The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-09-16
THE CLOUD BEYOND TIE RIo GRANDE,
New York World.l


| New York world.l
| We are not surprised, and those of our
readers who have followed us in our care
| ful attention to the rise and progress of the
Mexican question will hardly be surprised.
to learn that the Government at Washing {.
| ton is beginning to be seriously disqnieted
by the attitude of the Mexican people and
the Mexican authorities towards this coun-
try. When the Administration took the
resolute stop some months ago of ordering
the commander of the United States troops
on the Rio Grande to protect the people of
Texas against raiders from Mexico at all
!, yards, and to follow mp such invaders if
r. cessary beyond tue boundary in their
tlght, we pointed ont the great probability
that this step would lead US into serious
tro1ble unless it was followed up with
unflinching determination. The Mexicans
as rule know no more of the United
States than Americans as q rule know of
Mexico. In many parts of the United States
the popular belief is that Mexico is sort
of half-civilized country, exclusively inhab-
tied by brigands, priests and sleepy Indians.
AS a matter of fact Mexico was a highly
civilized country, holding conspicuous
place among the dominions of the most
powerful OF European monarchs, at time
when the present territory of the United
States was an unreclaimable wilderness.
The Mexican capital and cities like Puebla
cultivated men and fiourishing with all the
arts of peace when Boston was an insipnih-
cant hamlet and New York trading post
of the Netherlands The social and politi-
cal convulsions which have followed each
other in rapid succession since the down
fall of the Spanish authority half century
ago have dissipsted the resources and
shaken. the civil framework of the country,
but they have not taught the Mexican
people of any class the lesson learned so
long ago by few exceptionally clear
sighted men like Alaman and the Mexi- |
cans in general still regard themselves as |
the heirs OF IN uch higher civilization than |
that of the North. The disasters of the |
war Of 1S47 with this country have grown |
dim in the memory OF the Mexican people,
aud the belief is really general in the
country that the empire of Macmillan was
Dverthrown and that the French invaders
we're expelled mainly by the constancy and
of the Liberal Mexican lead
ers and by the valor of the Liberal armies
IL is undoubtedly true that no Mexican
government has been strong enough for
many years past to enforce in the regions
If the Rio Graude the laws of the republic
md respect for the rights of Americans
iwelling upon our eide of that stream. But
Ills the Mexican people do not know, do
Iot care to know, and cannot easily be
node To uudersi and. When our Govern
iie!.5 undertook, therefore, to do its own
ught to have Known that it was entering
p0n a task which At would be extremely
erilous to tride with or to neglect. We
% not mean now to say that it has either |
rIfed with or neglected this task. But it !
as been growing constantly palmer and :
lsiner for some time past that our Gov =
rnmeRt has encountered difficulties in 8
maintaining the position taken up by it t
7hich it ought to have anticipated, but d
7hich it did not anticipate The Mexicaus v
till need to learn that the civil war in this n
ountry has not left US q divided people, n
mpotent to assert our national rights with .
ny real effect. The impression is general =
mOng them that the United States Gov a,
rnment looks with suspicion upon the T
eople of the Southern States, and particu- Il
.rly of Texas, and that the great COLOSSUS c.
T the North" stands in truth upon feet of ii
nbaked clay. The story of the recent
;rikes is interpreted in the Mexican jour
ais to show that we are in q condition of
,cial and political decay. The tempo
Zing policy pursued in our diplomacy pi
nee the orders to General Ord were Issued .ic
regarded as the fir nit not of msgnanimity
ut of weakness, and the negotiations at
ntered into by General Ord with the v,
Ulcers sent forward to the frontier by re
eneral Diaz have strengthened this view. d'
8 the political condition of Mexico grows m
lilly more disturbed the danger of such to
,tion on the part of the Mexican authori- W
IS and people as will seriously compro ~
ise not only our interests but our national al
,nor daily increases. We do not wonder th
at the Government is beginning to be th
leasy over this state OF affairs. 1t would m
we been better to foresee it's probable III
went from the outset. Bat that is now eV
Ist praying for and all that can now be IN IN
ked is that the situation may at last be at a
lily cOmprehended and be dealt with as nc
mly and as sagaciously as it's Importance Of
tnnnos. ne
of