Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-04-02
ESxr WAR, OR Is HI ANNEXA-

people OF IHaSSdcnuSettS aIlu eoh-
necticut III the last war with Great
Brituiu. But generally speaking the,
Government can count with certainty
upon the almost undivided support OF
tie people whenever it comes TO Hi
open rupture with a foreign govern
ment. He1e, then, We have suih-
cieut motive for MIR. Grant and hls
a lvlsers to seek pref X for war, AMI
Maxi %, unfortunately tor herself, tur-
nisLes ample pretext, if indeed sht
does lot frrni-h ample justification
There is little doubt that MeXlcaha
have committed many and outrageous
offence ag inst the United States by
repeated unlawful and hostile ipva-
sions Of cur territory. Bt-t this Is no
new thing. The same statelnei
doubtless could, with equal truth,
have been made at amy time since lie
RIO GIande became the acknowledged
boundary Detween the two countries.
And at any time q President migp1
nave taken advantage "a tiIS COloittoh
Of affairs to bring on war.
We have then the motive for war
and we have the rretext for it. l. Ii
the purpose Of the President to take
advantage of the pretext? The WASH
ington CHronicfc, his own especial
organ says:
These frequent predatory incur
5iOus of bandits across the Rio Grade
must cease. Ii Mexico cannot put :,
stop to it, then thus Government viii
be obliged to do So. There is no
reason to suppose that the acts of hos
tiiity are AUTHORIZED OF winked a. by
the supreme power or even by til
State government, but it is necessary
that they should suppress them. 1t
will not surprise US to hear at any
moment a repetition of the hUuselsO.d
words Di 1916, that war exists b,
tween the two countries by the act o;
Mexico" and the Texans are pursu.#g
the bandits into Mexican territory
The Texans are not of the matefiod
which would be likely to hesitate upon.
the frontier when seeking vengeance
npDn a retreating invader. While
such an event Is TO be deprecated ~
provocative of unpleasant and ever.
delicate complications in our relations
with the Mexican Government there
would seem 10 be no alternative for
American oitiZtus in the vicinity ot
Corpus Christi. 1t may become 1t
c -Ssary FOR the gallant Mckenzie II.
infict upon these Mexican raiders
chastisGment similar to that which liz.
administered to some raidIng Indians
not long since vino took refuge in the
Mexican territory with their plunder.
When the Presidents mouthpiect.
declares that it will not be surprs, 4
at any moment to hear that war ex
lists between the two countries by Tia,
act of Mexico" knowing the mar
and knowing the motive and knowing
the pretext, men may be pardoned in
the language of the average almanac
if they look out for war about this
time
This is one view Of the case, but not
the only one. Grant has a mania Tor
annexation. Houses and lots ard
money and indeed gifts in every form,
islands IN the Atlantic and islands in
the Pacific, or any where else, are :
capital subjects OF annexation. Tie
only thing thus far that the President
is said to have refused to annex, WIS
q 5, tier pup sent to him by express,
freight charges npaid. After the third
term the darling object Of GRAFT
heart Is annexation, aud it may he
therefore that the present war talk Is
merely gotten mp to aid and abet some
cherished anneXaiiO project. Nor is
there lacking direct evidence to give
color to this view Of the case. For
some weeks it has, from time to time,
been announced that the Secretary f
the Navy had put Government
Cameron, Of Pennsylvania, who, with
other members Of Congress, wouid
make an excursion to Mexico. Ard
now we are told that
Senator Cameron EXCURSION t.
Mexico has for object the annex;-
lion by purchase Of the northern state.
OF that republic The territory pro
posed to be annexed is all that part ot
Mexico lying north Of the Rio Rap d.
aud tie Rio Grande de Saniiago. and
comprises the states of Sonora. Cii,-
iln&hlla, COahuila, Nueva Leon, Gina
iHa, Durango, EacAtecas, one half of
I&Inaulii as, One-third of Jaiisco, Il
small portion of San Luis Potosi, AMI
the territory of lower California. A.
{ rgether this cessiOn Will in clude about
1913, 900 square miles of territory, anG
over million and half population
Of whom less than half a million are
whites. The rest are Indians and OF
mixed blood. The boundary line will
commence at the mouth of the Rapido,
following That river to it's source to-
ward the lower Pinos in latitude p
degrees 80 minutes, longitude 10 d.
grees 70 minutes, thence to the source,
OF the river Santiago, ard along that
stream to its mouth
Whether Grant means war or an
nexation, or both, we cannot under
t Ike to say; but as Father RITcHIE
used to delight TO repeat, we shall ste
what We shall see
Meanwhile whether His Excellercy.
the President, shall pursue the paths
OF peace or shall seek war or sIal
Sc annexation, we commend to his
cneful consideration the foIlowjt
words OF MILTON as peculiarly app
cable to his case:
Which way turn is |,
AMI n he lowest deep a lower deep So
threatening 10 deN"ur me, opens ui.
To with the he'll l suffer seems A he2v,t
Nearly every man prominent il til.
House on the Force bill has been re-