Foster to Hamilton Fish, May 4, 1876

No. 214. Mr. Foster to Mr. Fish.

Sir: In my No. 405, of the 29th ultimo, I referred to the discussion in the press of this capital of the resolutions presented to the House of Representatives by the committee on Texas border troubles, authorizing the passage into Mexico of United States troops in pursuit of raiders. This subject having been specifically directed to the attention of the Diario Oficial, and the opinion of the government requested from this official organ by the Siglo XIX, one of the opposition newspapers, the Diario Oficial has briefly responded. I inclose copies and translations of the articles from both the Siglo and the Diario.

As indicating the wide-spread feeling on the subject, and the exaggeration of the danger of an international conflict growing out of the proposition of the committee, I inclose a copy and translation of a petition of students of the principal college of this city, addressed to the minister of war.

I also transmit a copy and translation of an article upon the subject, written by Hon. Matias Romero, the former minister of the Mexican Republic in Washington, afterward minister of finance, and at present a deputy of the National Congress. It is the most correct and the only impartial statement of the question which has appeared in the Mexican press) and Mr. Romero has by its publication rendered an important service to both countries.

I am, &c.,

question of dignity and patriotism.

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Any one may comprehend the force and importance of the words which the Texan commissioners use in an official document directed to the American Congress, and we do not wish to comment upon them because they offend the patriotic susceptibility of the Mexicans, but the pen falls from our hands upon remembering that the government, by means of the only authorized organ which it has in the press, has not raised its voice in protestation against the outrage which, as a free and independent nation, is committed upon us.

In consideration of the silence which the Diario Oficial observes in so delicate an affair, it occurs to us to ask: What criterion does the government of Mr. Lerdo follow in its international relations? Who inspires that incomprehensible conduct that one day causes it to fill its paper with useless and odious comparisons between what passes in a friendly nation and our own, and the next has not a single worthy word to resent an insult that fills us with anger and shame? How does it attempt to explain to us the latent contradiction which exists between the coldnes and the studied reserve of the government in its relations with Spain, which country has given us no occasion for offense, and the dissimulation or fear which obliges the same government to refrain from murmuring at the treatment of the United States? From this fear and this dissimulation does the suspicion not arise that from the two extremes of which we have spoken at the commencement of this article, viz: that of not lowering the dignity of the nation, and that of maintaining it, the government will act through the former? And let it not be said that the spirit of country or party blinds us; no. We well understand the difference there is between our power and that of the United States, and we well know that we should unite ourselves by ties of friendship and fraternity with our neighbor; but this does not mean that before the international conflict with which the Texan commission threatens us we should remain silent and dumb like the slave that goes down on his knees trembling on hearing the step of his master. And this is what the government, which says nothing in its paper for the satisfaction of the insulted national honor, intends to do.

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dignity and patriotism.

A representative of the United States has presented a proposition relating to the question whether Mexican territory can be violated, now that on the northern frontier of Tamaulipas the revolutionists have usurped the legitimate government recognized by that of the neighboring nation. If this idea, like others which we see daily in the North American press relating to our country, has wounded the patriotic epidermis of some, it has not affected the more tranquil national sentiment, but a sentiment no less commendable than that of certain individuals, whose violent attacks, on account of the motive which inspires them, we are far from censuring.

The press and public opinion, judging by their manifestations up to the present time, have not been prejudiced by that proposition. The Diario Oficial, following this example, thought that silence was the best reply to the personal view of the American representative, which view, without doubt, will not meet the approbation of the elevated body to which it has been presented. Observing this course, the Diario Oficial thought that the rights of national dignity were better preserved.

If the latter should really be menaced, not by the presentation of a proposition, but by acts of another nature, then our contemporary the Siglo will see how the government of Mr. Lerdo, without arrogance or foolish provocations, will know how to sustain the name and honor of the nation, subjects concerning which it does not need to receive warning nor lessons from any one.

the students of the preparatory school.—patriotism.

[From the Federalista, Mexico, May 3, 1876.]

The students of this seat of education have presented to the government a request conceived in the following terms:

“In view of the possibility that a conflict may occur between Mexico and the United States, we, the undersigned, (students of the National Preparatory School,) publicly make known our desire that the minister of war may be pleased to appoint a person to instruct us in the manual of arms; since lovers, above everything else, of our country, and mindful of the constant threatening of the powerful neighbor republic, we earnestly ask that, while we are making ourselves men of education, we may be aided to become, in the case mentioned, worthy defenders of the country.

“We believe, without doubt, that the minister will accede to our just petition, since, entirely resolved, under such circumstances, to substitute our text-books for the gun of the soldier, he should by no means permit us to become, upon the field of battle, the victims of our ignorance. Know in order to act; this is a most wise and incontestable principle of modern philosophy.

“Jealous of the inviolability of the territory of our republic and disposed, as good sons of Mexico, to comply with a sacred duty, we earnestly desire an answer to our petition.