The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-26
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF TIIR LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPICs-COMPnED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TBLRGRAPH.
The New Republic Of the Occldent.

The New Republic Of the Occident.
From the ~. Y. Herald
Advices from the Pacific coast inform us
that plan is on foot to split off large splice
from Northwestern Mexico and erect a new
Republic Of the Occident. The scheme in
.cludes the rich mineral districts OF Sonora and
.Sinaloa, and is no doubt fomented by enter
prising spirits from our side of the border,
with disatfected ones in Mexico both of which
elements abound in the heterogeneous popu-
lRtion now laying vast foundations of empire
on the American borders OF the Pacific Ocean.
Such q scheme is assisted by the condition OF
affairs within the republic Of Mexico itself.
That Government, although counting a
period of existence Of barely fifty years, is
worn out and oonfessedlv incompetent to per-
form the duties for which governments are
instituted among men. Peace has hed the
land, except it be in some mountain fastness,
where bold Indian like Alvarez, IN Guerrero,
or Lozada, in Topic, defes the GoveL5nIinenS iLio
within his territory. Industry and trade nave
dwindled until they are the mere shadows OF
those of former days; public revenue has be-
come the legitimate prey OF every local ruler,
and the bonds of society are SO completely
dissolved that human life and individual
liberty are safe only in the large cities, or
within the vale Of poverty and individual
obscurity. To-day we behold the degrading
spectacle of national government sitting in
the halls of the Montezumas, Illuminating
worthless paper DEGREES against the robbers
and kidnappers who prOwl securely on every
road within the republic.
We are not disposed to lay upon the pre-
sent rulers of Mexico the whole blame for
this state of things, nor do we look to them
for the cure of evils which are not entirely of
their creation. They are but simple indivi-
duals in a social and political organization
which obeys laws called into existence with
the birth Of the government, and these must
work out their full mission. Every nation at
its inception receives an impulse which may
be called the law of its political existence.
When the thirteen colonies rebelled against
the British crown they were separate political
organizations, conflicting and often at war
with each other. The first impulse was to-
wards union and Capitalization, by the calling
of general congress. From this came the
confederation for the war; out OF this the
greater Capitalization of the Constitution of
1857, and from that we have gone on central
izng our political forms to the present day,
when we witness its thus far greatest but not
ultimate degree of Capitalization. In this we
but obey the impulse received at the birth of
our political forms.
So it was with Mexico, only her impulse
was in an opposite direction. When New
Spain rebelled against the Spanish crown it
was centralized vicerOyalty, divided into
departments merely for the convenience of
which attended the birth of the Mexican nation
was one of decentralization. The departments
were erected into sovereign States. Govern
ment there has followed the line of this i'm
pulse until for years past its DEGREES have
been poWerless beyond a radius of thirty
leagues from the capital, and not obeyed unless
they coincided with the personal interest of
local rulers AS with us society has prospere ed
with the growing strength OF government to
protect, so in Mexico has it dwindled with the
decay of the protecting power. The entire
political being of Mexico is dry-rotted with the
law OF its existence. 1t can look for regenera-
tion only in the breaking up of its present
forms and the establishment of new ones upon
other principles, of which the proposed new
Republic of the Occident is an example.
Within Mexico itself there are now at work
the germs of other similar movements, and
the end OF all these will be one. Each in turn
will be attracted to our stronger political sys-
tenn, as Texas was, until all revolve in the
harmony of the Union.
Some three years ago, in this city, at the
old Union League Club House, General Grant,
in crisp little speech, referred to our sister
republic as proper subject for active inter-
vention. From that passing remark we were
satisfied that the General, who goes for
thorough work, did not admire the dilly-dal-
lying and temporizing policy of MIR. Seward
towards Louis Napoleon. Nor do we suppose
that the General is altogether satisfied with
the success of the Secretary OF State in get
ting rid of the Franco Austrian imperial usur-
patton by persistent scolding. Nor is it likely
that the do-nothing programme upon which
General Rosecrans, our new Minister to the
Juarez Government, seems to be acting will
be followed under Grants administration
We expect something better and more com
prehensive and decisive from the practica
mind of our great soldier. We dare say that
Grant has not forgotten (for he was there al
the time) the great mistake made by General
Scott, when in occupation of the Mexican
capital, in refusing to accept the government
of the republic as free gift, and with &
splendid salary, as the Captain-Gen in thu
name of the United States. We anticipate in
some practical shape the revival under Presi
dent Grant of the grand idea involved in tha
offer to General Scott, and within the mex
four years, in all probability, as territoria
delegate to begin with, we shall have maj
in Congress from each of the Mexican States
Sooner or later this substantially will be tht
solution of the Mexican question, and Genera
Grant is the proper man so to settle it.
Senator Hamlin us YiCe.Presideut.
NJ