New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-12
MEXICO.
rHE MEXICAN QUESTION AT LARGE.
tpRnsf orr OWN CORRESPONDENTS

l,rbt noitber onite unuincled IL ~ safer to at
tamnt giving fair view OF the actual situation of
ira affairs though TO a conscientious informant tins
cannot be task easily aud suddenly fulfilled Mex
leo is without tho enterprisin9 ways ana means w
which other nations acquire speedy selfknowiedge;
she Ia in tie dark as to herself; and her exact con
diton o. the -efore all the more doubtful to passing
observers. Not less than year was needed LOT an
honest comprehension of the entire field OF dlheui-
ties since tho failure OF intervention The various
effects Of a chronic war, the vibrations Oh whose
nervous disorder have not passed OFT could no sooner
be revealed TO some of the shrewdest of the Next
cans let alone newcomers. years residence III
tho capital may now enable TO lay before you
view of the Mexican question at large. TO present
this view is, of course, difficult aud delicate we
have TO speak of people who for 400 years, or as
long as they have history, have never been
happy whose romance is mixed up with per-
tidy and sacrifice Of all kinds whose traditions are
mostly unfortunate whose career and being arc the
saddest known 10 modern man and the question OF
whose destiny is really the most extraordinary pre-
sented tn the world. Yet know that this people,
all of whose parentage traditions and education or
want of education should incline them stnbbOrny to
a monarchy have fought for half a century, some
times manfnlly and upon the whole persistenty, for
the most liberal form Of selfgovernment, against
odds of bgotry. usurpatiOn. and treason, seemingly
not 10 be overcome. We know that the republic
amid much that was inconstant, offered up IN It's be-
half numbers Of brave and earnest lives and pro-
duced of consistency and courage admired by the
world. We have seen that, guided by these men, the
republic has eontrived to Outlast empire the story
of which is equally piteous and pitiful Now We are
invited to contemplate the very astonishing speca-
clio of republic, after the dem0ralizatOns of fifty
~ nd A
convert the two elements of anarchy and despotlsm.
Let me premise q remark as 70 the variety Of opn-
ions and news with which the world Is supplied from
Mexico. There nave been imperlalist views which
forgot the murders and massacres committed by D1-
pin. O'Horan, and Marquee. the deadly errors and
oflenses of Macmillan the crime Of Napoleon; Lib
eraI views which held the shooting of the Archduke
TO b. n divine necessity, and which ignored that any
robbers or assassins whatever happened to tight Tor
JuareZ; annexatonists' views OF % vulgar KIND,
which. careless or INSCRIPTIONS TO information,
eagerly prejudge the worthless and hopeless;
annexationist views of Europeans who congratulate
the republic in prospect distant, OF having
another elephant on its hands anti-anneIatlomst
views which jealousy and bitterly oppose all kinds
Of foreign influence that looks like domination; iatai-
ist views in part of beaten imperiasts who dlslik-
ing or hating Yankees, yet not in nature able or VIII
ing TO believe that Juarez can succeed throw mp the
case from sheer hopeessness and nurse the fear that
one of these days the United States will have TOO
charming bargain out Of Mexican territory; Santan
lat views which are convertible with Satanic views,
and favor. il possible snch a farce of murder and
rarine as all robbers would take part in, and all
malignant spirits enjoy Other phases OF opinion are
worth noting The eoncessonist who comes herede
won't in tie Faith Of the Mexicans, is apt to go away
an utter unbelcyer if he is denied privilege. Peo-
ple who come to invest in mines, and find that the
mining districts are annoyed by bandits, are tempted
10 give vent TO hasty judgments. RailroadeIs, who
listen with severe impotence 10 the years debate
over the Vera Cruz Railroad, are scarcely candid
enough to admit what a composite and mixed blum
der il has been not from one but from every point OK
view Foreigners who without foresight or scruple,
are willing TO look npon all things with fattering
eve 10 the main chance, have themselves TO blame If
they are disappointed. Those who TOO greatly CEN
sure any expression of antiforegn sentiment scarcely
weigh the fact that Americans and Europeans have
by turns waged unjust wars upon the Aexlcans
Those who trust too implicitly TO the heterogeneous
foreign elcment-an element never supposed TO be
quite unmercenary-run the risk OF being misln-
formed as TO the real state feeling and bent of the
people. BY parity Of reasoning 1t Will not do TO be-
leve all Mcxcans, or all Liberals The air of this
would seem that its habitual struggles had
charged the very atmosphere with invisible
elements of sadness and unbelief, much III
the same way that it is electrified or ozon-
lied by mysterious natural forces. Nowhere has the
right-mnded stranger so much reason. indeed, 10
iudRe for himself and TO be upon his guard. This Is
not because well-meaning trustworthness and re-
spectabity are not TO be found, but because the
country contains little fixed and constituted society
small means Of knowledge, and more rumors than
intelligence AS to sent hence TO the North IL
likely to DO unsound according as it is uncharitable
dishonest OF creduIous Persons credulous will find an
abundance TO believe the dishonest can easily make
and insinuate falsehoods meanly conceived, with
chance of being credited as readily since the truth
Of many chapters Of past Mexican history are
stranger than fiction; the uncharitable want the
first requisite TO comprehend any issue IN which
humanity has stake. Your correspondent, while
not unkindly endeayoring TO represent an actual
state Of facts has not fit to distinguish broadly
between downright lying in and to New-fork, anu
outright robbng in Mexico and has, therefore, as III
duty bound stignatized not less than score OF
patent and notorious lies written as is here believed
in the interest of annexation and blackmail However
sad be the condition of Mexico there can be no two
opinions as to the disgusting and pernicOus effects
annexation wero desirable the fasitiers who stimu
late prejudice and antpaty are the last TO make 1t
palatabe.
As to the first class of opinions described, II may
be well contended that whatever the resulting con-
dition Of things under Juarez, the state OF Mexico
under Macmillan would in oil probability have been
far worse. country with present budget of less
than twenty millions would have had to bear tho
immense foreign debt recognized by Macmillan, III
addition to the manfestly large expense of waste
full empire The Mexicans are anything but fitted in
mind, pocket or experience TO put on the airs and