THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2136, 25 October 1867, Page 3

THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO.

The correspondent 0 f the Times writing from New York says:W jafc mli the United State do with Mexico? Of course they hayo not been instrumental in upsetting one government which but for tliem_ promised to succeed, and in bringing its chief to death, for nothing. Jiverything that has happened lately has been the natural result of a policy begun nearly 20 years ago, and steadily pursued down to the present tune. It is not for the Monroe doctrine in itself that the United States' Government has been intriguing igainst the 'late empire. That°is a ientiment which is only valued for the

3 sake of certain ulterior steps which [ may be taken in its name, It is used to cover designs which could not prui' dentty be avowed when they are first 3 formed, and it is kept in the i front until public opinion is ripe for fc the next movement, The reason why 3 the United States looked with so much f jealousy and anger upon Maximilian r was, that he seemed likely to found a t claim to a part of the continent which > they always considered would revert . to them. It was their own, some day

t or other, and they did not like to see 1 a formidable claimant stepping into if, 3 Mexico must eventually bu a State in 3 the Union. Mr Seward in constantly 3 holding the glittering bait before the 3 eyes of the people, and they are not j insensible to its attractions. " The t whole continent must be ours," is the r burden of Mr Seward'si speeches i w tarever he goes, and the people, disj trusting him the while, ■ cordially ; respond to his aspiration, j We must have a Mexican policy" . says a New York paper. "We have : "' aute d it terribly during the last few ■ years." The writer ought rather to . have declared, " We want the policy , now openly avowed which we have pursued in secret the last score ol years. We want Mr Seward to throw away masks and disguises, and let the Mexicans know what they really have to expect." What does the Government of this country care for the socalled (to borrow Mr Shanks' withering sarcasm), "President" Juarez? He, or any other lay figure the Mexicans may set over them, would be removed at a moment's notice. A hint from Washington, and Mexico would be overrun with filibusters; they would get iuto some mischief before long, and what so natural and proper for a Government as to protect its own citizens! A thousand expedients may be invented to afford an excuse for annexing Mexico. The Foreign Secretary of State pledges the country that it shall be given to them. The short and disastrous Austrian rule has helped forward the scheme by a dozen years. It can plausibly be argued on the part of the. Government that it is necessary for America to take up a position in Mexico which will prevent other European intervention, and the long series of evils in its train. " For your own sakes," it may say to the Mexicans, " we must be your protectors ; and for your sakes," it may say to Europe, "we must protect them." The_ people know that thin is all coming perfectly well, and they also know that they can afford to wait. Why does not the Government stand out at once with an acknowledgment of its policy ? Because other more pressing affairs exhaust all its time and energies. With the old internal feuds and differences still iinkling in the heart of the country, the Government cannot attempt to do its allotted work in Mexico. Yet, in other respects, a favourable time to strike the below seems to have arrived. One claimant to the Presidency of the "Republic"—Santa Anna—has been

swept away. The old man was no longer dangerous, although it is said that the common people in Mexico were much in his favour; but there was enough in him to make it worth Juarez' while to send him suddenly to his grave. His execution may do more hurt to Juarez than the old schemer could ever have brought about iu life. And then, again, excuses tor interference on the part of the United States are not wanting. The papers are paving the way by publishing doleful stories of outrages committed by the Mexicans upon American citizens, and exciting accounts of " insult to the American fliig,' which, of course, could not bo tolerated for an instant. One report told us that despatches had been received at Washington giving accounts of the deplorable state of matters on the Mexican border. Since the fall of Maximilian," I it goes on, " the conduct of the Mexicaus has beeu overbearing, and insult to the United States' flag by Mexican officials is an everyday occurrence." This piece of news looks as if it proeeeded directly trom the Foreign Department. It is an omen of what is to come. " We need," says another writer, " the right of way across Tehuantepec and the Northern States to the Pacific. Caunot something bo dona?" Undoubtedly ifc can, and Congress will probably soon find out the way. It cannot be denied that tho best thing that could happen for Mexico would be its absorption by the United States. In any other event it is doomed to perpetual anarchy and misrule. No one supposes that the authority of Juarez will be acknowledged or respected very long. Escobedo will soon dispute it with him if Ortega docs not appear on the scone and there fire always adventurers enough to make a fight for the throne of the Montezumas. The United Mates aloue could give lair and order to the distracted country. The Government has half obliged itself to do so by overthrowing a ru l o w hi o K (] j s . tinctly had those objects in view. The Mexicans themselvos-such, at least, as are the holders of property—would

be glad to hoist the Stars and Stripes. Any other dominion from without is impossible there, and when once reconstruction is settled in the South it will not he long before the pictures of Mexican victories in the Capitol will acquire a fresh significance. To this work of reconstruction Congress has hitherto devoted exclusively its extra session. Several hills have been brought forward, all of them with this object in view—to give to the military commanders in the South the absolute right to remove any civil officers they please, and to order the time and conditions of registration of voters. Mr Butler has had something to say about impeachment, but, as people remark here, "it does not t? 0 ?? to r , mucl >" Yesterday Mr Inaddeus Stevens made one of the speeches for which he is famous, vehement and bitter against the Southern States, and he took occasion to declare his approval of the "heroic execution of murderers and pirates" in Mexico.