Year: 1869

4


We publish to-day . short but crisp new
letter from the city Of Mexico. 'The entirs
foreign population OF that decaying republic
looks hopefully for annexation, absorption, an
American protectorate, or any other change
which win insure security 10 life and capital
aud progress 10 the country. The Mexican
people are anxious and will watch mos,
jealously the behavior Of Mr.. Nelson and an
outcropping OF Grants Mexican policy. .
This Is q graphic and exact picture OF the
condition Of the public mind In Mexico. The
growth Of the contiguous northern republic Is
projecting the shadow Of q colossal figure
over the land, which every man sees and
recognizes. Those whq have interests at
stake In the commercial channels OF the coun-
try contemplate IL hopefully, while those
whose welfare Is connected with the landed
and labor interests look at Il doub:fuly and
suspiciously because they know not how the
impending and inevitable change will affect
them.


No sensible man-lo, not even q sensible,
thoughtful Mexlcan-believes that order can
be established permanently in Mexico with
out the interposiiion or aid OF some other ma
ton more powerful and more advanced In civ
ilization, and there Is no nation that can inter
pose or give helping hand but the United
States AZ 20 the development Of the won
derful natural resources OF that country and
its progress in wealth and population, the Mex
leans can do nothing themselves. Decay is
seen everywhere. Though one OF the richest
and most beautiful countries In the world,
moral, political and material blight rests upon
il, from which there Is no recovery but by the
infusion of new social, political and industrial
elements. The day OF either Spanish or ma
tive power has passed. Neither can hold Mex
leo up to the progressive spirit Of the age or
even to her present position. Under purely
native Indian rule or that Of the mixed races
she must decline. The spasmodic efforts made
under the government Of the Indian chief,
Juarez, to preserve Mexico are credit
able enough, but nothing has been
accomplished in the way Of harmony or pro-
gress, nor could that government itself have
preserved its existence but for the United
States. The Mexicans may struggle against
their fate and talk, as they are accustomed 10
talk, bombastically of their own powers of re-
cuperation and of maintaining their national
integrity, but their decay is beyond remedy,
and they have to follow the fate Of many
greater nations in history in this inevitable
DISSOLUTION.


These results are recognized in the re-
cent speech of the retiring United States
Minister at Mexico, General Rosecrans, on
the occasion of public dinner in the city
of Mexico. General Rosecrans admits there
is no hope for the future of Mexico but in the
infusion of new elements, as those of immigra-
ton, railroads and other means Of progress.
come soon or hope will be lost. He speaks,
however, at the same time ofMexico prescrv-
ing her own autonomy. That is an error. 1t
is the fatal error that now holds the
Mexicans back from progress. The fear of
losing their autonomy has prevented
immigration, improvements and progress,
and is fast running the country. Nor
will the American government and people
undertake to improve Mexico and give her
good institutions and liberal aid every way
without sovereign power over the territory.
We cannot undertake a mere protectorate
over such troublesome and helpless people.
We must have the country, and then, with
possession, population from every part of this
country, with capital and enterprise, would
pour into Mexico. It would be the history of
California over again. The new elements
would revolutionizc in peaceful manner old
dccaying Mexico, and we should have a new
state of things, which would be far better than
this humbug of a mere sentiment about pre-
serving the autonomy Of the nation. The only
hope for Mexico is In admission to the Ameri-
can Union, and the sooner her people find that
out the better. That is the only autonomy
worth talking about or that is practicable on
this North American Continen t.


What Mexico needs is an insight to the
manner in which this is to be attained, and a
short view of its practical working after the
step is taken. The problem of the manner
must be worked out in Washington and con-
stitutes the great policy which is to succeed
the Monroe doctrine on this Continent. The
resolution of General Banks, offered during the
recent session of Congress, for the extension
of protectorate over St. Domingo, had a
leaning in the right direction, but was made
quate 10 the great work before us. What is
wanted is q clear and distinct enunciation Of
the fact that any Of the republics south Of us
which desire to come into the American Union
on equal terms with the existing members will
meet favorable consideration in Washington,
with the assurance that their local and munich
pal legislation will not be disturbed and that
all private rights will be respected. The re-
cent amendments 10 our constitution make this
step feasible to the republics south of us, and