The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-12-29
MEXICO.

MEXICO.
Z Tho New York Herald. in speakidg of the
condition of Mexico, says: 1.-THE chronic
condition of Mexico has beeu that Of revolu-
lion and insurrection for the last twenty
years, or, indeed, through its whole history,
and the disease seems to be getting worse.
The news we published yesterday shows
that the republic in every direction is like
the strata underneath-volcsnc. There
i were armed fctions fighting in Queretaro;
Instruction in Michoacan: numerous bands
in the field IN Jalisco; at Mazarian revolu-
ton was hourly expected; federal troops had
been attacked in.tbe State Of Mexico, few
leagues from the capital; disturbances had
occurred at Tulahcingo; the Sixth battal
ion of government troops had joined the
Puebla Insurgents; there had been dreadful
rioting and an attack upon Protestantc con-
gregstion at Puebla; the whole republic is
is full of pronxnciamientos, and General Al
latore had informed the government that he
had no confidence in his troops to defend
the administration. Such is the picture
presented in one days news The truth is,
| this chronic condition of disorder is culmi-
mating to point when the United States
will have to be called upon to reconstrues
Mexico and to govern it. That, undoubt-
eddy, is the inevitable destiny oftbe country,
and the sooner it comes the better for the
Mexicans and for the world"
This is all very true, but the Herald ap-
pears to commit the mistake of supposing
that there is govern ment in Mexico. There
is no such thing now and there has not been
for many years past. There is a government
which prctends to govern Mexico, but its
authority is laughed at and it is powerless
to command in any state where some local
chieftain does not find it to his interest to
pretend to support the government" Even
then the support is merely nominal and but
gives the government" the privilege of
sending its officers through that particular
state to pick up the few crumbs which the
local great man accords it, and that is all
the government" gets in the way OF rev.
enue. ...t.. fu... ...F
In another state some other local great
man is short of funds and wishes to make
a raise" To that end he issues "pronun-
eiamiento' against the first thing he happens
to think Of, hangs out his banners on any
rancho not less than two miles from town,
hires an "army" of four or five hundred men
at fifty cents per day, no rations, clothing or
anything else being issued, and the army
being ready he marches on to the capital of |
the State. Perhaps the government" men
may fire two or three shots at him, but the
chances are that they will surrender and
join his forces without shot That state is
then at war with the government" The
bold rebel compels forced loan of from
fifty thousand to hundred thousand dollars
from the city. Forced loan is the Mexican
term in English it would be called robbery
The loan made he pays his patriotic
soldiers who are then ready to join any
other local great man who will pronounce"
against him, the government" or, in short,
against anything or anybody. [SoIdiering
in Mexico is not q very dangerous trade.
after the Illustrious Rebel has paid off his
army he finds that he has quite large
amount of ready cash and becomes loyal at
once. He treats with the government and
pliers to lay down his arms if the govern
nent grants free pardon to him and to all
concerned. The government, unable to
punish, is only too glad, and peace is de,
dared and the foreign papers are soon pub
ishing the important fact that the rebellion l
n the State of Neuv" Leon or Zacatecas, as
he case may be. is at an end. The gov
resumes possession; the troops of
he exIllustrious Rebel become the heroic
champions of the government. The gov
rnment makes a forced loan" and gets 1
ONE sorcly needed money. The citizens
axe the thing as a matter Of course, pay
heir forced loan, and are in blissful state
# uncertainty as to whether the govern
nent" or the nlustrious Rebel is the govern
nent. The Ilustrious Rebel becomes q
Farm supporter Of the government, and
ont rebel again until his cash is gone,
'hen the same thing is gone over with.
The truth is the Mexicans are nation of
and are incapable of self
oyernment or Of being governed. To gov
m them by force would require standing !
rmy of one hundred thousand cavalry men
We think that Mexico had better get lit
e more civilized or-stll better-depopu-
tied before We talk of annexing Der. To j
o so at present would be about as wise as | s
would be for the editor of the Herald to | .
tempt to "aunex hornets nest. II