The Daily Dispatch: December 15, 1865., [Electronic resource]

France has been engaged for some time in the experiment of "civilizing" Mexico. We like the phrase, and applaud the philanthropic spirit which it expresses. Nothing is more admirable in the Great Powers of Europe than their anxiety to "civilize" the world. They might be content to cultivate in peace their own fertile acres, and never to recognize the claims of a common humanity upon their active sympathies and co-operation. Wrapped up selfishly in their own affairs, they might permit the rest of mankind to go to destruction their own way. But no such sordid and contracted spirit is permitted to dictate their policy. To their honor be it spoken, there is not, and never has been, a prince or potentate of Europe, who possessed the power of being useful to his fellow creatures, who did not exert his energies to reclaim them from the ways of ignorance, superstition, and barbarism, and to bring them within the illuminated circle of his own superior civilization.

Prompted by such motives, England, France, and Spain have, from the first, endeavored to extend the blessings of law, order and morality to this benighted hemisphere. Its original occupants, naked savages and lumberers of the earth, presented an inviting field for missionary effort. If heartlessly abandoned to their aboriginal condition by the civilized nations of Europe, this whole continent would now be a howling wilderness. What it is, we need not describe. Empires, crowded with order and intelligence, have started out of the primeval forests as if by enchantment.

‘ "Steam, that fleshless arm,
Whose pulses leap with floods of living fire,"

’

stretches forth its potent fingers where the foot of the most adventurous savage had never penetrated, and the artificial and mechanical forces of this single country exceed all the hands of the four continents of the globe a century ago. The savages themselves, insensible as brutes to the kindly influences exerted in their behalf, have ceased to mar and disfigure the virgin hemisphere, and have taken up their march to hunting grounds beyond the reach of civilization. Mexico, where the native inhabitants cling with most tenacity to the soil, and mingle the muddy waters of their inferior blood with the ruddy currents of European civilization, alone remains of North America impenitent and unreformed. The United States, from a morbid conscience and false sense of delicacy, has long avoided the duty of "civilizing," which any European Power would long that ago have performed to a depraved and impotent neighbor. Thus neglected by its natural guardians, and apparently forsaken by all earthly sympathy, the good and great Napoleon has undertaken the benevolent enterprise of "civilizing" Mexico. Thirty-five or forty thousand French missionaries, under the auspices of the Abbe Bazaine, have been for several years engaged in the holy work of reclaiming her from evil courses, and instructing her in the proprieties of civilized life. We should be glad to be able to give an encouraging account of progress and proficiency under this enlightened and self-sacrificing patronage. So far as we are advised, however, there remains in that besotted people a stolid and ungrateful want of appreciation,--a spirit, indeed, of miserable discontent and insubordination, which resists the philanthropic intervention of Napoleon on their behalf as if it were an insult and a wrong. Under these circumstances, it will not be astonishing if, stung by their blindness and ingratitude, the Emperor of the French ultimately leaves them to their fate. It is some consolation, however, that, whether he does or not, we shall ourselves recognize the duties we owe to Mexico, and perform our part in the great work of civilization. It will perhaps be as well for Napoleon to relinquish altogether the business of "civilizing," on this continent, to American hands. The late Mr. Monroe was of opinion that this was exclusively an American mission, and we cannot much longer postpone the conferment upon Mexico of those superior blessings which France, though willing, is, alas, incompetent to impart.

In the meantime let mankind be grateful to Europe for the application of the word "civilizing" in this connection. It must be grateful to scrupulous consciences to be informed that it is no longer a crime, but a virtue to appropriate the goods and chattels, the civil and political rights of others, if the design is their improvement. The vocabulary of the police courts will no doubt be rendered more euphonious when this principle is applied to individuals as well as nations. The pickpocket, who impresses upon mankind the transitory character of earthly possessions, and the manslayer, who sends some good man to a happier existence, will then be recognized as the benefactors of their race, and, like Napoleon, "civilizers" of the world.