The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-07-29


The London Times and the Paris Moniteur
are SO good as to suggest that the interests of
all parties would be subserved If the United
States would be- so obliging as to- absorb the
Republic on its Southwestern frontier. With
all due appreciation Of the disinterested and
Sincere affection for both Mexico and the
United States indicated by this proposition, it
is believed that even Secretary Seward, with
all his thirst for Empire, will take some time
fqr dehberation before doing anything which
might impair the valuable life of Mr.. Otter
burg, who now represents him near the
person of Juarez Indeed the 9canny" states
man will be likely to receive the suggestion
as a young man would receive from known
enemy counsel to- marry a lady whom, be is
aware that his adviser hates. -,
No, we will none of Mexico. Let us have
Russian America, Spitsbergen or the Desert
of Sahara; for they can be obtained on the
c. o. d. or even the ten months credit plan
as cheap as ancient beef, AT worst they are
harmless sccretions to our. territory, !. aud
bring no new disturbing elements into the
prospectively happy family. But building up
great nations by uniting in arbitrary and. un-
natural companionshp different races of men
is not according to the most approved mod
ern theories, as witness the French Emperor
himself, His Majesty, when he found it neg
essary last year to justify to his people the.
conduct of the government in permitting
Prussia to enlarge her bor1ers. hy,, tbe- whole
sale appropriation of contiguous States, laid
it down asa primary Napoleo-C -Casarian dog
ma that the natural tendency Of people Of the
same race TO unite should not be opposed.
That forced union should not be effected be-
tween men of diverse. origin is but. a simple
lcorollary from the imperial proposition. How
it is to be reconeiled with, ,Algerine. conquests
and the occupation of Rome does not appear,
but, the position seems to be well taken and is
amply justified BY all history. ~-, ,,...,,. -.
1t is ief especial Importance to.a republic
that the body polite should be homogeneous,
and that all its citizens shouldhave a genera
affinity for the same kind of political institu-
tions and social regulations. Without this it
is hard to attain the equality which lies at
the foundation of democratic government.
Whether the nation, is republic or not, tits
clearly a source of weakness. when the eonstit7
uent territories are inhabited by distinct
races. each sustaining to the centfa! govern
ment a different relation. England, i, is
true, has for many years sustained her empire
under unfavorable circumstances Of this kind.
But the case is exceptional It is her ocean
rampant and her fleets that have enabled her
to live SO long hung around with immense
provinces, which are "like a giant'srope upon
a dwarfish thief" Now that her naval su-
premacy is no longer unquestioned, how long
is it probable. that the compound OF unions,
dominions, provinces, private corporations
and protectorates,i constituting the British
Empire can stand?
America needs TO insure the stability. Of its
government rather than toextend itself over
the continent, embracing states, which will
constitute natural points of1beginning upon
which dlsintegrating influences can operate
A nation should NOT resemble perforated
sheet of stamps, made. fol. the. express pur
pose Of being torn to pieces. Hitherto all the
|, States of the Union have sustained uniform
| relation to the central government exfep'
| that the South has temporarily placed itsel its'eal
| in different position But If Mexico, or any
| OF the countries adjoining, were to be annex
ed. Il would be necessary, for time at least
to hold the new acquisition as. a province
That would be introducing novel and dan
oerous element into the American system
Something very like provincial government