The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-18

ONoL CcOhNiJ obN OOSup'SN ~'A >~'-
principal cities. The Mexicans were al
ways and everywhere disastrously and dis
gracefully defeated. Yet to day they dream
of q successful outcome to a collision with
this country.
The Bandera NacionaI, Diaz paper,
says: "Therefore give it tthe United States}
g hard and bloody lesson. Mexico has
armed forces who are anxious to measure
their strength and vafor with those OF that
republic" The Gacetilla, a popular illustra-
ted paper of the Capital, used the following
language, as quoted by the New York
World: "The Mexican Government has now
10000 regular troOps under arms. In few
days it will have rs 900. Add to these 35 600
rural guards and we have 10000 men.
Quite enough to handle 300, 900 Yankees"
The same issue has cartoon representing
o squad of long-legged and long haired
Yankee soldiers -letreating wildly before
half their number of Mexicans welding
clubs.
With the newspapers before us and re-
liable correspondents vOuching for the
warlike tone of the Mexican population,
it Ia still almost impossible to realize the
madness of that people in counting war
with mighty nation occupying adjacent
territory. If their organization is 80 frail
and Intellectual that they cannot restrain q
gang of guerillas along the Rio Grande
frontier, whence will they gather strength
to cope with the most warlike and power
full nation of the worldf 1t may be that
vaporing by one party induces similar
tendency on the other side, but We are
quite serious when we say that the single
State of Texas is amply able, unaided, to
wage war creditably with Mexico.
The fact is that we have an unutterable
] repuRnance to another Mexican war on the
ground that it would be discreditable to
engage in q contest at such odds. Ii
would he as inglorious as the triumph OF
a bully confronted by pigmy. If it were
asked what ought to be the American
policy, we should reply, that of man at
tackled by a woman-the policy of fend
off. If the Mexicans want to fight let them
fight. just catch 'em, if they come over
into Texas, and put them in the Peniten
tiary, Generals and all. In order to dc
this it would be necessary not to recognize
state of war, no matter how formally de.
clared by Mexico. But in reply to such 6
declaration, let our Government cay that
it declined to fight and pess law making
it felony for armed Mexicans to cross the
frontier. If the Mexicans should refuse tt
work in the Penitentary, they could b'
hired out to the cigar manufacturers in place
of the strikers.
But an objection to our scheme would
come up in the shape of economy. 1twoult
cost something to maintain email army il
Texas to catch the invaders. Certainly
but the Secretary of War would keep al
exact account of that, and repayment of tn
amount, together with all damages t.
American interests, could be arranged il
the shape of additional territory. Th
American frontier would advance into Mex
leo in just such proportion as to settl
the bill equitsbly. Thus we would not b
making expensive dashes into the heart {
Mexico, conqueripg cities and forts 6
heavy loss of life just to give them up agail
We would simply protect our frontier
taking possession of strip of territor
beyoud its present location, and we woul
. after wards keep possession of SO much
that strip as would be necessary to pa
expenses.
' The official returns of the elections in Fran
: show that 5000. 600 votes were cast for t
1 ;1ofa md A l0n for