The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-13
THE MEXICAN QUESTION.
THE VIEWS OF VARIOUS LEADING
JOURNALS ON THE DIAz DYNASTY.
Protection Of BORDERS ana Extension Of
Territory.
IN. Y. Tribune.

upou bHe pIOgeCblOH Vi Jul AtouNel'
The incursions OF the Mexican cattle
thieves are intolerable, and the Mexican
government certainly cannot complain
that we have been over-hasty In our
resolution to undertake the duty OF
stopping them, which Mexico ought to
do, but does not. It is quite possible,
however, that what we propose may in
voive more serious consequences than
the country now anticipates. Disguise
1t as we may, the invasion Of q neigh
boris territory is an act OF war. Sup
pose Mexico finds herself In condition
to resent and repel 1t as an act OF war,
andto make reprisals2 There are not
wanting reckless filibusters and COM
mercial spectators who desire to TO-
ment h0stilities between the two coun-
tries, and In the excitement and hot
blood OF these border forays and pur-
suits they will seek their opportunity.
The greatest caution must be OBJ
served by the administration or we
may find ourselves at war In solemn
earnest; and when the war Ia over,
what guarantees and indemnities are
we to exact from the vanquished? The
\ annexation ring will then come to the
Hront with it's clamor for cession Of
territory; and we shall be unlike all
other nations In history il, flushed with
victory, we do not suddenly become
avaricicus of conquered land, Here
lies the danger. But we presume that
the President has foreseen all this, and
taken whatever precautions he can
against IL and in his dealings with the
Mexican government he will remember
that there is no honor to be gaineG by
"a vigorous policy" against q friendly
State, when the end In view can be OBJ
tanned by peaceful and amicable means.
tChicago Times.1
Now it In plain enough that If war la
once begun the present thoughts and
intentions Of the administration will
have very little to do with the issue. In
the midst OF the popular excitement
attending foreign war, people will not
care much for the former Intentions of
the executive. There will be an ire
sistible demand for indemnity, and we
shall have TO take the indemnity in the
form OF territory for the sufficient
reason that Mexico cannot pay 1t in
anything else.
II is not altogether improbable that
: the instructions were given to Ord in the
necessary to carry them into execution.
Very likely the expectation was that the
Mexican authorities would take such
steps as would render al actual inva-
sion OF Mexican territory unnecessary.
This supposition is supported by the
consideration that the President and his
advisers must have known what the
consequences OF invasion were likely to
be. The supposit ton Is further sup
ported by O remark attributed to Secre-
tary Evarts. He Is reported to have said
that '.the good effect Of the policy of
the Administration was already appa-
rent; the Mexican government had or
dered a division of their army to the
Rio Grande to keep their thieves from
depredating upon our citizens"
III the intention has not been to invade
Mexican soil ut all, but only to freighten
the Mexican government into the per-
Torrance OF its duty, the policy may pro-
duce some good results without going
to extremities. But the people will be
slow to believe, after quarter of a cen
fury OF unrestrained brigandage on the
Rio Grande, that Diaz can suppress it
by merely stationing u regiment or two
OF Mexicans, themselves doubtless In
full sympathy with the banditti, on the
border. Mr.. Hayes has succeeded In
establishing peace and civil government
of the South; and now public opinion
will sustain him in carrying like policy
down the Rio Grande and over it, il
necessary. Let us have peace even IL
it is necessary to fight for It..
tCourier-Journal.l
Mr.. Redfield has succeeded in draw
ing from the President his private
views concerning the Mexican question.
Writing from Washington, he says:
This morning asked the President
about this this views as to annexation).
He was surprised, not having seen the
morning papers. He said that he had
tBlaine), a pleasant, kindly one, and he
did not imagine that Mr.. Blaine could
be very hostile. If he or others think
we want to annex Mexico, or any part
Of 1t, or that this Administration has
any designs, secret or otherwise, on
Mexico, he has been misled. We have
no policy towards Mexico except to stay
on our own side OF the line, and attend
to our own business, but to protect to
border. We shall certainly protect
them. | think can say that we are
not, In the biblical sense, covetous. We
don't covet any of our neighbor's
don't want it. We have all
we can conveniently attend to. It |
ls our business to attend to our own |
business. think 1 can say that we |
would not take Mexico as gift. or |
course IN the distant future no man can
say what questions may arise, but 80 |
far as this Administration is con cerned |
we have no annexation scheme to
prosecute either secretly or openly. A
couple Of Texas gentlemen (naming
them were talking to me this morning.
They said that the annexation of Mex
leo. or portion Of it. would be great
calamity. to Texas and to the country. I
don't think we could afford to take
Mexico as a free gift. II we were offered.
free Of charge, both Canada and Mex.
leo, all the parties interested being will
ing, | should prefer Canada; that is. it
would be better for us to grow in that |
direction than southwark. But we have
no annexation scheme to prosecute In
any direction. We have all the terri
tory we can manage, and certainly all
that we want."s
At present the purchasers of Texas
claims seem to be the most ardent adj
mirers of the annexation scheme. Mr..
Hayes certainly does not appear to en-