National Republican., 1877-07-10
SOME REFLECTIONS FOR PRESIDENT
DIdZ

There Is no difficulty in interpreting the
order of the DIAz government to its mill
tary department directing armed resistance
to the pursuit and punishment of Mexican
rnidcrs by our TROOPS, in accordance with
the order Of the War Department, II
means that DIiz regards war with the
United States, for such q cause, rs the surcst
means of uniting his own people in his
support IA President, while, rs he believes,
will neceSsitatc the recognition of his
government by ours.
As to the 6rst of these animat-
ing causes it is quite probable he is
right; for there is nothing more certain than
that nation suffering from domestic dis
order, such rs ntllicts the people Of Mexico,
can hazard nothing by foreign war, while it
may gain much by such diversion of pub
lie attention from local anmoSities and pri-
vate jealousies. Thus the nation may be
benefited by awar which, whether success
ful or not in point of its foreign policy and
rs affecting its foreign relations, can have
no other effect than to heal domestic dis
cords and promote national unity. But II Is
extremely doubtful whether conflict with
us would in the end render DIAz more Sc
cure in his hold upon the administration of
the Government. Indeed. 1t is more than
probable that while the national
object would be gained by such u
course, the ultimate consequences would
be prcjudicial TO any present participants
in the government. DIAZ may acquire n
temporary popularity by II spirited resent
ment Of any steps on our part, amounting
to usurpation Of the police power of
Mexico in the punishment of its criminals;
but if war should follow his efforts to
advance his own cause by seeming
championship of the cause of his country,
its progress would probably bring TO the
surface dormant ambition sufficient to
sweep from power all now concerned in its
dccrccs In country like that of Mexico
there is ut all times great uncertainty in
public life, and in the midst Of war there
would he absolutely no guarantee OF
power in the hands OF any, no
matter with what endorsement socvcr at
present held. No sooner would the issue
sought he gained than the most distin-
guished authors OF the result would under
take their own reward by distribution of
the Offices Of the State; and no sooner would
it be lost than the whole people would unite
in hurting from power the oTisinators Of the
conflict. Hence, in any case it would seem
that the real interests of DrAZ lie directly
opposed TO war, although he appears to es-
Nor will the order proclaimed effect the
matter of his recognition Oh our part any
less unhappily, for if our Government
has had any doubts about the
proprioty of such recognition
hitherto they will he only increased by the
complications of the situation. 1t can
hardly be expected that where there was
hesitancy to countenance the existence Of u
friendly government there will he haste to
recognize hostile one; and so it will not do
for DIAZ to conclude that his prospects are
improved so far rs the action of our Govern
ment is concerned by his ambitious display
of patriotism in the defense Of his country.
It may he that the United States will prefer
to sanction power more in sympathy with
equity and Justice, and that if it shall be
able to find such'in the LERDo government,
or any other capable of exerting public
functions, it will choose TO make common
cause with it rs against the general vio-
lence and disorder now prevailing in that
country.