The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-16


The public curiosity is beginning to get
excited about the precise nature Of the pro-
posed invasion Of Mexico We hear but
little of disturbances on the Texan border,
and there is good reason to believe that the
Americans in Texas are not anxious for
war and do not think enough of the coun-
try across the border to believe it worth
capturing. There is good deal of spare
land lying around loose in Texas and other
Southwestern States, as we'll as in California
and Colorado, waiting for settlers to buy it !;
and the owners Of this land understand very
we'll that the annexation Of the northern
line OF Mexican States, which would lead to
their rapid settlement, would give, in CON-
mercial phrase, IA black eye to great deal
Of Texas and other Southwestern real estate
and would lower its commercial value for
many years to come. Public opinion in
the States we have named does not, there
FORE favor an invasion of Northern Mexico
with view to temporal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Nor does any one believe that President
Hayes or his Cabinet favor or intend new
Mexican war. Secretary Evarts will no doubt
require Mr. Diaz, the Mexican President to
restrain outrages on the border line, and it
is not impossible that our commanders on
the border may be instructed to pursue
Mexican brigands across the line if they
have a hope Of thus catching them. But
the Inaugural Message showed that we need
not fear under the present administration
such intrigues against Spain or Mexico as
were believed at times to find favor with
General Grant.
The real authors of new Mexican inva-
suspect to be ex-President Lerdo and such
of his adherents as are in this country with
him. Mr. Lerdo claims to be the constitu-
tonal ruler Of Mexico. He abandoned his
country with scarcely a struggle, but we
are told that he continues TO assert
his rights as President. Diaz, his successor,
seems to be in full possession Of power and
has convened the Congress he is reported
also to have taken measures to prevent
Lerdo's reappearance in Mexico, and so far
as we can learn there is no Lerdo party
there at present of sufficient strength to en-
able the ex-President to re-enter the coun-
try he lately deserted. 1t is not unnatural
that he should endeavor to raise forces here !;
but he will have to act with great care, else
he will make himself liable to our laws.
The government of the United States will
not permit any one to fit out here armed
expeditions against q country with which
we are at peace. 1t is reported that the in
vasion is to take the shape of formidable
emigration movement. The completion of
the Southern Pacific Railroad Of California
to Fort Yuma or Fort Mohave would enable
a considerable number Of the restless spirits
Of the western coast to be moved down to
the Arizona country at small expense and
in brief time ; thence it is supposed the
Mexican province Of Sonora would be in
vaded, another body of ''emigrants' march
ing at the same time from Texas into Chi
huahua and Coahuila.
Mexico certainly needs emigrants ; and
we are not certain but the class she would
get in such an enterprise as this would be
the best for the purpose. Sonora is known
to be very rich-enormously rich, even-in
silver ores; the other States have also tempt
ing deposits ; and these can never be made
useful until forces numerous and ener-
getic enough to crush the hostile Indians con
be introduced there. This the Mexican
government has never been able to do. If
ex-President Lerdo could march into the
northwestern corner of Sonora FIVE thousand
emigrants whose agricultural implements
should consist of rifle and pickaxe to
each man, we do not doubt that those Of
them who were not killed by the Apaches
and who did not starve to death would de-
velop some very rich silver deposits. But
except for the minerals that country is
worthless, and no honest American farmer
ought to be tempted to 60 there, even
from the least productive parts Of our own
country.