The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-08
Poor Gringo.

President Hayes has not got military
household, like that which stood in grim
attendance on the orders of his soldierly
predecessor. The White House is not now
sort of official garrison, but is the resi-
dence Al an unpretending gentleman, whose
military achievements have been of such
modest character that it would require
scrutiny of the Army Register to discover
t. that he had ever worn sword as one Of his
country's defenders. The Secretary of State
is not man of blood. The most COM
bative thing about the Secretary Of War
is his official title. His trade is
not throat cutting. There is no passion
for broils and battle at Washington
at the present time. Indeed, SO amiable
and meekly disposed is the administration
that it declines even to measure swords with
bumptious Senate and accepts with pa-
cidity and perfect good nature the cuffs
administered to it by it's own political party
1t is satisfied with itself and satisfied with
everybody else. An administration SO
even minded and simple is not likely to
plunge into war or even to provoke warlike
controversies with foreign Powers. Yet it
is wise at all times to be prepared for self
defence.
The agents of Diaz, the present Mexican
President have been whispering soft words
of peace and brotherly love into the ears OF
our government at Washington. They have
sought recognition for their chief and their
promises have been as liberal as their per-
suasve tongues could make them. Presi-
dent Diaz, we have been told, is to preserve
peace on his side of the border and is to
prevent in the future the raids by which
our Texan citizens have suffered so severely
in the past In view of the reported assign
ment of Mexican regulars to the Rio Grande
for this praiseworthy and friendly purpose
we have protested against any policy which
might render it possible for the two nations
to get embroiled through the indiscreet act
of some hot-headed or thoughtless iadivid-
ual. But these peaceful strains are sud-
denly drowned in terrible war cry which
comes up from the angry throat of the Mex
lean press. The Combate, of the city Of
Mexico, a paper which is said by the
San Antonio (Texas) Express to be
''the leading journal-the New York
HERALD of Mexico, so to speak" -strikes
the United States in the teeth with its iron
gauntlet and dares the ''Gringos" to the
field. The Yankees, we are told, are below
the resentment, even below the contempt,
of the descendants of. Cortez, Montezuma
and Hidalgo nevertheless the high-blooded
dons must ''teach these Gringo dogs good
manners" Heretofore magnanimity has
been shown to the "mongrel race of
Yankees, niggers, Dutch, and like canaille
that for twenty-five years have covered be-
fore Mexico" but now they must be
whipped into submission.
It is to be hoped that our mild and
amiable government will awake to the peril
of the situation. We must certainly defend
the nation from Mexican invasion and con-
quest. We don't want Mexico-we should
be sorry to have it at any price. The
thought of being compelled to take coun-
try in which papers like the Combate are
published is of itself alarming, to say
nothing of greasers and the national ver-
min. But poor Gringo must at least strike
a blow for his national autonomy, even
against the warlike descendants of Cortez,
Montezuma and Hidalgo.