The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-02-01
PROVO CITY, FEB. l. Is
THE MEXICAN WAR.

a
there would be war between the re-
publics of Mexico and Guatemala The
next day it was said that Mr.. Gresham
was opposed to the war and had Of
fered the friendly mediation of the
United States and that offer had In
duced the Mexican government to take
a less Iurid view of the situation.
Me lntlme, however, Guatemala went
ahead pushing her preparations and
the consequence is that she has been
able to combine San Salvador, Costa
Rica and several other of the Central
American republics, and is now ready
to Try conclusions with Mexico. Gen
eral Diaz is not only soldier but he is
a statesman of no mean ability and a
patriot of the highest rank. For many
years it has been the accepted policy
of Mexico 10 acquire territory in Cen
tral America, but until this boundary
question there has been not the slight
est pretext for an attack. Now, how
ever, the excuse is furnished and it is
an excellent one. 1t is not likely,
therefore, that our plucky neigbbor
will forego the tempting opportunity to
promptly begin war which can have
but one ending; the full qualification
of her ambition to acquire territory in
Central America. The unanimlty of the
Central American states on the queS-
tion of war with Mexico puts the pre-
text upon the one plane where Mexico
is most desirous that it should be
placed. 1t furnist es her the coveted
opportunity to subjugate the Central
American provinces one and all and to
extend the authority of the Central
Mexican republic over the whole re-
gion. The question we feel interested
in is, how will SUCH an acquisition af-
feet the United States?
Even if Mexico acquired every foot
of Central America she would still be
far too weak to ever hope to cope with
this country on the field successfully,
Her aim would be to dignity the Mex
ican republic by an increased territory,
and to enrich it enormously by ac-
quiring an immensc see acreage of the
richest soil on earth. At best the Cen
tral American republics have been and
are today turbulent, quarrelsome
neighbors of Mexico. They resemble
nothing so much as covey of bantam
roosters. just as eager to do battle as
that dfminutive bird, and compare
lively and relatively with no more
fighting power, What a century under
the strong and enlightened Mexican
government would do for them il
would be hard to say. 1t is safe, how
ever, to conclude that there would be
no retrogression. but just how much
improvement would occur in a century
we cannot say. If this conquest and
annexation should occur a peaceful anG
cordial alliance between Mexico anC
the United States would MAKE the two
republics so strong that the whole
policy of Europe with regard to thii
continent would have to be recon
structed. This power would be moi
alone military, commercially and e.
nancially they could and unquestiona
bly, would insist upon very decided
change in the trade customs now pre-
vailing between Europe and either oil
both republics.
Both nations are large producers of
silver and are welded to the silver dol
lar in sentiment far stronger than any
other which prevails. 1t is very nearly
certain that such an annexation would
so stitfen Uncle Sans VertebrR that he
would immediately pass an act fully re-
storing silver to all of its ancient and
time-respected functions as a money
the full equal with gold. Under one
flag, under one policy, nothing financial
or commercial could withstand them.
and there are but few military combi-
nations formed of which they need be
in the lesst afraid. This silver sug.
gestion just now should have peculiar
interest for our government, for the
west and south ss we'll. 1t will pay oul
people to cipher on the probabilities a
little. and but little reflection would be
necessary ere hundred thousand brave
men would be ready to spring over the
border TO assist our good neighbor in
bringing about some of the GOOD
effects which lie within easy reach OF
Mexico and the United States acting as
friendly allies. If MIR. Cleveland will
abandon his gold bug heresies and go
in for such contamination as this, be
may yet be able to recoup and regain
his lost prestige as statesman and a
patriot. This great nation of sixty
millions of people would at once be
lifted from the slough of despond. and
a new prosperity on solid and endur-
ing basis be achieved.