Mexican affairs., August 29

Mexican affairs.

The empress Charlotte’s voyage to Paris has recalled attention to Mexican affairs. It is said the young princess has come to ask men and money of the French government, and has failed to get them. As this refusal coincides with the recall of our troops, promised to the United States, and the success of the Juarists, who are besieging and capturing cities, it is ominous of the fall of the Mexican empire; and we would not be surprised to see Maximilian return to Europe in a very short time.

This expected event would finish an enterprise in which we have never had any confidence, and of which we predicted the failure as early as 1862. We have not touched upon it since, because we did not wish to increase the obstacles already in the way of its success.

The voluntary or forced abdication would certainly simplify it, by relieving France of her promised patronage; but though desirable, it will not be the end of the troubles in that quarter.

Though Maximilian should leave, our troops would still be surrounded by the Juarist forces that we have fought for four years, and from whom we can expect no good will. We do not mean that our army is cowardly and is afraid of anything, but since it has to leave, it ought to be in France by October, 1867, (and sooner, if possible,) and we must consider the situation of our countrymen after it quits Mexico. It is a situation that requires a delicate treatment. The first thing to do is to give up all aid to Maximilian’s monarchy. The emperor said, and his agents have repeated it, “We did not go to Mexico to give it a government.” Now is the time to remember that declaration, and to treat with the Juarist party if it resumes the government. No matter to us whether there is an empire or a republic in Mexico. All we have to do is to see that the government there respects the rights and the lives of our countrymen.

If we were allowed to give advice in regard to the sad reality now apparent, we would advise the French government to place no importance in the promises of indemnity—to make no sacrifice—to risk no further complication to secure it. The Mexican affair is a bad business, and nothing can make it better. We depended upon Spain and England to help us, but they failed. The civil war in the United States was a circumstance favoring the establishment of a monarchy in Mexico. Perhaps Maximilian might have shown a higher capacity for the position offered to him. Attributing the failure of the enterprise to all these disappointments, it is not less true that the failure is complete, and all that now can be done is to accept the situation as it is, without disguise, for the most important point is to finish the business completely, and leave nothing behind as a nucleus for new complications.

We insist upon this, after spending seventy or eighty millions, to collect twelve or fifteen for our countrymen. When we quit Mexico we must not leave garrisons in the seaports to collect the custom-house duties for our benefit. It would be a cruel disappointment. Our soldiers and employés left at Tampico and Vera Cruz would be decimated by yellow fever, and we might be sure the indemnity would not be paid long, for the Juarists would respect no agreement with Maximilian, but would annoy us and lead us back into the labyrinth from which we imagined we had escaped. We must now cut to the quick, and leave nothing behind—finish the bad business at every cost. A few millions, more or less, are not to be considered when weighed with the liberty of mind and freedom of action we would enjoy at the complete termination of this unfortunate expedition.

We must profit by past experience, and the horrid scenes of the last five years to preserve us from diappointment in the future. What is the original cause of all our difficulties in Mexico? It is just what has kept Mexico in anarchy ever since her independence; the want of organic elements. The extent of territory, sparseness of inhabitants, habits of idleness, theft, and robbery, qualifies the people to retain their independence, but places insurmountable obstacles in the way of the formation of a durable and regular government.

You find among them no business habits, no inclination to industry that characterizes our native host of order and peace. Commerce, trade, and business of all kinds is in the hands of foreigners. People of means lead an idle life. The clergy dream about impossible restorations. The Indian is imposed on by everybody. There is no class to depend on. There is no starting point anywhere. It is so easy to overturn a government in Mexico, and so hard to maintain one, there is never a stable government. This is what makes every one who has seen Mexico believe that the country is destined to be gradually swallowed up by the United States. They have already taken Texas, New Mexico, and California, and settled them, and the rest will follow as civil war ceases, and the necessity of annexation becomes urgent. Till that time, anarchy will continue to prevail in Mexico. We may treat with the government that follows Maximlian, but we must not rely upon the fulfilment of any obligation, and must avoid every act that might compromise us. In a word, the Mexican expedition is a bad business. We must charge its costs to profit and loss, and close the accounts, and make no one think anything is to be made out of it. This desperate resolution is the only counsel of wisdom. If events prove that we are wrong, so much the better; we shall be agreeably surprised. At present there is but one thing we can do, recall our troops; take in our colors, and form as good relations as we can with the government that succeeds Maximilian for the protection of our countrymen. As to war indemnities and quotas of custom-house revenues, secure them if you can, but don’t expect it; and leave no soldiers behind to stir up new conflicts.

The remaining question, that of the situation of subscribers, we will postpone till our next.