The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-07
rhe united states--Mexico.5

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border nation that, like lighthouse
maintains constantly the warning OF dangers
that lie exactly in the sea towards winch nlsa |
we have been very lately rapidly driiting.
The political troubles in Mexico spi.ns
from precisely the same cause sn 1a n mas
nrosr,eed in the United States consequences
that have distracted the country anu
hro,ob, civil liberty to the brink OF oe-
straction. That is the evil OF Inc aolils
,sion OF Inferior races to equailty OF p'
heres with the superior race. Whicn Is 1ne
,on,y At race there to govern, as it's here. ~
Mcxico the body-politic has thus been aoui-'
,aratnd most injuriously, and the fruits are
scen in the endless disorder and violence
wb;cb permits the land to enjoy neltheI
neaee nor chance for Improvement Ine
State is constantly torn and outraged" by
rival aspirants with their followers, ana
lawlessness and decay prevails.
The United States are not cursed Win
this aduiteration of the body-politic all over
save in actions that are nationai-such as
the presidential election-and in the gene
raj commerce, which cannot escape local
disaster. the interstate trade being import
ant and intimate enough to diifuse sectional
misiortunes throughout the whole fepupic.
In our national commerce all men see the
disastrous condition which the country has
reached. The consequences thus developed
proceed from the political disturbances
which are generated by the degradation OF
the constituent body. Dishonesty and igno-
rance have been exalted to controlling posi-
tioas, public proceedings have been tainted
with fraud, the public will has been frus-
trated, Industry has been disorganized, the
gains of honest labor have been curtailed,
and, as a natural evolution from such polltl-
cial disorder, party spirit has become angry
and demoralized, and the Offices, and honors,
and emouments of the Government have
come to be, regarded fit objects for violent
contest and proper things to seize and to
hold by corrupt and lawless devices.
Our last news from Mexico is that the
presidential election is going on, amidst
"charges OF fraud" rs was tile case in the
United States. And IGLEsIAs, now in this
country. declares that the election is unau-
thorized, he, as Chief Justice, being enti-
tleii TO govern, since LERDo, Ineligible to q
second term, was elected at the last pre-
cediug election. DIAz, the military chief
tain, under the pretence OF lighting for
IGLEs1As, turned out LERDo, seized the
reins of government, and no doubt ordered
an election to get the benefit OF the form OF
election under the control Of force pre-
cisely in the mature of the rascaUy
returning boards and the uSupationS
that sustained them IN this coun-
try. But DIAz being compelled for
while to keep the field, his admins
tration is entrusted to the management OF
Inexperienced members g without tai
ent or PRESTIGE" says the news. How
very logical and natural Do we not see
in our own land how, under the conditions
we have described, public administration
has fallen into the hands Of incompetent
and INSCRIPTIONS partisans, if we consider
the Federal Government. and how most
important positions Of trust and control
have in the South fallen into the hands Of
most notorious scoundrels because they
were. violent partisans. The resemblance
between the Mexican history and that we
have been making is terribly strong.
We learn further from Mexico that bust
ness is in a worse condition than ever"
and that " failures are numerous Shavers
and contractors are gathered about like
vultures to prey upon the State in process
Of decomposition; and do we not remem-
Der how the Irregularities and usurpations
and disorders in our own Government
made Washington the habitat Of "ring ''r
leaders, and swindlers, and contractors, and
spectators, who meddled in all elections,
and steadily speculated upon every oppor-
tunity to make money by frauds that were
suggested by the lax morality OF the public
Administration
The vilest Of all the indications Of de-
graded body-politic is the artiice Of rulers
to restrain and disable the refined and just
public sentiment by placing it under sub
jugation to the ignorant, vulgar, and dis
honest elements Of the population. This
stratagem has been openly and shamelessly
practiced for twelve years in the land. In
this Mexico has found herself .excelled in
Fortunately for the United States the con-
servatism and good judgment Of the nation
were strong enough to restrain the spirit of
resentment and the arm OF retaliation. The
nation has waited and hoped-hoped for
the triumph Of law; and this hope has not
been disappointed. We are in the very
midst OF It's realization. Force is restrain
ed; party greed-that would follow the
Mexican plan Of seizing and holding the
powers that can alone be lawfully confer
red by the people through the forms Of civil
authority-is checked; and we are about
to see civil liberty reestabllshed and the
Government brought under the control Of
the Constitution.
We have seen our political system fear
fully illustrative OF the scenes in Mexico
under the main cause which has brought
that country into its present condition.
We have gone too far, but we trust that all
people and ali States OF the Union viii
profit by the terrible lesson. we hope the
Government is to be completely restored,
and that our recent peril will never be for
gotten. Let all know that in resstablishing
civil liberty there can be no security for its3I
duration unless there be revolution in.the
public acts of the country. We must
endeayor to promote the rule OF the
capable and intelligent constituencies