seem ungracious, until the incoming administration in Mexico shall have had time, if possible, to cement its authority."
How many Americans there are to-day who feel as apprehensive as did President Lincoln! How many Americans ask to-day whether the United States may not have to intervene in Mexico, after all, to help establish peace and order!
In his International Law Digest, Professor John Bassett Moore, former Counsellor of the State Department in Washington, writes:
"On November 28, 1876, General Porfirio Diaz issued a proclamation announcing himself provisional president of the Republic of Mexico, under the Plan of Tuxtepec. On January 19, 1877, intelligence having been received at Washington of the defeat of the forces of the rival claimants Secretary of State Fish suggested that if this should be confirmed by similar tidings received at the City of Mexico, General Diaz 'would have no important adversary in arms and might be regarded as the actual ruler of the country.' The question of recognising his government was under the circumstances left to the discretion of the American Minister. In view, however, of the unsettled state of affairs in Mexico, and especially of the existence of controversies between the two countries growing out of troubles on the Rio Grande frontier, it was afterwards determined
