Year: 1863




Aaerica-rhs Msxicsas and DsaAni.
1 csas Ar0asea.


According 10 present Appearance, the gov
ernmeuts of France and Spain win moi be
permitted to enjoy in peace the acquisitions ol
territory which they have recently naAe-the
one in Mexico. the other in St. Domingo. The
outraged but not subdued people of either
country cannot bow themselves to the yoke Of
the conquerors, and are now In full and deter
mined revolt against their European invaders.


Spain 1t appears, is finding out BY bitter ex-
perience that il is much easier TO acquire
territory than to keep il. About two years
ago corrupt negotiation with the then
ruler of Dominica, General Santana, resulted in
her repossessing that ancient colony Of hers.
The remonstrances of an indignant people.
finding their independence thus bartered away,
| only served to make the Spanish rule more
severe and oppressive, and the natural result
has been that the Dominicans are now In arms,
struggling to gain back the nationality out of
which they were basely swindled. The ex-
tracts which we publish to-day from the Turks
Island Standard show how well the revolution
ists-as they must be oalled-are battling for
their lost rights, and how dearly Spain is pay
ing for her treacherous dishonesty.


The Emperor Napoleon is also beginning to
realize what all but himself could see plainly
enough from the beginning however infe-
rior the Mexican army might prove to be, as COM
pared with the French army, and however sue
cessful the latter might be in penetrating to the
heart Of the country no permanent conquest Of
Mexico could be made and the best thing he
could have done would have been to take the
advice of his cousin, Prince Napoleon, as given
in the columns of the Opinion Rationale, and
Withdrawn his troops so soon as they had estab-
lished the superiority of their arms. But the
Emperor showed himself as obstinate and IRA
tional in this Mexican invasion as his uncle did
in the invasion of Russia and it is not at all
unlikely that he will meet with the,same terri
BILE retribution. The Mexican people are
aroused at length to q sense Of the
humiliation inflicted upon them by the French
occupation oftheir capital, and by the attempt
to convert their republican form of government
into Imperialism, and they are animated by
the most bitter and relentless hate against the
invaders. Their government is still in the ex-
ercise of its legitimate functions, and is organic
ing the forces Of the republic for an over
wbelming onslaught against the army of occu-
patton. 1t appears easy enough to cut of the
communication of that army with its base of
supplies at Vera Cruz, and to reduce it to such
a condition that it will have no resource but to
surrender or fight its way back to the sea-
board. It may do the latter, for it is brave
and well constituted; but we do not think that
it can long hold its ground in the interior Of
Mexico against q general and properly organ
lied movement Of the Mexican people.


The Archduke Macmillan had better ponder
all these facts before deciding to accept the
offer Of the imperial throne of Mexico. The
Emperor Napoleon would do well also to turn
them over in his mind.


These two series Of facts-the rising against
the French in Mexico and against the Spaniards
in St. Domingo-are of very grave import
ance to the people of the United States, be-
cause these two attempts on the part of France
and Spain were but the opening acts to q
grand plot to break up republican institutions
on this continent and to re-establish European
influence here. Spain was the first to take ad-
vantage Of our political troubles and set the
Monroe doctrine at defiance, and France fol-
lowed suit. Dominicans and Mexicaus have
now taken up arms to defend themselves and
to expel their invaders, and we cannot but
wish ardently for the success Of their efforts.


By and by the United States will be, we
trust, in position TO extend to them practical
sympathy; and If they have not by that time
regained their independence the sword of this
country will be thrown into the scale on their
side, and will make the issue no longer doubt
full II the contest is to be between kingcraft
on the one side and the rights of the people on
the other, we care not how soon the question is
to be met and decided, not only on this conti-
| nent, but also in Europe.


THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION OF THE PREsr.
DEST.-There is popularity about the history
Of ofthanksgivng days and thanksgiving procla-
nations worthy of note at this time. Originally
they came from the Puritans Of New England,
and we're gradually adopted by the Governors Of
States as the country grew larger; but in every
instance they emanated from the State Executive,