Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-04
SATURDAY. MAY A, 1859.
mex,co and the United states.

mexico and the United states.
Mr.. Romero, the Mexican Minister to
the United States, has we'll considered
paper in the last North american Rer'ew
on the subject of the annexation OF Mexico
to this country. The able gentleman does
not believe that any wide desire
exists amongst intelligent Americans
to secure the territory of the neigh
boring Republic either by conquest
or by amicable cession. Territorial con-
quest is not encouraged by our Constitu-
ton or system, and the principle of the
Monroe doctrine, which opposes the en-
croachment of European governments
upon the American continent, by logical
implication forbids the United States
from exercising policy of absorption OF
its territorial neighbors. But the Minister
does not confine himself to the innibi-
tions imposed by the genius OF our insti-
buttons; he puts the objection to annexa-
ton of country like Mexico upon still
more relative grounds. The experience
of this country now upon the race ques-
ton is not such as to encourage
our people to intensity the diff
culties it presents by the addition OF
twelve millions of Mexicans to our
already sufficiently mixed population.
Admitting that we could conquer Mexico
and subjugate her people, would we
want to face the complications which
this new and unassimilatiye population
grated upon our institutions would con-
front US with? Those people would be
entitled to representatives in Congress
and these would constitute acorn
pact delegation working in their
own lines and raising at every turn new
and serious difficulties. This would be
the case whether Mexico were annexed
to us by conquest or by amicable
negotiation. In no event, under our
system-especially in face of the en-
reimbursement of the colored race-could
we absorb that people without
giving them equal political right
with ourselves. We have already
had taste of the political
perplexities arising from the indiserimi-
nate concession of the ballot to all
classes and races except one. The fact
that We have positively denied it to the
Chinese proves that there ought to be a
limit. Circumstances that were beyond
onr control or provision have
compelled us to admit the colored
race to the full stature of citizenship !;
but SO far the result has not shown the
wisdom of this, perhaps, unavoidable
Acknowledgement. To voluntarily, how
ever, adopt policy of annexation that
would inevitably add twelve millions of
Mexicans to our body polite, with all the
rights and privileges of citizenship,
would be an act of folly pregnant with
the gravest and the most dangerous con-
sequences.
Mr.. Romero's reasoning is irrefutable.
The United States has now about all
the incongruous elements in her political
system she can get along with. We may
manage to worry through with those we
have. But we do not want to aggravate
the situation or increase the danger by
ments in our midst.
Let us apply the Mexican Minister
arguments to the attitude of some few
very few-of our soi-disant statesmen
who are now trying to create public
sentiment in favor of annexing by pur-
chase Cor otherwise) Lower California
and some of the border States of Mexico.
We have Representative Vandever, with
his offer to purchase Baja California for
$40, 900, 900; Governor Waterman, who
is willing to see Vandever's proposition
and go him Sonora and Sinaloa better
and the Los Angeles Tribune, which
10 elamorously voicing the absurdities of
those two distinguished statesmen. -
This is the extent of the coterie that
would precipitate upon the United States
ills with which the civil war and it, con-
sequences we're as nothing to those tha.
would flow from the logical carrying out
of their crazy ideas. Ii the annexation
of the whole OF Mexico would work I'M
told injury upon our country, the an
nexation of any portion OF it would only
be an evil less in degree. But the ten
dency of annexation would be annexa-
ton. If we commence by taking in one
State or a group of States, we shall end
by taking all. We don't want them. 1t
is our policy to let them work out
their destiny on their own lines and
under their own autonomy. AS our
nsighbors, we will do all the duties to-
wards them of good neighborhood. AS
an American Republic, we shall be the
ally of Mexico against any encroachment
from other towers. Commercially we
shall treat her with the utmost considera-
ton, and politically we shall help her by
our good offices where our help is proper
and desired