The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-19

One good and indeed very important re-
suit has come from the general discussion
of the Mexican question during the last five
or six weeks-what the American people
really think about Mexico has become def
nitely known.
l. In the first place there is no doubt
that the great body of the people of both
parties looks very coldly on annexation
projects, and would regard it calamity to
see any part of the Mexican territory
| fall into our hands. There is q wide
spread feeling that we have already
great mass OF crude and unsympathetic
material to work up into respectable and
efficient citizenship, and that to take
in still more would be inconvenient, if not
dangerous. Moreover, the public has long
ago discovered that such Territories rs New
Mexico and Utah, distant and containing
population not homogeneous with our own,
IRE the source of endless political corrup-
ton and trouble The desire to annex new
territory was never so nearly extinct among
us as now, and it is not an exaggeration to
say that, with the exception OF an incon-
siderable number of spectators and i'd
venturers and Of n number Of Americans in
terested pecuniarily in Legitimate enter
prises in Mexican States, and to whom an
nexation would insure the secure and
peaceable prosecution of their industries,
nobody wishes to acquire the northern
States of Mexico. Senator Blame, one of
the shrewdest observers Of public opinion,
was so certain that this was the judgment of
the country that he did not hesitate, in
attacking the President, to impute to him.
as the most damaging charge he could
make, annexation designs. But the Presi-
dent has since then openly and frankly de-
clared that he has no such designs, and that
he would regard the annexation of Mexican
States as calamity.
H. On the other hand the demand of the
administration that Mexico shall at once
take active measures to stop the bor-
der fobberies has the positive support
and consent Of the whole country,
regardless Of parties It is felt that we must
have justice and peace on the frontier, and
that it is not only wrong to the border
settlers, but an indignity to the nation, that
the cattle raids should any longer 60 on.
Hence the instructions to General Ord to
cross the border in pursuit of Riders and to
punish them on Mexican soil, if necessary,
were not opposed anywhere. The latest in
structions to Ord to cooperate with the
Mexican forces, and the disposition of the
Mexican President to act vigorously on the
Lower Rio Grande, give reason to hope that
this vexatious trouble may be peaceably set
tied; but we trust the Mexicans will
understand, and we hope Sehor Mata has
already informed President Diaz, that on
this matter the American people are not
disposed to stand any trifiing. If Mr.. Diaz
cannot guard his whole border then he
must consent to q friendly cooperation by
our troops.
ILL., There is no doubt that our people
would rejoice to see Mexico under strong
and stable government of its own choice,
particularly if that government were sufi-
GENTLY intelligent to appreciate the advan-
tages Of having SO rich and enterprising
neighbor as the United States md were
commercial treaty, and to welcome Ameri-
can capital in American hands as help to
the development of Its natural wealth. The |
spirit of the Mexican government toward us
under the Presidency of Mr.. Lerdc was full |
of suspicion and dislike. Mr.. Foster, our
Minister in Mexico, tried in vain for years
to induce the Lerdo government to arrange
more liberal treaty Of commerce. It is
very we'll known that American merchants
have been treated with less friendliness and
liberality in Mexico than Englishmen or
Germans. In fact, we have reason to
suspect that the Lerdo government
was to considerable extent under
European influences, and thus naturally
hostile to Americans. Some of the earliest
recommendations Of President Diaz gave
promise of more liberal and intelligent
spirit He urged upon his Congress legisla-
ton making the export of silver Tree, and q |
freer commercial code in general He has |
an opportunity to do very great service to
his countrymen just now by treaty and |
other measures looking to closer and more
friendly relations with the United States. !
Our own administration will, we do not |
doubt, meet him half way in such projects, |
and no greater good could happen to Mexico |
than would result from such intimate rela-
tions.
". What Mexico needs is an industrious |
population and railroads. Providence has |
given her fine climate in many parts q |
rich soil and besides these almost bound
less mineral wealth. awaiting development
after the mod ern scientific manner Mexi /
can statesmen ought to know that nobody |
will so quickly build her railroads as Amer
leans, because her whole railroad system
will necessarily connect with our own and
be but an extension of that. They ought
to know also that American capital to