, 1872-11-19

to the intelligence Of the world. It would in-
vo1ve us in war with Spain. To acquire Cuba
by this means will not cost less than $780,
100000. The Protectorate Of Mexico
is another, and, with certain
class OF persons, - very popular,
measure. Under gulse Of protecting the from
tier, it is assumed that Mexico is unable, or re-
fuses, to control her own citizens; therefore,
an American army ought to occupy so much OF
the territory Of Mexico as is necessary to keep
order On the frontier. This involves the disre-
gard Of the laws and authority of Mexico in the
tier Of provinces next to the boundary line, aud
provokes an immediate war. The Protectorate,
therefore, must be moved further south, until
at last it will involve the overthrow Of the Na-
fonal Government Of Mexico, and the occupation
Of the country by an American army and a Mill
tary Government. Then will come the farce Of
State Conventions, and their admission into the
Union, new carpet-bag Senators and Representa-
tives, and Governors, with steady accompani-
ment Of civil var 30 long aB the Spanish blood
continues to exist in the country. The Mexican
Protect crate will not cost less than s150 000 900
annually.
Such is the present range Of proposed terri
torial acquisition. A Protectorate over the
Central American States would naturally follow
that over Mexico. But the term Protectorate,
when properly translated means the conquest
Of all these countries, and the extension Of our
dominion over the whole Of North America, and
the islands in the Eastern aud Western oceans.
The mind can hardly grapple the immenBity Of
the scheme, and there are but few who examine
i ts details and trace out it's inevitable conse-
quenceB who will not shrink from it with tho
gravest apprehension. In the train Of such
scheme there s everything that is fatal to Re-
publicenism. There is var, debt, taxation,
b1oodshed, Increased pension lists, and the para
phernalia Of the seventeenth century. We have
had taste Of thocost and desolation Of war upon
our own soil. The consequences OF that
war will weigh upon us for half 8 century to
come. 4 var with Spain or Mexico, or both, to
wrest their territory from them-territo1y that
We do not want-wil place IA in arms against
the moral eense Of the civilized world. The
Republic will become another name for the
plunderer Of the weak, the cruel invader Of the
helpless, the despoiler OF nations, and the un-
principled violator of human and national
rights.
The policy Of the American Union is peace
Any other condition is as hostile to our RepulI-
eau principle as it is dangerous to our unity. It
is anomalous in our form Of government to have
direct taxes, or any Federal ta1es beyond the
legitimate expenditures for an economical ad-
Of the Government. Taxes to build
and to maintain O navy to cut oil the commerce
and to blockade the ports and storm the cities
of other nations, is repelant to tho purposes for
which our Union was formed. It was never in |
tended that ne should have aggressive nnviea,
or standing armies, or military proconsuls, and,
while the last man and the last dollar may be-
wisely and legally employed for national defence,
the people have right to insist, and will insist,
that not man nor dollar shall be expended in |
wars upon peaceful neighbors, for
the purpose of capturing their territory or mur-
dering their people.
At this time, burdencd with National debt Of !
100000 100000; paying interest on Pacific |
Railroad debt of s6o,ooo,oO0 more; with State
and municipal debts counting by the hundreds Of
millions; with every person and interest taxed
TO the extremity Of endurance; with a Govern
ment not yet purified Of the 1axity and ex-
trayagance incident to condition Of var; with |
= voluminous iasue OF deprecated paper cur
rency with our whole financial system weak
9ned by terrible distinctions Of wealth, and
strained to its utmost tension; with the entire
country suffering from financial etrin-'
sency,-is this time to go upon q
crusade to "e1tend the area of freedom by the
overthrow of existing Governments, md the in-
corporation Of hostile people, speaking other
Eongues, utterly ignorant Of our institutions,
md entertaining deeply-rooted antipathies to-
wards us? Arc the financial and commercial
interests Of the United States prepared for such
. state Of things Is thatwhat they yoted for in
he recent election ? We think not.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.