920
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
destitute of aid or counsel but that I rccei,·e from you. The politics of the country, as you justly remark, are in rather a tangled condi- tion, and that very circumstance makes my track more difficult to discern; for how to preserve consistency with some settled system of opinions, when there is not a standard by which those who are actually managing the machinery, are guided, is a source which furnishes matter to Exercise the ingenuity even of an Experienced diplomatist, rather than to Employ the raw and unskilful hand that is literally compelled to wield it alone. For the sake of appearing united, and by that very means ,pro- ducing union, I have Endeavoured to give to Every measure broached and acted upon in a way that it might have an influence on the main current of our affairs, such a face as would not disgrace us by Expos- ing our situation, agitated with clissention, and rendered contempti- ble by division and inconsistency. It has been my leading wish, to Keep up a belief of unanimity on all important points, and to bring as large a volume of the public mind to the support of whatever course the Central Committee should adopt, as it would be possible to do. This idea is very material abroad, and is the only foundation of confidence intertained of the redemption of the country-if smoth- ered or rendered doubtful, the population of the country will be checked, and all its hopes darkened. You say the tone of my paper has been rather anti :Mexican, and that I ought to change it. I do not think I have said any thing that should wound them as a people-on the contrary I have when speaking of the liberal party always puffed them. To be sure I have not said much about them, for I lmow too little to Enable me [to] say any thing in their favour, that would not be inconsistent with our own acts and declarations. As to the mere tone of the paper, it is not so Easy to change without the detection of inconsistency as might be thought. The tone of the paper has been caught from, and formed by the events that have occurecl, and the circumstances and necessary feelings which surround us-and some occurence or new event must serve as a hinge upon which to turn even the tone of my remarks from the general tenor of our conduct.' If commJll/fl,ications were introduced not .too much varying in substance from the drift of the public feeling, or the ex- pectation, or rather belief of what that is, abroad, invested with such a glossy colouring of true and loyal Mexicanism as to answer.the purpose you desire, I could yield better to that, than to n~ obv1~us cause, in departing from what has at least appeared to Chime with the united feelings of the people. I dropt you a few hasty remarks a day or two since, in reply to your letter by Bradly which with t!1~se, will inform you how I feel disposed on the subject of our politics. Without consistency we have no influence-Without influence we can do no good.
Powered by FlippingBook