The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-11

llonI nh9 moi YET peen formally recognized
BY our government. At this present mo.
ment detachment Of American troop
10 upon Mexican soil, but where, no one
knows, and II II should turn out that Il
has been capturel or . conflict taken
place between them and the Mexican
troops, whereby blood has been shed, Il
must bO Acknowledged that the danger oil
war is very imminent II not unavoidable.
We cannot Hhut our eyes 10 these dangers,
The country does not want 4 war. II de.
aires time Of rest to recover from the
Losses Of war. II desires an opportu.
nifty TO htrengthen itself to meet tie obli.
cations which II has incurred during q
long and destructive struggle. A new
war will add 10 these obligations aud
make the burden Of debt and pressure Of
taxation intolerRble, What the country
desires Il to make them less and there 10 no
method to reduce the burthenS 90 Of.
tectually as 10 enlarge our trade
with neighboring countries. Mexico
offers most inviting field 90 well a. the
nearest avenue Of such an extension Of
trade. Our people desire to cultivate
peaceful relations with customer 90
near and 90 valuable, and all will agree
that the establishment OF better CONNER.
cial relation will be the aurest guarantee
Of peace. II system Of peaceful ex.
change OF commodities on terms Of re.
ciprocity could be established along the
borders Of the Rio GrAnde instead Of the
present system Of raids and reprisals,
hostile collisions would soon be replaced
BY friendly competitions and angry re-.
examinations by kindly greetings. The
Mexican question must be met and solved
In some way, either by war, which no
one desires, or by 4 protectorate, which
has been discussed and condemned by the
general Judgment Of the country, or by
closer commercial relations, enlarging
the ties Of mutual interest and cementing
natural harmony, which should exist be-
tween nationa producing products 90 dis.
similar "a to invite and compel exchanges
favorable to both. We have no
right to take the risks Of war when paths
ot pleasure are open 10 Us. At least, as
the stronger and older nation, we are
bound by obvious considerations Of mag.
nanimity to exhaust every effort toward
q peaceful solution Of the existing troub.
les, and a substitution through treaties
Of reciprocity OF mutual interest Tor the
antaHonism Of passion and plunder. The
danger Is that II this Congress should
adjourn without devising some peaceful
solution, We may find ourselves, when we
come back again, compelled to vote on
questions Of supply for military opera
tions, which we could not refuse to make
without imputatIon on our patriotism |
and public spirit.
Mr.. Hale-I hope the amendment offer.
ed by the gentleman from New York
(Hewett) will be adopted. Il is in the |
right direction. The country does not
want war on any issue that has been |
raised or that iS likely to be raised.
Mr.. Reagan agreed that 1t was not we'll |
to invoke war, and It was the duty Of the
government, IL way was open, to resort
TO peaceful modes and to improve the
commercial and friendly relations Of the
United StStes and Mexico, rather than
resort to anything looking to war. He
said, however, that the existence Of what
is known as the "free zone" in Mexico
was an obstacle TO commercial inter
course.
Mr.. Cox, Of New York, favored the
amendment OF Mr.. Stephens, and said
| have looked over this question Of the
border troubles in Texas with deep in.
terest. l believe the feeling pervades
this whole community that il war can be
prevented it ought 10 be. The Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs may do much in
counsel with the Executive to bring about
some sort Of negotiations. am not pre-.
pared to say whether il is right TO recog-
nize the dc facto government Of Diaz; 1
am not sufficiently acquainted with the
facts. Let the Committee on Foreign
Affairs have this matter specially aud
emphatically referred to it, and let the
counsel with the Executive.
] feel assured that this administration is
as much in favor of peace "a the gentle
man from New York, the gentleman from
Maine, or seven-tenths OF the American
people. Let the Executive, however, be
aided in It's counsels by the wisdom Of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs.