Year: 1871




Fall or saitiIIo.


| A special HERALD despatch announces the
fall Of Saltillo after heightened and gallant
defence. This victory gives to General
1reviho complete command Of the Northern
States, and lays open the road to San Luis
Potosi, which will, no doubt, declare for the
revolution as soon as the victorious rebels
appear before it, All chance of the suppress
sion of the insurrection Is now at an end, and
the prospect that opens up for our un-
happy neighbor must fill every right thinking
man with horror. II was hoped by those
who looked with favor on the sister republic
that, with the departure of the French and the
overthrow of the empire, new era Of peace
and prosperity would begin for the Mexican
nation. II was thought that the severe lesson
which had been taught this people during the
French occupation would have convinced
them of the necessity of avoiding internecine
strife. and devoting themselves to the de velop-
ment Of the resources Of their country. But
1t seems as though the selfish ambition OF the
Mexican leaders cannot be restrained by any
considerations Of patriotism or justice when
something is to be gained by sacrificing them.
Any doubts which might have existed on this
point have been removed by this last move
ment, which has been organized and carried
out by men who, few years ago, were
the stanchest supporters Of President Jua-
his occupying the Presidential chair for the
third term, one thing is certain-that no other
man can replace him with advantage to Mex
leo. No doubt his administration has COM
mitted faults, and perhaps crimes but no
other administration would have done better,
empire peace has been maintained, and the
work of reconstruction has been pursued with
vigor. II the leaders Of the present move
ment had thought more about the interest of
their country and less about their own,
they would have passed over the possible
irregularities in Juarezs election which they
allege as justification for their revolt
Their selfish objects are too plain for any one
to be deceived by their patriotic protestations,
by which they try to cover up the real aim of
the revolt, which is simply to obtain possession
of the revenues Of the country. No more
forcible evidence the corruption of the people
could be required than that furnished by the
almost universal uprising against order which
followed the py0nunciamiento of Treviio
We believe that the revolution will ultimately
triumph, as the elements of disorder exist
everywhere in the country but with the fall
of the Juarez government will come anarchy,
and unless the United States should interfere
in the interest Of civilization Mexico
must fall back into barbarism. The
people have proved themselves unfit for a free
government, and every day seems to incline
them more to bloodshed and strife. IF any
man could have saved Mexico Juarez was the
man. He had claim to the gratitude of the
nation no other man possessed in the noble
re sistance he continued to offer to the empire
when there seemed scarcely the shadow of
hope Of success. In addition to this he is
man Of large views and great tenacity Of
purpose, and has given unquestionable proofs
Of administrative and executive ability in the
way in which he has governed the turbulent
population over which he has been called to
rule The present trouble will convince the
intelligent aud wealthy Mexicans that the
only salvation for their country is to
be found under the protection of the Stars and
Stripes Already a large party urge the ad-
Visibility of merging the Mexican nation into
the great republic, and there are only the law
less adventurers and their ignorant dupes who
would be likely to oppose change that could
not fail to prove extremely advantageous to
Mexico. Peace would be secured to her by
the strong arm Of the law, and capital would
pour in to develop her exhaustless mineral re-
sources. We shall wait anxiously to know
what result will follow the fall of Saltillo. 1t
is the first victory, aud that always carries
with it great moral effect. To tottering
cause the result is likely to be fatal, as
6umbera who hssye been preserving mas
tery inactivity will place themselves on what
appears to be the winning side. We shall
regret the fall Of Juarez, because whatever
hope there was Of the regeneration of Mexico
falls with him, and will place us face to face
with condition of things which we cannot
tolerate.