The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-22

fest Destiny-A Call UpOs General
Grant.
Mexico, the richest and most splendid coun-
try of the American Continent, is in the last
stage of national decay. Through its wonder
full resources productiveness Of soil and fine
climate, the primitive inhabitants had made
| great strides In the way of civilization when
the Spaniards first landed. Under Its native
rulers it had become populous and flourish
ing country, without contact with the people
or civilization of the Western World. It's
wealth, particularly in the precious metals,
was marvellous. Though the Spanish conque-
rors plundered 1t on stupendous scale,
slaughtered millions Of its inhabitants and es-
tablished the most fearful despotism, 1t
still continued to TEEN with riches. So,
too, after Spanish tyranny was abolished
by the independence of Mexico and estab-
lishment of the republic it supplied the world
with silver and was prosperous country.
Since 1t took its place as an independent nation
among the nations of the earth it has been the
hotbed of revolution and has gone through
numerous phases of government within COM
paratively short period; yet, with all these
damaging and exhausting circumstances,
wealth has sprung from it almost sponta-
neously. Any other country would have been
utterly ruined long ago. Now, however, it
has reached climax of disorder when even
its extraordinary resources cannot save 1t
from ruin and desolation unless the strong
government of the United States and our
enterprising citizens interpose and regenerate
the country.
Our special despatch, dated Matamoros on
Saturday and published yesterday. says
"hghting still continues" that the revolu-
tionists under General Quiroga had attacked
the forces of Cortina at Camargo that this
General was invading the State Of Tamaulipas,
with the object of capturing all the towns on
the frontier that Matamoros would soon be
taken; probably that the States of
Coahuila and Nuevo Leon are held by
the revoutionists, and that in other
States the different rebel forces were making
progress. We may hear more aattering
| account in fovo- 80 A. J~aiez sov~.u .aout,
possibly, in the course of few days, and by
way of the city Of Mexico, for these accounts
are colored according to the channels through
which they come. But however the con-
flict may incline from day to day or month to
month, or whichever party may triumph for a
time, nothing will be settled. No permanent
government of Mexico by the Mexicans is pos
sible. 'Fighting still continues" This might
have been said of Mexico any time since that
country became Independent, with the excep-
ton of short and rare intervals. Civil war
has been the chronic condition. Rival and
ambitious chiefs, who are often only robbers
| on grand scale and under the guise Of politi-
cal disaffection, make war upon the govern
ment and each other, and they drag the peace
ably disposed peon population into their con-
fcts. With these chiefs and bandits there
is no regard for any regular constituted
authority. The central government is power
less to keep them down. The whole history
of the government shows this The disease
Of civil war is too deep seated to be erad-
Gated by the Mexicans themselves.
Nor is the Mexican government capable Of
maintaining the independence of the nation.
against foreigners. Twice has our govern
ment restored to Mexico her independence
after being Conquered. Once we were in
possession Of the country, and in looking back
to that time it is unfortunate, perhaps, that we
did not hold possession. We can imagine
what different fate Mexico would have had
If, instead Of taking only California, General
Scott had been ordered to hold the whole
Mexican territory. But the institution Of
slavery in the South and the sectional diff
Guilty at home prevented annexation at that
time. With magnanimity unparalleled in the
restored to the Mexicans their conquered
country, but actually paid for the Territory of
Californa-.ben wilderness-which we
held by the laws of war. Then, when the
French subjugated Mexico and established
foreign imperial government over 1t, the
| United States forced the invader to leave
and re-established the native repub-
lie. No unprejudiced and intelligent Mexican
will dispute the fact, we suppose, that,
but for the Intervention of the United States
Mexican independence would have been ex-
tinguished. A country, then, which is neither
capable Of elf-government-which Is in con-
tinual state of civil war and anarchy-nor Of
| maiu'uniuS itS 'uuePeuueuCe uSaiust ioTeiSu
Powers, can have no hope of perpetuating a
national existence.
| Then, Mexico cannot perform the duties Of
good neighborhood to the United States. What
ever may be the disposition of those in power
at the city Of Mexico, they cannot prevent dis
orders, robbery and smuggling on our border
The two countries join for the distance OF a
thousand miles or more, the narrow stream
OF the Rio Grande lying between them part of
the way, and the dividing line through the