The New York herald., 1877-11-21
Tn. New conslnsnt.l sy.s.m.


tier, and that they would 60 to war and an
mex the whole Of the Northern States OF
Mexico rather than not make O fuss which
will please, or which they suppose will
please, their people. We have o great re-
spect for buncombe. 1t is one of the neces-
sary powers in free government But we
wish they would read article XXI of the
Treaty Of Guadalupe. They would see that by
that article the two countries are protected
against the occurrence of such sudden
outbreak of war as buncombe delights in !;
for it provides that war shall not be de-
clared between Mexico and the United
States until all expedients for peace have
been exhausted, nor until the matters IN
dispute have been submitted to commits
sioners or the arbitration Of o friendly ma
ton.
OF course there may be acts of one gov
ernment or people toward another which
would be justly and Immediately resented,
and which no nation would submit to arbi-
tration. But the rage into which Senators
Coke and Maxey lashed themselves the
other day was not aroused by such offensive
acts rs would justify summary retaliation.
The Texan frontiersmen have grievances;
but the plain truth is that they have suf-
fered less since President Diaz came into
power than they did for many years under
his predecessor; and it is not fit that they
should demand war just when Mexico has
ruler who seems to be honestly endeavoring
to cure the evils of which they have justly
and for long time complained. There is
another and still more forcible reason
which we will give them for keeping their
tempers Just now. War offers them certain
temporary and speculative advantages;
lasting peace if it brought more intimate
commercial relations, if it brought rail-
roads, trade and the settlement by indus
trious people of the Northern Mexican
States, would undoubtedly, in the long
run, be more to their benefit.
Now, the administration Of President
Hayes has, to its great and lasting credit, be-
gun the attempt, too long delayed, to exercise
that kind of influence over the other repub-
lies On the North and South American con-
tinents which it is our proper duty to WELD.
There has been occasional mention in the
public journals of ''trade circular" issued
by the State Department. That circular
recognizes, for the first time in our history,
in q practical form, the duty which the
United States owe to the lesser American
republics, and the relations which ought to
subsist between US and them. It is directed
to our Ministers and consuls, and sets out
with the important declaration that the Sec
retary of State 'believes the time has come
when it would be wise for all the nations Of
the American continents to consider more
carefully than heretofore how they may best
enlarge their trade with each other. Geo.
graphical position and resemblance between
their political institutions facilitate this"
The United States can supply the manufac-
tured goods cheap and Of good quality; the
other republics Of the two continents have
natural products which we need. It is for
the interest of all that the cdmme erce be-
tween them shall be increased, because .'it
is for the interest of all that all shall have
stability, peace, law and order and to en-
courage commerce is to increase industry
and to turn the energies of the people Of
many of those States, now wasted. in revo-
lutions, to useful and productive efforts"
These are wise and statesmanlike words.
But they mean peace, not war. They have
found surprisingly cordial response in all
places where they have become known.
Cousuls and Ministers in the South and
Central American republics report at once
that it is not only possible but easy to ex-
tend our commerce that our manufactures
can, with only moderate but judicious
effort, find large and ready market where
now they are but little known that the
people are favorably inclined toward US,
and would welcome those more intimate re-
lations which come Of commerce. Unless
we are misinformed President Diaz enter
tains the most liberal ideas of the advan-
tages of larger commercial relations with
the United States and we have, in fact, the
choice before us Of either wasting good
many millions on war with Mexico, or,
with little patient management. seeing
that country thrown open to commerce in q
way which would give us profit Of more
millions than we should fling away in war;
For ourselves, we frankly confess that we
should prefer trade to war. We would
rather see Mexico opened to our manufac-
turers than to our soldiers. We would rather
see the products of American workshops
sold in Mexico than to see our troops batter
down her towns and impoverish not only
her people but our own; for we do not for
get that wars cost money. The HERALD has
often urged the adoption of q broad, liberal,
enduring peaceful continental policy. Sta
tistics abundantly prove that we can sell to
the other American States what they need;
that we can buy of them what they produce,
and that if we once command and control
the commerce Of the people Of North, South
and Central America, as we can easily do,
we shall have secured permanent and prof.
itahla market for those surplus products