, 1877-12-17
THE MEXICAN DIFFICULTY.

Pef1al city. ,
THE MEXICAN DIFFICULTY.
Thore is something moro than appears on
the surface in the situation nlong tho Rio
Grando. Affairs arc going from bad TO
worse. Naids OF United States troops upon
Mexican territory l,ayo provoked similar In
visions Of Texas by the Mexicans. Tic fight
at FL Paao muy be, as the dispatches state,
q local matter; but it is particularly unfor-
tunato at this time, when public feeling on
both sides is running high. Tho compiler.
tions are increased by the absence Of def
mite diplomatic authority with which tho
United States might trent and arrange torns.
Though D1Az IL firmly established. and tho
LEnp1sr power represented only by strag-
Cling inBurrectionnry bands, our Government
Inns not consented to recognize either Of tho
parties. Whilo wo thus enjoy tho privilege
Of keeping ont Of informal disputes, VIC are
at The samo timo deprived Of the advantage Of
having responsible poworwlth which to ioal.
Tho nsost delicate diplomatic functions rs be-
tween tho United States aud Mexico hN7o
Of late been discharged by tho army; md
the army is not II good ngent for this pnr-
pose. Tho training and habits OF thought
Of tho officers unfit them for diplomacy.
Tlloy prefer tho heroic treatmont for a1l ir-
regularitios, nnd In this manner often mnko
thoir remedy worse than tho disease Tho
army, too, has IN Immediate personal In
tereRt in war. It would much rather have
war than not. In no othor way can tho Of
flcers gain their promotions and crafty thair
ambition for glory. Nlnoty.niuo officers out
ot overyss hundred would like to see tho
country involved in war with Mexico, not
because Mexico deserves to be troddon upon
Just now, but because war would 10 good
thing for tho army. There Is no dissent
from this opinion among The young men,
who now look forward with discomfort to
tho prospect Of dying Captains md unknown
to fame.
Thoro Is another c1ass Of persons almost
as ardonuy dosirous OF war as tho ar1ny, aud
this Ia 1nndo up ot tho spectators recently
described In TuE TRIBUNE. Tho mon who
own minea or railroads, or sElares In them,
or hope to become interested In some un-
known bonanzas at fu!uro day, would be
glad 10 have several Of The northern prov
incos Of bloxico annexed to tho United
Stntcs. Thoy cannot hopo for protection to
their commercial interests whilo the country
rc,nains in its prosont unsettled condition.
A class that symratl,izes heartily with thom
Is composed Of native Mexicans who would
bo pleased to transfer their allegiance to
somo country TINT wou1d havo tho ability to
reward it. Othor mombers Of tho war
&fo
their neighbour houses and lands.
those few who. arc honestly aggrleYed
by the dcprefiationa Of thieyish Mexicans,
and tho usual following Of adyonturera In all
parts Of tho Union. Bono advocate war
because they believe 1t would draw OIL the
surplus labor Of the country. It might do 80,
indeed, and givo temporary rsllof to the
country by adding $1o0, ,o00, 600 to tho public
debt; but tie day Of reckoning would only
DO postponed, not avoided.
| A war movement always haa Rome strength
without referonce To the merits OF the dis.
pute. II tho proposition woro 10 60 to war
with Cannsla, or Great Britain, or the Sand
wich Islantls, Or China, or the moon, OF any
other power In heaven or earth, there wouttl
Immediately be found largo mob ready to
join tn tho enterprise. 1tisprocisely thisstate
Of fooling which tho Government has to
guard against. Tue men whose voice ia still
for war, and always for war, have way Of
making themselves heard and they often
give tho impression that they aro moro ro-
spectacle in intelligence and uumbers than
they arc. II sAa Government will put down
this small alFoir on tho lilo Grando with the