The New York herald., 1871-12-20


Is there no way whereby law and order,
systematic industry and commercial enterprise
can be established in Mexico2 Is that splen-
did country on our southern border to be con-
tinued indefinitely prey to her fighting revo-
lutionary factions and in her chronic condi-
tion Of anarchy till utterly exhausted and laid
waste? Is there any reason why the policy Of
the dog in the manger should continue to be
the policy Of the United States in reference to
Mexico2 While our people are asking these
questions some of the public journals of the
Mexican capital are boldly advocating
United States protectorate as the only remedy
for the never-ending bot still beginning Mexi-
can revolutions. The time. then, is eminently
favorable for q movement In this direction,
and there will soon be brought up case be-
fore United States Court at San Francisco
which may contribute very materially to settle
the problem of manifest destiny"
We allude to the case resulting from the
late Mexican flibusterinz outrage in Lower
California, as detailed in the letter from Mr..
George Wilkes on the subject which we pub
lish this morning In this letter we have a
very interesting sketch Of the contract between
the Mexican government and the Lower Cali
fornia Land Company, and of the doings of
the company down to its expulsion by this
aforesaid Mexican filibustering band. 1t thus
appears that the company, when forcibly dis
possessed and driven out, were in q fair way
to build up an exceedingly prosperous colony,
and that In the orchilla moss they had found a
mine of wealth Of incalculable value-more
valuable than the richest of gold mines. The
Mexican Collector Of Customs at La Paz and
Sehor Cobos, who, as 1t appears, turned
traitor to the company, happened to be In San
Francisco the other day; and, being discovered
by some one Of the dispossessed company, they
were arrested and imprisoned on charge Of
piracy. Upon this charge they will be re-
quired to answer before United States Court
when, In the development Of the facts In the
case, we shall learn how the Juarez govern
ment became implicated with these aforesaid
flibusters and how far they acted under its
authority. 'k
We have no doubt that the discovery of the
unlimited wealth secured by the land company
concerned, in those extensive fields Of orchilla,
excited the jealousy and cupidity Of the Juares |
government, and that the company was dis
possessed and driven out because, while 1t was |
desirable to get rid of colony which might |
become more powerful in time than its master,
the rich resources of orchilla the company had |
brought to light and the quantity they had col
lected for shipment-four hundred thousand
dollars worth, more or less--were too tempting |
to be resisted under Mexican ideas Of fair
dealing. The average Mexican goes accord
ing to that ancient rule ~
= The simple plan,
That they should take who nave the power,
And they should keep who can.
Whatever may be the action of the Unit ed |
States Court upon this case, it is . case which
must lead to . demand for reparation aud res- |
titution from our government upon that Of
Mexico; and as General Butler is concerned
In this land company we may be sure that |
there will be no triAing with these Mexican
fiIibusters, nor with this alleged treachery of |
the Juarez government We may look before |
long for a resolution in Congress from General |
Butler requesting the President to inquire |
into the facts of this 6ibustefing affair, and to
report them to the House, together with the |
facts upon which the charter of this land COM |
pany was revoked, and whether its agents and |
servants were or were not expelled by author |
ity Of the Mexican government; and that he |
be requested also to report to the House the !
supposed extent to which our national Treas |
ury is defrauded by the conveniences afforded |
to smugglers In the border Stree zone" Of |
Mexico, and what measures 10 his judgment |
are necessary to establish In Mexico the law,
order and usages Of a civilized people.
Such resolution would be both proper and |
expedient under the existing condition of |
things In Mexico. It was under the broad |
plea of humanity and the common rights Of |
civilization that Napoleon the Third UNDER |
took his Mexican protectorate; 1t was under
the plea Of the Monroe doctrine of European
non-intervention In the domestic affairs of
our republican neighbors that Napoleon was
induced to abandon his protectorate. We have
thus become responsible 70 the world for the |
good conduct Of Mexico; and II, as the mock
cry Of an Independent government, she con-
tinues o constant source of annoyance to
European nations dealing with her, and
scandal to republican institutions, it becomes
our duty to take her in hand. 1t Is folly to
attempt to blink the question Of our respon-
sibility. We believe, too, from the opinions |
in reference to United States protectorate
recently published in certain public journals
in the city Of Mexico, that Mexican property
holders are ready for this protectorate; and
we are strongly inclined to the opinion that
resolution from Congress, authorizing General
Grant to sound the government Of Jnarez in
reference to the annexation of Mexico, would |
develop powerful party IN that country in
favor Of the project.