The New York herald., 1871-09-01
Mexico, General Grants Administration
and Manifest Destiny.

/
| 1t was on the plea of humanity-humanity
to the Mexicans-and the general interests Of
civilization, that the French Emperor, Napo-
leon the Third, sent an army of twenty-five
thousand men into Mexico to abolish the
republic and to set up an imperial Franco
Austrian protectorate in It's place. That plea,
on the general principles involved, was good
one; but, unfortunately, the ''grand Napo-
leonc idea" upon which it was based-a
| French occupation of Mexlco-was directly in
the teeth of the grand American idea of the
Monroe doctrine of European non-intervention
| in the domestic affairs of American States.
And so Napoleon, with the suppression Of
JEFF Davis, was argued by our inexhaustible
Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, into the
opinion that the best thing for France in
reference to Mexico was to get out of it as
fast as possible. And 80 the French army Of
occupation was Withdrawn, and poor Maxi
milan, left to the tender mercies of his Mexi-
can friends, was sacrificed in his courageous
but foolish efforts to maintain his impossible
empire. Still the plea of Napoleon, that
humanity and the general interests Of civiliza-
ton call for the Intervention of some strong
arm to save the Mexicans from themselves, is
as good to-day as it was ten years ago.
manifest destiny" too, from the special
advices which we published yesterday touch
ing the revolutionary cabals and fighting fac
tions, and the general condition Of anarchy
now prevailing in the Mexican States, from
the Rio Grande to the capital, and from the
capital to the seaboard on both sides-''mani-
fest destiny, we say, is now looming up again
into bold relief We presume, however, that
President Grant, after his experience on his
| st. Domingo adventure, will be in no hurry to
pursue this idea Of manifest destiny" into
Mexico. He will be apt to adhere more
closely than ever in the absence of Congress,
to the saving policy of non-intervention. New
ertheless, the present disOrdered state of
things in most of the Mexican States, and the
evident signs of the near approach of another
revolutionary war down there for the possess
sion of the central government, considering
the interests of American citizens in that coun-
try and their treaty rights in matters Of trade,
intercourse aud property, it becomes the duty
of the President to see to it that even in Mexico
''the laws are faithfully executed"
President Juarez, in the fulflment of his
treaty obligations toward the United States,
actuated by becoming sense of gratitude and
respect, has behaved very well. But he is in
danger, and may be any day now superseded
or deposed by combination of hostile cliques
in Congress, or by some revolutionary interlo-
per, at the point of the bayonet Aud then
new party-an ultra Mexican party-may come
into power, which may make Mexico too hot
for ''the Yankees to be comfortable or safe
for them as residents, travellers or traders.
In this view General Grant cannot ignore the
present revolutionary events and movements
in Mexico. He is bound to keep an eye on
them, and if, in the absence of Congress, any
event in Mexican affairs shall take place call
ing for active Intervention in behalf of Ameri-
can rights under treaty stipulations, he may
detail General Sherman or General Sheridan
or any other general with an army to go into
Mexico to enforce the execution of the law in
obedience to his oath of office.
we nave Always Guou5uI IL BTeaJ uISior-
tune that General Scott, after his conquest
and occupation of ''the halls of the Monte
zumas," in 1S47, refused to accept the dictator
ship of Mexico in the name of the United
States, which was offered him. lie declined
the honor, however, on the ground that the
universal liberty and negro equality of Mexico
could not be made to harmonic with negro
slavery and negro inequality as they then
existed in the United States under the consti-
tuition. But that difficulty is now removed,
and the time is evidently fast approaching
when the annexation of Mexico will become
the leading political question in the Uuited
States; and, peace or war, the proposition will
be as irresistible with the people as was the
proposition for the annexation of Texas. The
question may possibly be precipitated upon us
in 1872, and if the administration draws back
the democratic party will Jump" at the COM
manding capital of manifest destiny" not
withstanding its holy horror of the St.
Domingo scheme.
Mn ROUTwrYL WILL t'RIsE To Ex.