Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-09-28

4 osarsllng Programme ssisIr z
ahs Msghs Bank Of the RIO
osauas.
For the past year and a half We
hive read the fulminations of the
New York Sun as to the immin-
sncs Of . war with Mexico with
eonsiderabls distrust. As time
passed and the Mexican raids
across the Rio Grande and the re-
oiprocal raids Of Col. Mackenzie
and his troopers-doubtless under
taken on the principle Of q counter
irrltant-brought about no result
moro serious than mutual recri M
laations and expostulations be-
tween the authorities at Washing
ron and the city OF Mexico, our
faith In the likelihood of war grew
smaller by degrees and beautifully
Lees.
Within the past forty-eight hours
~ have been placed In possession
q facts and theories which have
led 10 to utterly change our opin-
Ion. II is natural to suppose that
Gen. Sherman has not made his
hurried recognisancs Of the frontier
ftom the Rio Grande to the Pacific
Without purpose. The General
Of the army has been influenced by
- insane craving to test, by exper-
iDent, In the closing and hottest
days Of the Summer, just how high
Tie mercury rises in bulb on the
aid plains Of Arizona.
We should not be surprised, in
the next ninety days, to see the
Uoitsd States government seize
the right bank Of the Rio Grande,
NAtamoras and the Northern Mex
lean States Of chihuahua, Sonora,
Durango and Zacatecas. That this
programme will be carried out il
Congress looks upon the project
favOrably we have no doubt what
sver, In the light Of information OF
certainly not conclusive but
probable character, upon which W.
rely. The whole Initiative does
not lie with the Hayes administra.
tlon and that is the only draw
blek to the carrying out of the
project.
II has long been known that in
1aeptial citizens of the Eastern
States have for years past been Sc
Auling heavy landed interests in
Ne Mexican territories named
Such men as General Benjamin F.
B ltler are amongst them. At one
stage Of Diaz's Presidency arrange
ments bad already been perfected
for declaring the Independence OF
Sonora, with an American pro
tect0rate. This movement was to
hsve proceeded from Mexicans
{ lemselves, in unison with the
Eastern interest we have alluded to.
The unexpected vigor of Diaz's gov
ernment, which was able to assert
the national authority in all Sec
tlons Of the Mexican Republic,
alone defeated this plan. and male
lt necessary to decide upon more
sweeping and comprehensive pro-
gramme.
In addition to the interests we
have named, strong railway in
nuenee IL being brought to bear in
favor Of the territorial acquisitions
re have named and OF war, II war
shall follow. The Central and
Southern Pacific Railways are as
serted, by those who take this
view, to he at the head of the
sn0vemsnt. The activity in max
ing arrangements for extending
the Southern Pacific Railway to
Tucson il supposed to have its in
spiration In the view we have out.
lined. The probability Is that the
plans Of the Southern Pacific mag
mates for the present stop at
Tucson. They will rely upon the
extension Of railways built by
Eastern capital to q junction with
them 1t Tucson, aud their further
projects aud ambition are centered
upon an extension of their road
Into Mexico.
Many Of our readers will recall
the speeches Of Gov. Stanford, de-
ilvered = couple OF years ago. in
which he avowed 1t 10 be the pur.
pose Of his company to extend the
Southern Pacific into Mexico.
These Ideas Of the head Of our Cali
fSrnIA railway system have doubt
lees crystalizsd since then and as.
sumed definite shape. A war with
Mexico would be OF immense SER
vics to the Southern Pacific. 1t
would make an immediate business
for the road. The acquisition of
tsrritOry, especially such rich ami
Inviting mineral regions as Chi
huahua, Sonora and the other
Northern Mexican States, would
assure this road an objective and a
great future.
The scheme has the support of
large element In the United States
who believe in our "manifest des-
Tiny" II would affJrd an opening