[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from December 10 (reply #16) .

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas

[colorado tanker]

Mexico and Central America were in turmoil at this time, mostly in the aftermath of American interference. I can't locate a source for this but I'm guessing Strong did not approve of the Mexican War, as Lincoln also did not.

After the Mexican War the Santa Anna dictatorship was overthrown, which began a period known as La Reforma. Liberals were convinced that Mexico had to modernize after the humiliating defeat at the hands of the Americans.

By 1858, La Reforma had devolved into the War of Reform. We can look to our crystal ball to see that the liberals, under Benito Juarez, would win. That, however, would only end with a French invasion and attempt to set up Maximilian, a Hapsburg, as Emperor of Mexico. By that time, however, America would be preoccupied with other problems.

Very recently, a man named Walker, with his Filibuster Army, had been defeated and thrown out of Nicaragua. Walker had seized the country during a time of turmoil, allegedly as one faction's ally, but tried to convert it into an English speaking slave state. Only with great effort did the Central Americans expel Walker and his Filibusterers. Almost as prone to making bad decisions as Buchanan, President Pierce had recognized Walker's regime as the legitimate government.

England still exercised great influence in the region and especially in what is now Belize and the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua.

So, our Diarist's sour view of American influence in the region vis a vis the Europeans has some grounding in recent events.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from December 13 (reply #10).

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas