Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-29
Annexation Talk Seriously Re
senIeh nv Mexico.

When Governor Waterman, taking his
cue from Vandever's bill relating to the
acquisition of Lower California, saw
that gentleman's annexation bluff, and
went him two or three other Mexican
States better, he did not foresee that he
was sowing the teeth of an international
dragon. No sooner had Waterman
opened his mouth and put his foot in it
than some of the smart ones of our
Chamber of Commerce saw their oppor-
tunity, and jumping at his suggestion
passed series of resolutions annexing
our neighbours territory right and left.
We had looked upon this as a harmless
little piece of buncombe got up in the
interest of Vandever. but never dreamed
that the Mexican Secretary of State
should have taken the matter an ssrieur
and made it the subject of grave diplo-
matte correspondence with the United
States Foreign Department. Yet go it
is. In the course of letter from Mr..
Mariscal, Mexican Secretary of State, to
Minister Romero at Washington, dated
January, 1890, the following startling
passage occurs:
"Though we treat with contempt the
boasts of idle and evil disposed people
who talk of war of conquest or of revo-
lutionary movements plotted on our bor-
ders with view of annexation of part
of our country, it is not so with other
manifestations, from respectable source,
| though they may have their origin in
opinions equally destitute of foundation.
| refer to the proposition which origi.
| mated in the Chamber of Commerce of
| Los Angeles, Cal, and was presented to
the House of Representatives at Washing
ton, authorizing the Executive to nego-
| tiate with Mexico for the purchase Of
Lower California. / refer also to the
| opinion which, without any reservation
| whatever, the Governor Of the State of
California expressed to the reporter of q
| newspaper about the great convenience
OF such an acquisition, through the means
suggested, and above all the purchase of
our States of Sonora and Sinaloa, about
which no mention had before been made.
mo matter how much the Mexican
Government might be inclined to over
look this double expression of an erron-
eous Judgment as TO our patriotic senti-
ments and our entire conformity with
the opinion of our country in this regard
it cannot do so, considering that the ex-
preston OF views in the present case
emanates from no less than high Off
cial of the State of California, which is
contiguous with our territory, and in
view OF these proposed annexations, we
cannot look with Indifference upon any
thing coming from respectable author
tiles
eff anyone should tell US that no seri-
Gus and well-concerted plan on the cub
ject is entertained by them, but that
1t is rather the influence Of the conditions
and exigencies of interior politics which
constrain them to express such ideas,
we should be forced, even though strong
in this belief, to deeply lament that ther-
were persons in California with ouch
misguided judgment respecting US who
have influence enough to induce Cover
nor Waterman to make public utterancea
without thinking of the effect which they
might afterwsrd produce in our relations
with neighborng nations"
Secretary Blaine doubtless laughed in
his sleeve when he peuned an emollient
answer to the lacerated feelings of the
Mexican Secretary of State. When he
gave that gentleman and his Government
the assurances OF his most distinguished
considerations, we can imagine him say
ing to himself: "What cads these Mexi-
can officials must be to pay attention to
the windy suspirations and senseless
kitefying of Waterman and his fluffy
counterpart in Congress, or to the bun
combe resolutions of few gentlemen
gathered together at the headquarters of
the Chamber of Commerce on a rainy
day, for the purpose of extending the
boundaries of the United States into the
territory of its neighbor."