expulsion of the foreign usurper do
not furnish the opportunity for twenty do
| mestic usurpers to renew the scenes OF up
roar which rise like the cactus on Mexican
soil
s.And vet. though time has demonstrated that
| republican order or political regeneration
cannot be brought about by the MeXicans
themselves, we do not believe that these
things are impossible of accomplishment, or
even difficult. By the help of strong and
friendly hand, this wretched Mexico may be
rescued Not such assistance as the French
pretended to give when they overthreW the
republic, for that was the assistance OF an
enemy. and left the nation worse than 1t was
found, but such aid as one republic, all pow
erful and generous, may offer to another in
its hour of distress, AMI which, by raising
one, elevates and glori6es both. 1t must be
remembered that, after all, the factious ele-
ment of the Mexican population is compare
lively small in numbers The Indian element,
, which comprises seven-eighths OF the whole
nation, is, in the main, of peaceful chapac-
, ter, and would easily be kept in order. The
q commercial classes are, of course, deslrous Tor
P the establishment of order above all things, as
Q Is strikingly proven by the way they have ad-
hered to Macmillan, Notwithstanding his OBJ
a noHlous politics. The incurably turbulent
) CA aae ieatly but few thousand, who were bred
- AZ; AZ WI roulence under the uncertain state OF
as else 'nat succeeded the revolution, and a
a sooie ~ VI swo OF such ambitious leaders as are
81 eSel 10y IN IN every country to take advantage
l. OF oPPoItuhues. Exterminate these or put
st them unuer such restraints as a strong Gov.
Is ernment can easily devise and enforce and
,e there is every reason to beliave tbot NavicC
m would quickly take her piaca NV, sd o.
4. ,or,,blic worthy of sucb o.o - oui etoV 90