New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-09-22
THE MEXICAN QUESTION

p There IS no longer any question that the
complications OH the Mexican border must
ultimately bring on hostilities between the
two nations; or cession of territory
equivalent in value to the immense losses
our people have sustained by yeason of
Mexican raids into Texas The commits
sion now investigating the character and
amount of property taken away or de-
stroyeds assess the damages sustained bv
american citizens at many millions of
dollars. In any contingency Mexico Is
unable 70 pay it, An impoverished treas.
ury-the country rent with revolution and
! internal strife but pooE guarantee fog
the claims justly urged upon her consid.
erationo Besides, the simple payment Of
these damages would be no final solution
of the difficulty The Rio Grande ought
neTeE to have been, and can not long con,
tinueo the boundary line betweeR the two
nations
i: The great basin Of the Rio Graude IS
one of the most productive regions in
America. It is now destitute of every
commercial facility American enterprise
can do nothing to develop it, because capio
talists are distru8tful Of the revolutionary
tendency Of its inhabitants and the weak
ness Of the government that exercises only
questionable authority over it. We're
the Sierra Madre the boundary between
the $wo countries, and stable govern.
nonts such as ours would be. established
in the tier of States that lie on this side of
the mountain Eegion. Zines Of railroads
wonlG soon inaugurate acommercfaI pros. |
perity Of which the indolent inhabitants I
are now Incapable of conceiying.
The States of Sonora Chihuahua Sc. !
ahUila and New Leon are now the hot !
beds Of revolution. Their normal condi-
ton IS Instruction. This does not pro
coed from any actual fault of the people,
but because their distance from the capital
and the mountain barriers that intervene
prevent the watchful guardianship which
the national government owes to the mem
bers of the union. It can afford neither
protection nor security. An adventurous
chief. who gathers to his standard few
armed and reckless followers, will com.
plete a revolution before even the parent
government hears of it, long before steps
can be taken to suppress it. To the same
causes may be ascribed the Iawless in
vasions of our own territory and the dep.
NOW grown chronic on the hor.
dero
This difficulty was perceived and com.
menfed on by our statesmen ever since
the annexation Of Texas. 1t was the sub
ject Of treaty stpulations following the :
war with Mexico, and it was then strenu-
ously urged that the Sierra Madre should
form the boundary between the two coun-
tries. But the semi-civilized, half barba. :
tou snational pride Of the Mexican people !
'evolted at the idea and their rulers were .
compelled to resist it. But now it is diff =
erent The government is bankrupt, and Y
he weak and treacherous character of the q
is unable to curb the law !,
ess propensities of the northern people :,
even among themselves there is no securi-
J for life and property, while the law of
he sword is the only arbiter that can
respect or enforce obedience.
Jnder the baleful influence of this condi- "
ion Of things, commerce has Ianguished, e.
Industry is stunted and suppressed and an il
rchy spreads dissolution all over the land. q
The question here recurs, what remedy lie
) there for this condition of things? We y,
re not the advocates of conquest. The p
mercan people do not aspire to the pos c.
7ssion of country, wrung by inordinate CO
lst Of power, from weak and effeminate &c
alton. Neither will they permit the th
ghts Of their own people to be invaded, ju
ld treaty stipulations to be violated with Fl
apunity. Mexico must give security and
9aee to the border Or we must do 1t. It sp
evident that north of her mountain on
nges her people repudiate her authority FRI
I'd laughat her efforts to exact obedi ence. M
hen the duty devolves Upon US and its fre
.ercise implies possession, This can be all
quired either by conquest or purchase. fas
ne latter Is preferable, but the former me
Institutes no obstacle to the manifest Gel
stlnay Of our people, Either in the one fai
y q the other the great valley Of the to