The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-16
The United states and Mexico.

from ule World.
1t is to be hoped that no premature light
ming will result from the present clash of two
extremes of public sentiment in regard to
Mexican affairs. The ingenious schemes of
radicals in Congress to entangle this country
in league with the Juarez Government, and
the efforts of parties elsewhere to organize a
filibustering expedition across the Mexican
border, are alike unnecessary and injudicious.
The end to be attained for the benefit of the
United States, and individual American inte-
rests in Mexico, will be best subserved, now,
by little dignifed reserve.
In the first place, the so-called Juarez or
Liberal Government of Mexico is, and has been
ever since the year 1865, acting by the merely
nominal consent of the people, to supply an
emergency that existed during the war. 1t
has never been ratified by popular vote; and
there are too many rival aspirants for the
Presidential Office in the Liberal party alone
setting aside the pretensions of the leaders of
several thousands of Mexicans who are still
bearing arms against the sham Liberal Govern
ment-as to render it questionable whether it
will be so ratified. The house of Mexico is
still divided, and sub-divided against itself.
There is, in its present anarchical condition.
no definite assurance that stable government
recognized and obeyed by the people and
authorized to treat for the people as a united
nation, exists in Mexico.
In the second place, the passions of the ma
jority in the country, who have opposed the
attempted empire and the Church party. are
at present so aroused against all foreign inter-
vention, or even sympathy, as to have already
sanctioned the most opprobrious measures to-
wards Americans, and the most contemptuous
expressions towards the United States Govern
ment. AT this moment of triumph the recol-
lection OF the previous course of Secretary
Seward touches at once an affected Castilian
pride, and provokes savage and unreasoning
animosity in the hearts of rabble which,
having safely bid defiance to the European
monarchies by spilling the blood of prince
believes itself quite able to defy republic
whose boasted power and prestige the history
of the last three years has naturally taught it
to distrust.
10 express sympathy with a Government of
such uncertain and illegal tenure, or with a
people whose purposes are so inconstant that
no one can know whether they have escaped
the rule of foreigner to obtain consolidated
liberty, or to plunge anew into useless war
fare among themselves, would be a gratui-
tOus mockery. To hasten an offer of assist
ance to, or a hint of alliance with, Mexico
under these circumstances, would be to de-
grade us as apower and people. To emigrate
in hostile manner into the territory of q
population which has shown itself to be so bar
barous and unmanageable, would be, for
those who should attempt it, to court inces-
SAINT turmoil, defeat, disgrace, or death as
ignOble as that dealt to Lopez, Clay, and Maxi
milan.
The ultimate fact is that we can we'll afford,
for the present, to let Mexico entirely alone.
Charity and humanitarianism begin at home.
The United States Government will be more
imposing as missionary abroad when it has
shown itself capable of ministering to and
healing existing evils within its own bounda-
ries. The MeXicans disdain our influence; let
us see how long they can do without it. They
talk independently at this crisis but they are
bankrupt and needy. Where are they to get
aid? Not from Europe, certainly, after what
has occurred, and surely not from any
South American State. They are threatened
toO with further complications with Euro
pean powers. Difficulties are certain to
thicken around them, and the blind,
insulting course which they have always
pursued in their diplomacy will probably
hasten another crisis. We have thus pros
pect of being sued for the very sympathy and
assistance that, if offered now, might be thrust
back in our teeth with scorn. We shall then
have an opportunity to intervene in Mexican
affairs to some purpose We shall then be in
position to demand rights for the United
States Government and security for American
citizens and their interests in Mexico, in
exchange for loans and an alliance that the
Mexican people will at last be forced to accept.
We shall then have taken, in a manner befit- !
ting our dignity as a nation, the first inevita-
BILE step towards the establishment of pro-
which, by enabling us to infuse a
leaven Of American industry and enterprise |
into country whose soil hungers and thirsts |
10th mil 81