Year: 1869

| + Law and the Destiny or Mexico.


Advices from the Pacific coast inform us
that plan is on foot to split off large splice
from Northwestern Mexico and erect new
republic of the Occident. The scheme in
cludes the rich mineral districts of Sonora and
Sinaloa, and Is no doubt fomented by enter
| prising spirits from our side Of the border,
with disaffected ones in Mexico, both Of which
elements abound in the heterogeneous popu-
lation now laying vast foundations of empire
on the American borders Of the Pacific Ocean.
Such scheme is assisted by the condition of
| affairs within the republic of Mexico itself:
| That government, although counting period
Of existence of barely fifty years, is worn out
and confessedly incompetent to perform the
among men. Peace has fed the land, except
| it be in some mountain fastness, where bold
Indian like Alvarez, in Guerrero, or Lozada,
in Topic, defes the government within
| his territory. Industry and trade have
dwindled until they are the mere shadows
of those Of former days; public revenue has
become the legitimate prey Of every local
ruler; and the bonds of society are so COM
pletely dissolved that human life and individual
liberty safe only in the large Cities or within
the vale Of poverty and individual obscurity.
To-day we behold the degrading spectacle Of
national government sitting in the halls of
the Montezumas, Illuminating worthless paper
DEGREES against the robbers and kidnappers
who prowl securely on every road within the
| republic.


| We are not disposed to lay upon the present
rulers Of Mexico the whole blame for this state
of things, nor do we look to them for the cure
of evils which are not entirely Of their cre-
alton. They are but simple individuals in a
social and political organization, which obeys
laws called into existence with the birth of the
government, and these must work out their
full mission. Every nation at its inception re-
ceives an impulse which may be called the law
| Of Its political existence. When the thirteen
colonies rebelled against the British crown
they were separate political organizations, con-
ficting and often at war with each other. The
first impulse was toward union and centraliza-
ton, by the calling of general congress.
| From this came the confederation Tor rne war; /;
out Of this the greater Capitalization of the
stitution of 1887, and from that we have gone
on centralizing our political forms to the pre-
sent day, when we witness Its thus far greatest
but not ultimate degree of Capitalization. In
this we but obey the impulse received at the
| birth Of our political forms.


| So it was with Mexico, only her impulse was
in an opposite direction. When New Spain
rebelled against the Spanish crown It was o
centralized viceroyalty, divided into depart
ments merely for the convenience of fiscal ad-
ministration. The political impulse which
attended the birth Of the Mexican nation was
one Of decentralization. The departments
were erected into sovereign States. Govern
ment there has followed the line of this impulse
until for years past its DEGREES have been pow
erless beyond radius of thirty leagues from
the capital, and not obeyed unless they coin
cided with the personal interest of local rulers.
As with us society has prospered with the
growing strength Of government to protect, so
| In Mexico has 1t dwindled with the decay of
the protecting power. The entire political
being Of Mexico is dry-rotted with the law Of
Its existence. It can look for regeneration
only in the breaking up of its present forms and
the establishment of new ones upon other prin-
ciples, Of which the proposed new republic Of
the Occident Is an example. Within Mexico
itself there are now at work the germs of
other similar movements, and the end OF all
these will be one Each in turn will be
attracted to our stronger political system, as
Texas was, until all revolve in the harmony of
the Union.


Some three years ago, in this city, at the
old Union League Club House, General Grant,


In a crisp little speech referred to our
sister republic as proper subject for active
Intervention. From that passing remark we
were satisfied that the General, who goes for
thorough work, did not admire the dilly-dally-
Ing and temporizing policy Of Mr.. Seward
towards Louis Napoleon. Nor do we suppose
that the General is altogether satisfied with
the success Of the Secretary Of State in get
ting rid of the Franco Austrian imperial usur-
patton by persistent scolding. Nor Is II likely
that the do-nothing programme upon which
General Rosecrans, our new Minister to the
Juarel BoVernmeht, secms W Uo ucunB VIII
be followed under Grants administration.
We expect something better and more COM
prehensive and decisive from the practical
mind Of our great soldier. We dare say that
Grant has not forgotten Qor he was there at
the time) the great mistake make by General
Scott, when in occupation Of the Mexican
capital, in refusing to accept the government
Of the republic as free gift, and with splen-
did salary, as the Captain General, in the
name Of the United States. We anticipate in
some practical shape the revival under Presi-
dent Grant Of the grand idea involved in that
offer to General Scott and within the next
four years, in all probability, as territorial