New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-25
LITERARY CRITICISM
AND BOOK NEWS
A History of Our Relations with Mexico IN the
PASTA Well Balanced Book Of Lit
erarv Studies-Ihe Vatican

from tennessee aid the same Win lhe
purpose Of enabling the extension OF
slave territory.
The interesting point is made by Mr..
Rives. which il would be difficult to
Controvert. that after the battle of san
Jaciuto the republic OF Texas might
have been free from further war or
controversy with Mexico II II had not
been for tho old boundary dispute at
the southwest. Was tho boundary the
Nueccs River or the Rio Graude?
That question was at least one barrier
in the way of Mexican recognition Of
Texan independence. II certainly rose
acutely. a. the nominal though illogi-
cal cruX Of the situation between Mex
leo and tho United States. When the
American army was sent 20 the
frontier in 1876 Mexico insisted that
the Nueces was the boundary and that
when Taylor crossed it he was inVad-
ing Mexico just as much az though he
had crossed the Rio Grandc Yet as
Mexico had never yet rclnquishcd her
claim of title to Texas. the presence of
our army anywhere in thet state cast
Of the Nuoces was loeicallv an invasion
Of Mexico no less than march upon
Monterey would have been.
Mr.. Rives gives 8 notably complete.
discriminating and Instructive account
OF both the diplomatic negotiations and
the military operations Of the war. In
most battles the Americans were out
numbered. But their equipment was 50
much superior 10 that Of the McXicans
springfield rifles against Tower mus
ketS-as more than to counterbalance
the disparity Of numbers. II IS inter
esting TO recall that the existence OF
war was not officially recognized until
week after tho battle Of Palo Alto.
determined until long after the war
began, and that cur connivanCe a the
return Of the oXilcd Santa Anna. M
expectation that he would be our help
full ally, had a most disappointing re
suit when he became the leader OF the
MeXicans against US.
The conclusion TO which Mr.. Rivcs
comes or perhaps the proposition which
he considers himself 10 have estab-
lished is threefold. That our war Of
conquest upon Mexico was not due 10
conspiracy Of years before-though
he admits that Polk had long before
fixed an eager eye on California; that
il was not undertaken altogether for
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the slave power
and the extension Of slave territory.
and that il was not a manifestation Of
United States aggression and oppres
sion toward Spanish America. On the
ground Of abstract morality our con
duct was questionable. But according
TO the common practice of other civil
lied nations at that time It was album
dainty 1ustifiable. There was a great
and valuable country. which its owners
had failed TO improve and which they
gave no promise OF ever being able TO
improve. wherefore We took il from
them and improved it. on the principle
that the end justifies the means that
course may stand approved. But that
principle is not the common moral law
Of the world, and even those who most
appreciate the benefits TO all concerned
which have arisen from our conquests
must disapprove the means employed
and must regret that tho same end was
not attained-as it might have been
in more creditable and honorable
way.
Equally timely. though very different
/ in character and purpose is Mr.. Car
sons handsome volume. II is a por-
travail OF the Mexico of the present
day, in its sumptuousness and It's
squalor. il the picturesque and in the
commonplace in what is admirable and
inspiring and in what is pitiful and
depressing. Mr.. Carson is an extensive
traveller, Q keen and intelligent OBJ
server and an always interesting and
/ lucid narrator. His work is the more
convincing because OF his moderation
and restraint. 1t is perfectly evident
that conditions in Mexico would readily
lend themselves to exaggeration. It
would be easy 70 wax enthusiastic and
to indulge in hyperbolical superlatives
over some features of the country and
even OF the people. and perhaps even
more so TO indulge in extremes OF
lurid and dun hues in depicting others.
But the author avoids such faults and
gives us throughout the impression of
one who seeks TO lay before us the
generally prevailing conditions. and not
merely q few exceptional freaks.
An interesting and timely chapter