American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-05-08
OUR NEIGHBOR MEXICO,

a friendl6 offer of mediation in wars
is always honorable, and at the last mo-
ment of the late extra session of the
Senate Messrs' Sumner Henderson, and
johnson proposed friendly mediation
to terminate the civil war upon terms
honorable to both sides, and to procure
for Maximliaa and his followers, upon
condition of his abdicahon, the treat
ment Of civilized warfare. This media
ton has bson sought by Austria, for the
Austrian Government, knowing probably
how it would be likely 60 deal with for
eign pretenders to the Austrian throne,
has evidently suspected that there might
be summary work with the Archduke If
ho fell into vietoriou5 Mexican hands;
and therefor ;, through i's Minister In
Washington, asked our Government to
interfere for mercy.
Mr.. Morton is reported to have oppos-
cd the proposition, when offered to ex-
ecutive session, upon the ground that
Macmillan was mero filibuster il Mex
leo, like William Walker in Nicaragua
that he eame 70 Mexico in defiance of
our known policy, and at q time when
we could not wisely protest; and that the
object Of his coming was tho erection of
an empire under auspices hostile TO this
Government. Il was for him. therefore,
to count the cost Of such an enterprise
and to intercede for him would be a re-
Hoetio1 upon the humanity and sagacity
of the Mexican Republic, which must
bo supposed capable of dealing-with pi1
rates of every degree. IF, indoad-for
such Is the scope of Mr.. Morton's srgu-
ment-we propose to ask England not to
be severe with convicted Fenians, then
We may consistently ask Mexico to be
gentle with Maximilian.
1t is argued on the other side that We
have virtually taken Mexico under our
guardianship, and that our moral resist
ance to the French and Austrian iava-
sion led to its failure that having prao.
tically destroyed the imperial govern
ment, it is our duty to establish the re-
public; that our diplomacy and moral
aid, and even loan and our army, should
be employed to restore order and law.
But this would clearly be departure
from the celebrated Monroe doctrine,
upon which our entire Mexican policy il
founded. That doctrine distinctly rspu,
dates all internal interference whatever.
1t consists in warning off European pow
ers from this continent. When France
came, therefore, we told her that We
we're displeased, and we said so more and
more stringently until she retired. Then
our duties under the celebrated Monroe
doctrine we're at an end. For thirty
years Mexico has been boiling and bub'
bling, snd we have held our peace. The
oelebra ted Monroe doctrine does not re-
quire US to keep order in Mexico, and
certainly no other International Law OF
custom demands it.
1t is very plain, therefore, that we
must resolve either to manage Mexico as
we choose, or to let her manage herself,
To do the first is to do just what we have
denounced France for doing; to do she
last is to treat Mexico precisely as We
treat all other Independent nstions.-
There is no middle course. Upon prop>
er occasions, indeed, as now. we Eaay re>
spectfully request her Government to IA
vor this or ths. policy; but If there be
any menace in the request il is merely a
iirst act Of aggre son. 1t may be very
doubtful what viii be the result OF chs
present situation IN Mexico. Ii may fall
again into the anarchy with which it has
, been so long familiar. But ifit becomes
necessary thst we should undertake the
police of that country, il is desirable that
: we should do great deal more.-Har
peT's Weekig.