The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-07
Santa Anna and Mexico.

our advices, he was shot at Sisal on the morn
ing Of June Is. Thus the oldest and most
sturdy opponent Of the progress of Mexico has
disappeared from the stormy sea Of Mexican
politics. Throughout his whole life he was one
party; for he never undertook q campaign or
issued . pronunciamiento that had not for its
Interior object the crushing OF the liberal
sentiment Of his country and the imposition Of
the grinding exactions of the retrograde faction.
If for moment in his career he apparently
esboused liberal idea, It was only that he
might the more effectually betray 1t to the
interests of the Church power. He stopped to
any means to obtain his ends and support the
reactionary cause. Fer years past his dream,
in common with that of his party, was
monarchy, and even he himself approached
royal title as near as he dared to during one of
the periods of his dictatorship. Talent he I'M
doubleday possessed; but it was used to set in
action certain qualities of the most unprincipled
type, and from his activity in the use of his
ability he did more to handle the elements
that have kept Mexico in u revolutionary broil
since the time Of Yturbide than any one Of The
Church leaders. The determination of both
him out OF the country shows how low he had
sunk in political honor.
Santa Annals late movement lies at greater
depth than mere personal ambition; IL was
virtually the last feeble effort of the retrograde
faction to make some show aga INST the tide Of
liberal progress which has at length almost
blotted their party from existence. The clergy,
finding that Maximilian's star was already
sinking below bloody horizon, again brought
Santa Anna to the front, with the hope that
the memories that clung around his name
would incite Mexico to one more revolution
in their favor. The old leader, true to his
principles, again hobbled into the field, and,
as If fate were driving him to his death, once
more appeared before Vera Cruz. From the
decks OF an American vessel he commenced
issuing his revolutionary addresses. The only
party in his favor was naturally the remnant
Of the imperial retrograde faction holding that
port, and the Tampico party of plumber of the
Canales-Gomez stripe. Stopped, as was
Ortega, from making war under the American
flag, he finally found himself in the port of
Sisal, where he once more commenced opera
tons for the revolutOnzing of Mexico. Al
though we do not question the right OF the
Mexicans to prevent a foreign vessel in their
ports from being made the headquarters of q
Mexican outlaw for aggressive purposes, we
do question their right to insult the American
flag by trampling upon 1t, and for this it is
proper that the United States demand q
prompt apology
1t is now the duty of the Mexican govern
ment to assume position that will show that
she marches side by side with the other ma
tons of the world; for the eyes of Christendom
are upon her, and the influence which is being
brought to bear on the United States from
Europe is powerful in the direction of terri
torial acquisition. II she would save her
frontiers intact she must open her political
gates to the same sweep of progress that is
marching westward and retaining our own
wilds In common too, with the other Spanish
American States, she must give to the great
republic that respect due to q neighbor who
stands ready to assist her in her onward
march. Much threatens Mexico to-day. Upon
our own territory are found hundreds and
thousands of men whose veins, swelling with
the rigor of manifest destiny, stand straining
on the leap to make Mexico the scene of their
adventurous exploits. Already telegram
announces from New Orleans that the fibus-
tering cry Of son to the Halls of Montezuma"
has been raised. We are anxious that Mexico
| ahould havo a chanca IN prove IA tha World
| that she can govern herself; but we warn
her that there is storm brewing and she must
trim the storm stay sails of her political bark to
meet it. The only way for her to weather the
gale 10 to open wide her doors to the same
grand policy of advancement that guides us
| Her constitution of 1857 contains oil the germs
Of great future, and now we counsel its rigid
enforcement over the whole land. The world
has halted and waits for it. The task before
the Mexican statesmen IL . mighty one; but
their sturdy defence Of the republic against
the imperial effort Of Europe 10 make Mexico
the great centre for the crushing Of republican
ism on this continent has proven that they
have much stamina left; but they must use !,
Immediately and leap into the current of the
century.
The shooting Of Santa Anna we look upon
rs something unnecessary to Mexican recon
struction; for his name in Mexico was already
fossilixcd, and the great mass Of the Church
party had aims In another direction. They
had, In fact turned their eyes on the United
States, which they fondly hope will be theil
restorer to . greater religious Power than they
can hope to enjoy under the Mexican liberia
government until the old and bitter feud
which they have created has died out in thu
march Of peace. It Is curious that all the grea
leaders Of the Mexican rstrograde party which
has kept this country In such continuous tur
moil have gone down Observation-Disclosures