Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-25
WHAT NExTi

concern and interest by all men WI
study public affairs. His election th
time has set some Of his adherents
thinking about his second reelection
and it is not improbable that the Gener'
has an eye to his own continuation
Office, and that he viii begin at once
shape his policy accordingly. 1t wa
believed just after the late civil contes
said to have ceased in the spring {
1865, that small foreign war or an on
side disturbance Of some kind with Spai
or Mexico, or even England, would hav
diverted attention from our wounds Q
pride and fortune as well as person, an
gone far toward re-establishing sent
ment of nationality and reyiying tn
shirt which once moved men to sa,
with proud bearing in any part OF thu
world. 81 am an American The ad
ministration party, no doubt, attributes
the November success in some degree Il
the persisteney with which they pursued
the Alabama claims. And now that car
be pointed to as a triumph in diplomacy
over England and it is one which the
British lion resents with many grow
and shake Of the name. But even this
does not satisfy General Grants ambi
ton. His cherished scheme is the an
nexation Of San Domingo, and he will
not forget it as long as he is President
for when his head is once bent on given
object be is as tenacious as he is uncom
municative. His various victories in
war and in peace have only assured him
of his own skill and his ability to go on
TO other conquests. He may forego an
aggressive movement on San Domingo
at once, but will never lose sight Of his
project. He has an opportunity oI
directing public attention to Mexico
which may be turned to the favorable
account Of his ultimate schemes.
What he most wants now in carrying
out his personal aims is not so much a
home government, held together at the
weak points by bayonets, as spirit OF
martial enthusiasm, recognizing him as
military leader and willing to follow
him in his plans for annexlng territory
contiguous to US on the North American
continent. A small row with Mexico
Just now would answer his purpose very
we'll. 1t is well-known that the Texans
on the Rio Grande have been subjected
to great outrages from the Mexican side
for many years. The Indian raids are
usually led by Mexicans or halfbreed
cut-throats from across the border A
commission has been engaged in inyes-
tigating the character and extent OF
these depredations, and have just con-
cluded long report upon the subject in
which General Grant takes deep in
terest. They estimate that the Ameri-
cans living within FIVE hundred miles Of
the mouth Of the Rio Grande have suf
fered to the amount Of $4,000, 900, to
say nothing Of the murders committed
by the Mexicans, and if their investi-
cations had been continued as far
as the FL Pass, they believe the
losses would have been found al
least $lOO,OOO,OOO. They urge an in.
crease of cavalry on the border, otherwise
a premeditated war may be the result.
The President will probably allude to
this deploreble state Of affairs in his
forthcoming message, and may do a just
as well as a popular thing by recon
mending measures for the protection o.
our extreme Southern border. and retail
iation on the bloody invaders anC
thieves. A little Of the Monroe doctrine
would take very well at this time, as 4
desperate remedy is required to protec
the gallant people of Texas from th'
Mexican heather. General Grant cal
never forget his military character ant
instincts; he is President Grant in thu
hands Of others, but the General and thu
soldier when he asserts himself, and h
is not likely to adopt or follow passiy,
policy. His nature is aggressive, AM
he will not hesitate to develop his plan
Of annexation upon assurance OF ma
tional unity and support.