The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-26
Our New Relations with MexIcO-DIpIO'
macy and "Old ClO'."


Our New Relations with MexIcO-DIpIO-
macy and "Old ClO'."
From the Herald.
Mr.. Seward, in his speech at Boston, entered
into conditional engagement to give the peo-
pie of the United States possession of the
American continent" Not in war, of course
we have had enough of that. Nor does Mr.
Stewards genius lie in that line. He means to
acquire the continent by diplomacy or pur-
chase, and he had his eye on Otterbourg-
Marcus Otterbourg, our bran-new Minister to
the Mexican republic. Evidently this is the
significance of the new appointment. With
these views it is not necessary that our Min
lister to Mexico should be a statesman or a
man of political sagacity or ability. There is
no policy to carry out-only a purchase to
make-and, therefore, all we want is COM
mercial agent. Otterbourg is the mana
shrewd trader, clearly, since he has driven
his bargains SO well with Mr.. Seward that he
is now employed to drive Mr.. Stewards bar
gains with others. Otterbourg is member
of that fnanciering race whose bargains
have been memorable since the day of
the thirty pieces of silver. His ancestors
and brethren have thriven in all lands where
humanity, having reached the civilization of
the tailor, have fallen upon the inevitable
corollary of "old Clothes" Indeed, some
friend TO this ministerial Marcus writes us that
he would be more fit to buy old clothes than to
make treaties. This involuntary testimony to
the commercial ability of the new Minister
would settle the case in any unprejudiced
mind, and prove the fitness of the appointment
in view of Mr.. Stewards present attitude; for
the Premier evidently regards Mexico as a
grand tumble of very offensive ''old clo', and
Marcus as Just the man to buy up the lot
Ssheap as tirt." True, all men may not see
The case in this light. There are old fogies
among conservative fellows, with notions
OF dignity and such nonsense, who cannot
understand fair trade, and will, perhaps,
insist upon it that the United States and
Mexico are independent nations, whose diplo-
matte relations should be in the hands of men
of understanding and sagacity. II might,
Indeed, be argued from this standpoint that
no foreign mission is at this moment more
Important than the mission to Mexico, since
npon it must Immediately depend our rela-
lions with the neighboring republic, fol
whose conduct we are in degree respon-
sible before the world. We have no outstand.
ing question with foreign countries, save only
the Alabama claims, that may involve SO much
rs our relations with the Mexican republic:
and 10 ADJUST these relations nicely--to require
OF Mexico such course and such conduct as
would not dishonor republican oovsrnrn ant
and would justify in its result the grand nosil
fion we have taken against European iptsr.
vention in American affairs-a position thst
relieved Mexico of the presence of a French
army-to arrange all this on a satisfactory
basis might have put to the test the best abili
ties of the deepest thinkers in the country
Not only did the mission seem to call for til,
appointment of one of our ablest men--for
tor-but the country expected that only such