The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-07

the question of the choice of q successor to
President Juarez are the severest tests to
which the republic can be put In this matter
they will settle for themselves, before the eyes
of the whole world, whether they are people
fit for free government. Whatever the majority
Of the Mexican people may think to the con-
trary, and however arbitrary or wrong may
have been many Of his acts, Juarez was the
best executive the country has had in very
many years. 1t is doubtful if General Diaz
can govern half 80 long or half so well. The
administration of the government in Mexico is
no easy task under the most favorable crcum-
Stances but when the President has the
enmitv of large and powerful faction like
any one of the three existing parties in that
country the difficulties of his position are
largely increased. Should Congress re-elect
Juarez it will do 80 with the certainty that his
rule will be a strong one; should Diaz be
chosen it is doubtful if the Juarez faction can
be controlled to preserve the peace. In any
event crisis is certain. and it is doubtful if it
can be passed in safety.
The history of the Spanish American repub-
lies has not been cheering to the friends of
republican liberty. A chronic state of dsor-
der, rendered more vivid by frequent and
bloody revolutions, has been the condition of
all of them, and more especially Of Mexico than
of the others. Their presidents have been
dictators and their dictators tyrants A few
bold and reckless Adventures could at any
time find sufficient number Of followers to
overturn the government of State and para
lyze the industry of the people. Absolute
peace never prevails in any of them. Mexico
is now as free from internal connections as at
any time in her history, and yet the news from
that country brings us constant reports of the
progress of the war in Guerrero, and only
few days ago our special correspondent sent
Tampico. Before many months there may be
two rival presidents marshalling hostile ar
mics against each other and distracting the
country by feuds unworthy of the republic.
We hope for better state of affairs, and yet
we cannot close our eyes to the fact that
another civil war is one of the contingencies of
the approaching crisis.
The Spanish-American republics are repub-
lies only in name. Neither the people
nor their rulers understand the meaning
of liberty. In the eyes of both license
is preferable to law. Even in Cuba the repub-
lie would have failed if left to ITSELF indeed,
its failure is to be attributed to the want of
the true republican feeling among the Cubans.
Cespedes or Agramonte, Bembets or Que
sada was of more consequence in the minds of
most of their followers than the liberty of
which the republic and not they was the en-
bodiment. But this all peoples of Spanish,
and. indeed, of Latin extraction, fail to under
stand. Many of them ardently believe in
republican form of government, but nearly all
of them misconceive its meaning. The Ger
man is content with his Emperor, but the
Emperor knows that it is not in his power to
withhold liberty from the people. The Eng
lish chafe under their limited or constitutional
monarchy, but they know that they have
republic in fact if not in name. But the
Cuban, the South American, the Mexican
clings to the name of the republic, but only to
verify the old fable of the dog which let fall
the substance 10 grasping after the shadow.
At first bl ush it may seem strange that q
people who have so generally copied after
the republic of the United States should
utterly fail to receive the great lessons which
the American republic teaches. An election
with them is the signal for disorder, and the
success Of either party the beginning of rev.
olution 1t is to the honor of the American
people that with us al l this is different. The
heat Of the most fiery campaign dies away
when the sun of election day sinks into the
west The Inauguration of new President
is gala day at the capital, and all parties
join in it, because they recognize the sue
cessful candidate as a candidate no longer,
but the chief of the nation. If the Mexicans
can do the same thing at this time, peaceably
Inducing the successful candidate into Office,
whether he be Juarez or Diaz, they will have
gained a victory over themselves, of which
few people think them capable. They have
every incentive to avoid everything like revo-
lutionary measures, and to accept the deci-
sion of Congress-, since there was DO election
by the people, in the spirit of fairness and
magnanimity.
1t is not yet certain that President Juarez
has failed of reelection, but the chances are
decidedly against him. 1t is a matter of con-
graduation that in no event can Lerdo claim
to succeed him. The latter is demagogue of
the worst type--s politician, like so many others
in the Spanish-American republics, who is
constantly plotting to advance himself at the
expense of bis country. Juarez would
scarcely have yielded gracefully if Lerdo
had been his successful competitor, but we
think there can be little doubt that he will be
ready 10 give way to Diaz. But the whole
subject is hedged about by many difficulties.
There have been great frauds, it s alleged,
on both sides Mexican Cnnnra a men are moi