The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-26
Mexico and Manifest Destiny-GeneraI
CRAMPS Duty.

Here we have the old, old story. Civil
war, brigandage, society in chaos, govern
| ment without power or purpose, Church
which compels no respect in its sacred capa-
city and wields no influence in moulding the
habits of the people. Politics is treachery
and treason craftsmanship. With all there is
naughty, foolish pride that comes back from
the old Castillan days, pride that is i'm
placable because of its ignorance, and so be-
comes tyranny. And yet no land was ever
blessed as this poor, foolish Mexico Of
which we speak. The erandest suns, skies
recalling the Mediterranean. all climates and
temperatures, the fruits of tropical and tenn
perate zones, as though nature, in bounteous
mood, had given Mexico the endowment of
the Prodigal Son only to see it wasted. Thrift
lessness, shiftlessness, shame-these are what
Mexico has shown. This narrative Of q new
revolution is only an added chapter in o sad,
dismal history. What we have in Mexico is
only pauperism run wild. The nation has no
public conscience. Whether or not, as is
sometimes supposed, the warm, luxuriant cir
mate brings enervation, and with that indo-
lence and poverty and dishonesty; whether
or not, as grave thinkers suppose, there is
that in the tropics which rebels against custom
and energy or responsibility, we do not know.
At the best, problems Of this kind are fantas-
teal. No one can tell us how far the aspects
of nature control the morals and intellect of
people, for we find that time presents nation
in various and different phases. We have had
the Greeks of Pluto and the Greeks of the
Lower Empire, the contrast embracing all
that is high as well as all that is degrading in
civilization. The same Rome was the empire
Of julius and of Commodus, and yet how
widely apart The greatest nations in
Europe-the German, the Gaul, the Russian,
the English-are the descendants of savages
their early history. In fact, we have no race
now that has stood through the centuries
except the Hebrews and the Chinese. Modern
races are constantly changing-now receding,
now advancing, now ruling the world by their
valor and genius, now sinking into apathy and
cowardice and sloth. So we cannot deter
mine the future of people like the Mexicans
by any of the empirical tests which are written
by modern philosophers.
France was never so base, 80 degraded, 80
helpless in Europe as under the regency. And
yet this very regency and the reign of Louis
XVI. threw out the brightest minds that
French annals can shows and the children of
this same France, under the lead of Napoleon,
traversed the Continent with conquering tread.
France sank in luxury and ignorance under
the later Bonaparte, and is now the mockery Of
European nations. But another generation
may see it rise, as in 1893, and sweep over
every enemy. But no such parallel can be
applied to Mexico. Its history is monotonous
record of crime, helplessness and ignoble
ambition. We have had charlatans like Santa
Anna coming and going, varied by the brief
reign of some poor Iturbide, or the brilliant,
helpless empire of well-meaning but sadly
placed Macmillan. But with Santa Anna and
Iturbide and Macmillan it has been always
the same. No one ruler, not even the consci-
entious and accomplished prince in whose
veins ran the blood of the Caesars, who
brought to his throne all the requirements of
highly bred nobleman, the anxiety to do
well by his people, the ambition to reign
worthily and do his whole duty, could make
any impression upon Mexico. Whatever may
be said of the influences which placed Maxi
milan on the throne, and however we may feel
that he was simply filibuster, and as such
was properly put to death, his name should
always be spoken with honor as one who
reigned and died like king The war which
dethroned him is also the only phase in Mexi-
can history which has redeeming quality,
and shows the existence of the elements of q
patient spirit.
If any ruler deserved well of Mexico it was
Juarez. He made an honorable war against
the Misunderstanding for his flag with Indian
courage and fortitude, until he was driven to
his frontier. Mexico has had no President
who has deserved as well of his fellow citi-
zens and mankind as Juarez And yet
Mexico is the same under him that
it was under an adventurer like Santa
Anna, and prince like Macmillan.
He has never held the country in hand.
| Although the friend of the United States, and
owing its Independent existence almost abso-
lutely to our protection, we have nothing but
trouble from Mexico. During our war it was
a base of supplies for the rebel armies. Since
the war we have had constant vexations on
our Rio Grande frontier. With every desire
to aid the country in its development our
| capitalists would almost as soon put their
money into morass as into Mexican securi-
| ties. AS consequence Mexico stands alone
in the world and is never heard of unless
some staggering, foolish general gathers his
mob of greasy retainers around him and