Helena weekly herald., 1878-11-14

MEXICO IMPROVING.
Notwithstanding the occasional outbursts
of bigotry, which shows itself in attacks by
mobs on Protestant missions and churches;
Notwithstanding the border rufFians along the
Rio Grande seem to be equally defiant of the
central government and of the rights of prop
erty as well as those of nations, there are
some cheering signs of advancing civiliza-
ton. One of the most recent Is a movement
to hold an industrial exhibition in the City of
Mexico next year. 1t is not proposed to be q
worlds exhibition, but simply an American
exhibit for the purpose of promoting profta-
ble interchange of productions and manu.
factures. A proposition which is 80 full of
promise and profit for our own country ought
to be improved to the utmost. The trade of
Mexico that now goes to Europe ought to
come to US, and this trade ought to be and
might easily be made to be four times as
great as at present. From the mouth of the
Mississippi, which is going to be the central
point of our greatest commerce, the coast of
Mexico is just as near and accessible as our
Atlantic coast. There are no natural barriers
that separate the two countries, so that when
the tide of settlement now flowing over
Texas reaches the border, there will be moth
ing to stay the extension of our railroads or
the overflow of our population. Not only a
better feeling exists towards US in Mexico,
but without saying much about it, or perhaps
being aware of it, there has been q change in
the sentiments of our own people. The be-
lief in manifest destiny has not disappeared,
extinction of slavery, SO that no one is anx-
ious to anticipate the acquisition of any more
territory. 1t is felt that we have enough va
cant territory already, which will take many
years and give homes to about double our
present population before we want any more
domain on either side. The Mexican terri
tory that adjoins our own is not particularly
inviting 50 that we should covet it, and still
less do we desire to introduce any more of
the native population to the responsibilities
of self-government. We all expect to &C.
quire Mexico at some time, but no one Is any
longer in haste about it. Indeed, the scnti-
ment is rather that the longer it can be defer
red the better. With the freedmen OF the
South and the immigrants from the old world
we have already rather more than our hands
full, and it is at times doubtful whether we
are civilizing them or they are barbarizing US.
The Mexicans, not without some good grounds,
have heretofore looked upon Us as mouse
regards a cat, as having no other purpose
than to swallow them at some time. When
this feeling is changed there is no good rea-
son why our country would not be preferred
to any other to buy its products and supply
its markets If it is true as most generally
believed that over production is one Of the
principal causes Of hard times. the first thing
for US to do is to find new customers and ex-
tensions to our market. This can be done at
our very borders and all over the rest of our
continent. from which we have been almost
excluded.
There can be no doubt that our highest,
safest soundest policy is to cultivate close
alliance with the people on our own CONT
nens. If we come to them as friends and
protectors rather than as plunderers we can
easily secure their friendship and trade. Eu-
rope is going to continue to send over swarms
of cnigrants, and when this country is rea-
sonably full they will 60 to other countries of
America, and make the population more and
more like our own. Let France and Ger
many arm and struggle for the valley of the
Rhine. Let England and Russia contend for
the barren wilds of Central Asia. We have
better field by far for our ambition and policy
to expend themselves in building up prosper
Gus and powerful allies in the rich and mighty
river valleys of South America and in the
central plains of Mexico. We have just re-
turned from the Worlds Fair at Paris flushed
with success, having carried away greater
proportion of the flrst-class prizes than any
other competing nation of the world. Now
let US try to reap at home some of the legiti-
mate fruits of our superiority, and when in
vited by our nearest neighbor to open prof.
table trade by an exhibition of our skill and
wares we certainly ought to seize the oppor-
tunity a. providential and full of the best au-
guries for the future.
Court Proceeaings.