The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-08-25
MEXICAN ANNEXATION,

and few other quite prominent and influential
journals, have lately attempted TO inauguratc an
agitation in favor Of pretty liberal anneXa.
ton of Mexican territory by the United States
There is evidently, in the estimation Of these
papers, no use in relying on Mexico to stop
the marauding expeditions Of Mexican In
dams and greasers across the Rio Grandc, and
as vast region in Texas is comparatively
worthless unless these expeditions are stopped,
they must therefore be stopped anyhow.
The shortest and cheapest way to cure the dog
is the sweeping one of cutting his tail off be-
hind his ears-that is to let Uncle Sam gobblc
the territory that Mexico is unable to govern,
and govern it himself The little slice that
these papers would appropriate includes what
would lie north Of line drawn from about the
mouth of the Rio Grandc westward to the south
line of Lower misunderstanding the Mex
lean states of Tamauipas, New Leon, Coahui-
|la chihuahua, Sinaoa and Sonora.
All this, it is maintained, is territory very
loosely held by the Central government OF
Mexico, is very badly governed, and for that
reason, though Astounding in endless agricul-
ural resources and mineral wealth, can never
be developed until some strong government
like the United States takes possession OF it and
givcs its inhabitants stable institutions and
law and order
The project is by no means new one. and
was attempted TO be worked up Il few years
ago by the Grant administration and the Cam.
crons, apparently in the interest Of Tom Scott
and the Southern Pacific Railroad; and the
same influence, we more than suspect, is at the
bottom of the present attempt to revive it,
Doubtless with war to bring about such an
accession of Mexican territory, or without IA
war, Tom SCOTS railroad would become an
immediate and absolute necessity as well as an
immensely profitable institutional least TO
Tom Scott and his immediate partners.
But aside from this questionable if not dis
reputable intrigue, in the interest of which it
IS more than likely the Times and some other
" leading and influential journals" have been
duly subsidscd, there are reasons for desiring
IA war Just now with Mexico that ought at
least to stiffen President Hayes in his demand
of instant and complete redress Of all grcv-
ances on the Rio Grande, under the penalty of
immediate military retaliation and aggressive
occupation. The greatest evil that just now
ahicts this nation is an idle population Of two
or three hundred thousand sturdy laborers.
A vigorous, active war with Mexico of year,
involving the enlistment of soldiers, Transfers
and all sorts of hangers on Of two or three
hundred thousand men, would not cost the ma
ton over two or three hundred millions. To-
say nothing of the value of the territory to bel
acquired by such raid" we know Of no use
to which our government could Just now put
two or three hundred millions of dollars that
would more surely result in the restoration of
general prosperity, content, and happlncssI
throughout the nation, than by investing it inI
a Mexican war. The war with Mexico inI
1916 was as profitable speculation as ever thisI
or any other nation went into. The country
was actually on the eve Of general financial
crash. With debt of less than 800, 600 900,
the government six per cents went Il begging
at % cts. on the dollar. At the close of the
war; with an addition of two or three hundred
millions to the debt government six per cents
rose to 1872, the entire country enjoyed unpre-
ccdentcd prosperity, our national character and
credit had risen immensely in the estimation
of all the outside world, and we had won "thc
goose that laid the golden egg-immortal Cal
itony!"
A war with Mexico would be no less fruit
full of happy results now. II would ease the
labor troubles Immediately and regulate the
tramp nuisance even TO the third succeeding
generation. Let Gen. Ord, therefore, who now
stands where Taylor stood in 1915, keep a
sharp look out and bc prompt to drop down on
any greaser that comes in his way, and on the
least provocation move forward on Mexican
territory, as Taylor moved Brownsville, and
for,ify and occupy. Anything in reason to-
provoke a hostile demonstration inreturn, and
thus give sufficient prctext for another prom
cnadc to the Halls of the Montezumas. If
Hayes knows on which side his political
bread is buttercd, he will lend every counter
ancc he can 10 the project; only let him insist
that he is exclusively concerned for the honor
of the notion and the safety of our Texas from.
tier, and above all let him be careful never in
such connection, To name or even think of
Tom Scott
THE WILEY JOSEPH.