The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-17

DOund 70 ignore JuareZ ana recognize Ortega
as the head Of the Mexican Government? This
question is OF the very sfavest practical moment;
for If our Government aids Mexico in the re-
covery of her independence, it must recognize
some authority in that country with which il
can treat, ana it ought not to make a mistake.
We are clear that President Johnson Is right
IN ConunuIng TO recognize and support Juarez
Notwithstanding the expiration OF his term. It
ls necessary that our Government should pro-
coed on some sure ground OF settled principle.
and there is nothing Oetter established as n
principle of our diplomacy, than the policy OF
aOstalning from the domestic disputes of foreign
states, and recognizing the de fdciO Govern
ment. We have recognized, for example All
the numerous Governments which have sue
ceeded one another in France since the begin
ming OF our own, without ever concerning
ourselves about the rightfulness of their
origin. To take the instances which have
occurred IN our own time, we recognized the
French republic of l84S withC nj inouir1no
whether il was legitimated by the constitution
OF 1880, which it overthrow; and with equal
readiness, we recognized Napoleon the Third
despite the fact that his term as President of
the Republic had expired, and that he con-
hnued TO rule France by destroying the copsti-
tuition OF lS4S, which the people OF that country
bad established, ana he had sworn to support
We are no more pound to look behind the TACT
tbat Jualez is at the heat OF the Mexican GOV.
ernment and seeks his authority in the Mexican
COnsuluuon,. than we were IN 1852, to look
behind me TACT that Louis Napoleon was the
IL
tuition he subverted in a VAIN search for his
right. 1t is no business of ours to settle uues-
tons OF disputed authority in toreipn countrtes
Whethel Jualez OF Ortega shall be recognized
by our Government is not properly a question
OF right, but question OF fact which Is the
actual ruler? Juarez is in the exercise of ALI
the actual authority which he possessed before
Ortega contested his claim: Ortega is i'm the
actual exercise OF no authority whatever. Juarez
commands, as he has for the last four wears the
forces of the Liberals in arms against the lnVa-
GERS. Ortega has not company Of soldiers TO
PACK his pretensionS. Our Government would
make itself ridiculous to recognize as the Cow
eminent OF Mexico. an unsupported adyenturer
who can produce no other warrant than his
contested Interpretation ot a scrap of the Mexi-
can constitution, The United States cannot
assume to eXpound the Mexican Constitution
They are told by the Government de fdctO that
Ortega mlsinterpret- it, ana sets up an nm
founded CLAIM; ana so long as it is made by the
de TdGt0 Government, they are bound TO accent
the statement. The Constitution OF Mexico pro.
vides that on the expiration of the term of the
President, the Chief Justice for the time being,
comes President 0d interim. but juarez
asselis tnat, when his term expired
there was no Chief JuStice-Ortega having fled
the country, abandoned his duties, and thereby
abdcaled is Office. So long as this reasoning
sutlCes as between JUareZ and the Mexican
people, It must be deemed conclusive bet Vpen
him and the Unheu States: the only Test we
can apply to his logic being his actual posses
g.
1t may be plausibly objected TO this argument
that the principle it assumes would have bound
us to recoCnize the empire, the Government of
MaAlmlIlan having been for long period the
de fdctO Government OF the country. We have
Two replies. First, it is too late TO reopen the
controversy respecting the Monroe doctrine, as
our Government and people have so decided it
as to preclude q reversal OF their Judgment
The Monroe doctrine is an ineXpungabe acJ oil
the sltUation, and we must accept its logical
consequences: one of which is, that the empire
was, III lhP purview oil opr Government, non
existent. 1t is all IL vain to say that We cannot
annlhilate tact by shutting our eyes. The ire
yersible acceptance of the Monroe doctrine by
this country was as much tact as the exist
ence OF the empire; and the permanent TACT
was destined to destroy the temporary phan-
tom. This brings us to our second reply, winch
follows more easily from the ordinary principles
OF diplomatic reasoning. When there are Two
conflicting Governments 10 q countrg, one of
which we have before recoenlZed we do not
transfer the recognition to the new claimant
unless v c ale satisfied it has elements of per-
manence. This principle has always been acted
Oh III our foreign intercourse and there was no
reason why it should have been departed from
in the case of Mexico We were certain, from
the outset, that the Mexican empire could not
stand, the measure OF our certainty being the
lnfeXlblllty OF our determination to maintain the
Monroe doctrine. We could not, therefore do
otherwise than continue our recognition of the
republic, and to recognize Juarez as its head so
long as the republic had no other visible repre-
sentative.
In the transition from the moribund and
nearly oeiunct empire hack to a reorganized
republic, we may properly render such friendly
assistance as the actual Government sees hit to
accept. The CHIEF peril of Mexico. during this
critical jUncture, Is the ravenous ambition of
her rival political chiefs; and as none OF the
competitors OF Juarez has any claims founded
on the popular choice. none has any which the
United States can respect On what ground
could our Government justify itself in paving
any mole Difference to Santa Anna, or MiIamon,
or Ortega, than to any other private citizen OF
Mexico? JuareZ has claims in the present pos
session OF actual authority, to which none of
the others can make any pretensions; and we
may reas ODably assist him, not indeed in gov
eGning the country permanently, but in main
tanning order while the people are eXertIng
their prerogative through the elecuoDs. If
fair election displaces Juarez, and puts in one
OF his rivals, we are bound to give the same
friendly support 20 his successor that we now
accord to him. But until the popular will has
been legally pronounced, ii would be absurd,
and destructive OF al order, for us TO counte-
nance any OF hls competitors
The abiding curse OF Mexico has been the fire.
quent overthrow of her Government by ambi-
tious military Chieitains. Unless she can be
secured against this evil, she has no future. In
afording succor to her weakness, we must apply
our plaster to the diseased spot, and make II as
broad as the sore. We must uphold Juarez
against the violence OF revolutionary leaders
until there has been fair election. We must,
then, uphold the Government so elected, until,
at the expiration of its legal term, the people,
by a new election, honestly conducted either
grant ii a new lease OF power, or replace IL Dy
new officers, who in turn must, IN ike manner,
be guaranteed until HelT successors are CHOSEN
according to law Our guarantee VIII De sun u.
ply guarantee of the right OF the peoPle 10
choose their own rulers, against tne VioIence t
OF military chieitains. And unless We grant
this succor in this form, Mexico WIZ oe , re-