The New York herald., 1877-07-03
The Mexican Mystery.

The arrival of Senior Mata in Washington,
as the representative of the Diaz govern
ment, adds to the curiosity which has been
aroused in the public mind by the various
rumors concerning Mexican annexation cir
culating during the last four or five weeks.
Yet it is very natural that President Diazs
should send a commissioner to Washington
to open negotiations looking to recogni-
ton Of his government by the United
States Seiior Diaz seems to be as firmly
seated in the Mexican Presidential
chair as any of his predecessors
he has shown himself an uncommonly SEN
sible man since he attained power; in his
Message to the Congress he summoned on
his accession he proposed certain reforms,
such as reducing the export duties and
making the export of silver free, which
showed that he had really liberal and intel
ligent ideas and the manner in which he
met the righteous demand of Secretary
Evarts that the border outrages should be
repressed proved him to be at least
much wiser statesman than the
protesting exiles, Lerdo and Iglesias.
Having cordially agreed to cooperate with
our troops in capturing and Furnishing the
cattle robbers, and having sent CON-
missioner to aid General Ord. Mr.. Diaz now
sends Mr.. Mata to negotiate for recognition.
All that is natural enough, and we do not
doubt that Secretary Evarts will meet Mr..
Mata in cordial and liberal spirit.
Whether the envoy of Diaz comes to make
us present Of the Northern States OF
Mexico or to try to sellsthem to US is
another thing About this, Washington,
Cincinnati and New Orleans correspond
ents have naturally good deal to
say, and if one might believe all that is
printed he would be forced to the conclu-
sion that the administration has made up it's
mind to the aquisition of this territory,
whether the Mexicans want us to have it or
not, and that it is likely to put forth another
bloodthirsty ultimatum like the famous
'ffty-four forty or fight" We take leave to
doubt good deal of this A war is almost
always o blunder, and a war having
for it's confessed object territorial aggran-
dizement would be odious and disreputable.
A positive foreign policy, such as the Presi-
dent and Secretary Evarts have begun, does
not lead to war, but, on the contrary, is
most useful to preserve the peace. Nations
usually drift into war, and the drifting
comes of weak and di]atory policy, and
not of one that is prompt and vigorous.
That we shall some day acquire the
Northern States OF Mexico seems to us as
certain as it is that this acquisition is re-
garded by the greater part of our people as
little less than calamity, and as an event
to be put off as long as possible. We be-
lieve it to be true that the desire to acquire
new territory was never so little felt by the
American people as now. There has not
been for many years so little talk in the
newspapers and on the stump about
manifest destiny" and it is extremely
doubtful whether half dozen speakers
tomorrow will care to picture our noble
bird of freedom spreading his wings and
darting toward the distant mountains Of
Tsmaulipas, chihuahua, Sonora and Sina-
loa. If, therefore, the administration had
its eyes on these Northern Mexican States
with the design or the desire to seize them,
we should say that it had on hand very
delicate enterprise, one to which it would
have to get the consent Of two nations and
not of one only.
There is but one thing authoritatively GER
tain about this Mexican business--namely,
that the President means to give full pro-
lection to our border people. That much
he has said and President Diaz has at once
responded that he will help, so far rs he is
able, md that his forces shall cordially CO.
operate with ours. Thereupon appears Mr..
Mata in Washington, and the rumor-
mongers at once exclaim, in the words of the
clown in the circus, 'Ladies and gentle
men, am requested by the manager to in
form the audience that the next performance
will be-something else." But what else?
There is lively discussion about map
which the HERALD published some weeks
ago showing new boundary line, and
some of our contemporaries assure their
readers that the HERALD was "inspired" by
the administration, and that this map and
a very intelligent presentation of the Mexi-
can difficulties which accompanied it were
nothing less than authoritative expositions
of the administration views. 1t would
not become us to deny this fattering i'm
peachment, but we suspect that if any one
should ask the President or the Secretary
of State either one would promptly set at
rest these rumors. The HERALDs map was
inspired by common sense and an ac-
curate knowledge Of the Mexican to-
Biography. 1t pointed out the best ideal
boundary line; il we are to have a
new line we ought to have the best. Our
Cincinnati correspondent gave the reasons
why the proposed line is the best, and thus
contributed something Of value toward the
discussion, which was until then going on in
general ignorance Of the facts of the case.
At the risk of once more being thought to