The herald., 1895-02-13
THE DEAD PILED IN HEAPS
Will Present a Solid Front to
the Foreign Foe
MEXICANS UNITED AT LAST
Aliens Freely Offer Their Services
Against Guatemala
All Central America Could Not Cope Sue
cessfully With the Republic-No
Prospect of War

tire republic.
For the first time in the history of Mex.
leo, all opposition against the actual gov.
eminent has ceased, and the entire coun-
! try is unanimous that the national honor
and interests shall be upheld at the sacri-
| flee even of blood and treasure.
| To the historical student OF this nation,
this is most unique condition of affairs,
| for from the very earliest years of the re-
public formidable opposition has been
in evidence.
1t may be remembered that in the first
revolt against Spanish dominion and
power, that the strongest and possibly the
best elements in Mexico threw their
weight into the scale against independ-
ence from the mother country. And,
what is more, history shows that the first
organizers of a Mexican nation in the
long run met with reverses of such magni-
tude that one may truthfully state that
they were badly defeated. And had it not
been for the Napoleonic conquest of
Spain, it is more than likely that Spanish
domin ion would have continued for at
least a decade, on Mexican territory.
However, as it was, the independence of
this republic was not obtained by force of
6 ms, as was the case with her northern
heighbor, but by mutual arrangement
entered into by what may be termed three
parties, viz: The viceroy, O'Donahoe,
representing Spanish power; by Augustin
lturbide, who had been one of the strong
est defenders of the crown against the as
saults of the earlier patriots, such as Hi
dalgo Morelos and others, who repre-
scented the rebel or defeated party. The
royalist did--maybe with Interior ends in
view-more to make Mexico independent
than did any armed rebels.
From the first, one observes that there
was no united sentiment, and through the
long revolutionary struggle that ensued,
devastated homesteads and soil rank
with blood is sufficient proof that in any
cause there always was divided opinion
as to its merits.
Then came the American war, with the
invasion of the fatherland and the capture
of the capital. Even in this throe OF the
very national existence, there were many
MeXicans who assisted the conqueror not
only by word of mouth but by the wear
ing of weapons. Mexicans in American
pay charged shoulder to shoulder with the
soldiers OF the North.
During the French intervention, half
the country espoused the foreigners side,
and Mexicans died freely for an alien
monarch and with the hope of victory
over republican principles
| And so the strife Of Mexican against
Mexican has continued until the present,
| although of late years the battlefield OPP
position has been abandoned for parlia-
mentary resistance.
However, the possibility of war with
Guatemala has at last brought q united
nation to present a bold front to for
eign foe; and although the nation daily
is manifesting its reluctance to draw the
sword, it is plainly evident that if that
weapon is to be unsheathed, the MeXicans
will handle their weapons only for one
cause and will present a united front to
foreign foe.
Everlasting revolutions in the past not
unnaturally produced a warlike race; the
continual raids and counter-raids of one
gang OF partisans upon another bred men
prone to brawl and ever ready to bare steel
In any cause, however flimsy.
No greater mistake can be made than
that Mexican is not brave; stricken
fields often show a herofsm finer than:may
be found among the dashing soldiers of a
victorious charge. So it has been here. 1t
in heaps in the citadel of the capital bore
grim evidence of distracted country.
But within a short 20 years great
change has come over the nation; the
strong hand of a natural ruler has I'M
tiinchingly and unfalteringly handled the
Ship of State, and from nationality,
only ready for strife, a prosperous peo-
pie has been evolved; manufacturers have
filled the place formerly occupied by the
brawling swashbuc kler, and the sword
has veritably been beaten into the plow-
share.
General Diaz boasts many enemies
no maker of history has ever lacked
his rule may appear to have been, cir
cumsta OF which the critic knows
naught, may have justified them.
The result of the rule of the man of
iron is now seen. The: Bismarckian policy
of the steel hand in the velvet glove has
produced what history has not before
witnessed in Mexico.
inequalities, societies and individuals con-
tinue to pour in. A national subscription
for arms has been commenced. The
Jockey Club, the most aristocratic society
of the nation, at one meeting collected
| $40, 600 for the nucleus of a war fund, and
the most general and enthusiastic senti-
ment is apparent among every rank of
! life.
Foreigners are freely proffering their
| services, in case of war; notably among
them the local post of the G. A. R., who
unanimously put their services at the dis
posal OF the federal government Cen
Q. H. M. Y. Agramonte, an old resident
of California and at one time Land Com.
missioner of the English Land Company
in Baja California, has rendered his SER
vices to the President, with the intention
of raising a foreign legion for service at
! the front, and which same offer has been
most gracously acknowledge by General
Diaz and the public press. 1t is the in
tention of General Agramonte, who is a
| true soldier of fortune and who has served
not only in the "late unpleasantness" in
the North but with several European
armies, to recruit here in event of war an
English operating legion, which will be
commanded by himself and will be out
| fitted at the cost of the American and
British Colonies.
General Pedro Rincon Gallardo, Cover
nor of the Federal District and an old
soldier of the times of the empire, has
promised the government to equip and
1 pay two regiments of infantry for war
service, if war should be declared.
1t is marvellous to see the eagerness
with which Mexicans are coming forward
to the assistance of their country in the
/ time of its peril.
Whether war will be the outcome of the
Guatemalan misunderstanding, it is diff
cult to conjecture.
AT the present time of writing, unless
| some new and unforeseen complications
arise, your correspondent sees little
chance of war being declared. Guatemala
or aye, all Central America-would
+, have no chance in combat with this
republic. Possibly at first certain re-
verses might be met with, but there can
only be one end-victory for the great
Aztec republic.
A prominent member of the govern
ment has just assured me that war is q
very unlikely outcome.