The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-20
MEXICAN MODELS FOR RADIcAI1sM


A Mexican paper publishes letter from
Gen. Grant to Mr.. Romero, dated last Febru-
AIRY, in which the former says that it was his
earnest desire to visit Mexico during the pres
ent winter, but circumstances had prevented
him from doing so. He adds that neverthe-
less, he will 60 after the election; at all
events, as soon as matters are duly arranged
in the United States.
By all means, as the chieftain of the radi-
cal revolutionists in the coming presidential
contest. the general should 60 to Mexico be-
fore the election, and take lessons in the art
of electioneering from the experienced reyo-
lutionists in that country. The radicals, to
be sure, have made. brave progress in Msxi-
canizing politics in the United States; bat
there are still few practical details of the
business about which they might derive some
valuable hints from such adopts as Cortina,
Canales, Escobedo. Lopez and Chavez There
are many short cuts to power and plumber
which Gen. Grant and his adherents have not
yet found out, and which the above named
bandits and cut-throats are perfectly qualified
to show them. They are still, in great
measure, slaves to circumlocution and red
tape. In short, the methods of licentiousness
and criminality which are most in vogue with
the radical domination in this country, are in
initely more intricate and prolix than neces-
sary. All this calls for simplifcation and alb
breyiation; and Mexico is the place to look
for models after which to institute the de-
siderated reforms. There, as here, the crimi-
nal class is the governing class Here, how
ever, they labor under the disadvantage of in
experience, having been, until the advent of
radical ascendancy, much less familiar with
halls of legislation and seats of authority than
with prisoners docks and convict quarters.
But, in Mexico, instead of having
been discouraged and repressed by law and
public opinion, they have dominated for half
a century; and now, such is the proficiency
to which they have arrived, that the most per-
nicious leaders or minions of American radi-
calism may learn something from this Mexican
gentry in the art of misrule, distraction, OPP
preston and devastation. By all means,
then, let Gen. Grant proceed without delay
to visit country which SO abounds in monu-
ments of this noble art His observations
there would be fruitful of reforms after his
return. He would not fail, for example, to
see the tedious stupidity of seeking the means
ofproviding for his adherents of the carpet-bag
order in protracted correspondence with dis
trict commanders, in obscure and meaningless
investigations of State or municipal affairs,
followed by Illogical, uncalled for and vexa-
tous disturbances Of State or municipal ad-
ministrations. Nor could he fail to be led by
this discovery to consider the faster, simpler
and more effective plan of employing organ
lied bands of bold, skillful aud faithful fora
gers and bummers who could keep the carpet
bag aristocracy constantly and sumptuously
supplied, by raiding, in regular and open-and- /
aboveboard fashion, on plantations and DWELL
ings in the country, and upon banks and trea-
suries, upon jewelry, dry goods and grocery
stores. in the cities. 1t can hardly be ques-
toned that the superior merits of this plan
would induce genius SO bright, and nature
SO frank and prompt, to recognize at once the
wisdom and propriety of adopting it.