The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-18
ON TO MEXICO.
The Preparations Made by The FiIibusters
to Invade Mexico.

to Invade Mexico.
Ample Provisions for All COnting fncies-
Assured success of the Expedition.
IN. Y. Herad.1
WASHINGTON, May IA good deal of
excitement has been created in Wash
plot for an invasion of Mexico by an
American flibustering expedition in the
interest Of it's refugee President, Senor
Lerdo. Whispers of such an enterprise
were heard several days ago, but they
were not regarded as more than rumors
started by some Of the ever busy gossip
factors of the place. This afternoon,
however, the report assumed q tangible
and more substantial shape, aud
enough has transpired Of the facts to
indicate the existence of q formidable
conspiracy on the part OF legion of
American free lances to cross the bor-
der and raise the standard of Lerdo.
Or course, the project Is coupled with
all sorts Of statements and conjectures
as to the alleged secret purpose and in
tentioDs ascribed to the United States
in connection with the enterprise, prom
inent among which is the boast OF the
filibusters that Lerdo has an under
standing with our Government and pur-
chased promise of its non-interference
by an agreement to rectify the Rio
Graude border of Texas suitably to our
notions OF what should be the dividing
| line in that region, not to speak OF re-
moter regulations looking to the cession
OF Lower California ii not Sonora and a
part Of chihuahua. This part Of the
programme IS all in allegiance, however,
for the Lerdo movement would meet
doubtless with less encouragement at
home were it undertaken with the
avowed purpose of surrendering any
portion Of the territory OF Mexico. The
| ilibusters say this is q matter for the
Mexicans to settle among themselves
after they have achieved their expected
object Of restoring Lerdo to the Presi-
dency.
WHAT TIE EXPEDITION AIMS AT.
Meantime the mufe immediate and
important concern Of the public just
now is with the fact, OF which there ie
no doubt, that filibustering expedition
is on foot. Outside OF what has been
already stated, its object is believed to
be the annexation to the United States
OF all that portion of Mexico lying
north or line drawn from the mouth
of the Rio Grande to San Bias, on the
Pacific coast. 1t has assumed definite
|
most ready to enter Northern Mexico
from several different directions. The
expedition, though having the same
destination in the main as that which
came to grief two years ago for lack o1
| funds, is not by any means q revival o.
it. A great many Of those who failed tC
accomplish their desires then are en-
rolled and hold high positions in the
present organization, but to them il
added some Of the strongest financia
men of the Pacific coast, and these las
have had the selection Of commanding
officers and the fixing up Of the plan o
campaign. They would not put in theil
money without being allowed thia priv
lege of naming the leaders Of the expe.
dition.
Immediately upon his arrival in the
United States in December Of last year
ex- President Lerdo, who had just been
compelled to fly from Mexico by the
combined treachery OF Iglesias and the
prowess of Diaz, was approached upon
the gubject OF tho expedition, and in
vited to give it his sanction. Of course
nothing was said to him then, nor has
anything since been said to him, OF the
real object of the expedition, which IL
the acquisition Of Mexican territory
Nor is he now committed, so it Is said
in any way to permit Americans to per
manently occupy the land and rule Ii
But he was given assurances that IL ht
desired to be reinstated in the Presi
dency Of Mexico. men OF both financia
and military standing would soon raise
an army composed Of ex-Union ant
ex-Confederate soldiers sufficient tt
accomplish it. The assurances be
ing satisfactory, the originators were
told to go ahead and perfect thei
plans, and already as many as 1900 mer
are enlisted in San Francisco alone
The plan of the expedition, as far as j
is disclosed by one Of the filibu5ters, in
wolves only force Of 5000 men to star
with. One thousand of these are to sal
from San Francisco and undertake tht
capture OF Guayamas, in Sonora, tht
finest harbor on the Mexican coast, anc
500 are to rendezvous at Fort Yuma o
Arizona City, the present terminus 0
the Southern Pacific railroad. Thes
two columns are deemed sufficient TO
the capture Of the State of Sonora. An
other thousand are to enter Mexico by
way OF Eagle Pass, and 500 are to invade
Chihuahua from Ell Paso.
MEXICO UNPREPARED.
It is well known that the Mexican
government have scarcely 500 national
troops or all arms In the parIS Ol tnt
country propo,ed to be invaded, and II
is not doubted that, even without an!
assistance from native Mexicans op
posed to Diaz, 5000 troops provided 10
in the plan would be able to take and
hold all Of Northern Mexico, and prob
ably march into the city OF Mexico it
self.
THE LEADING SPIRIT.
One Of the leading military spirits, /
not the general commanding the pro
posed expedition, is Gen. Vaughan
Thomas, who is quite we'll known +,
fame as the youngest member OF Walk
same sa \ 3 Gen. Thomas who, long after
wards, at the head OF less than one hun
dred Americans, seized the State o
Guatemala and held 1t for nearly two
N. sok l. -sA