Walker Redivivus

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WALKER REDIVIVUS.

In our telegraphic column, yesterday, we published a piece of news that was sufficiently startling, if true. It was to the effect that General William Walker¹, at the head of eight hundred filibustersfillibusters​ , well armed with Minie rifles and Colt’s revolvers, and having a battery of eighteen field pieces, had crossed the Rio Grande, near El Paso, on or about July 1st, on their way to Sonora. The object of the expedition is of course to subjugate and finally annex Sonora. Col. Titus², well, and not particularly favorably, known in connection with Kansas affairs, has, according to the despatch, joined the party.

Upon the whole, we rather think this intelligence is but a canard, invented by some enthusiastic Walker man in the West. It is known that the “grey-eyed man” was at Mobile on July 12th, from whence he started for the interior of Alabama. Of late, too, he has refused to mingle in Mexican affairs, and in other respects, setting aside the fact that he and Titus are on the worst possible terms and the latter not at all likely to join him, the news has to us a decidedly bogus appearance.

Nevertheless, though the present despatch may be unworthy of credence, we have very little doubt that Walker will ultimately turn up in an entirely new form and direction, one of these days—perhaps sooner than people think for. Walker is pretty much in the same position as was Louis Napoleon³ when he was loafing in New York or sporting a special constable’s baton in London. He has perfect faith in himself, and still believes himself to be as much “the Man of Destiny” as when he was in the full flush of apparent success, and when the papers talked of nobody else. That is the great thing, after all. A man who believes in his “mission” and has confidence in himself, can impress others with a like sense, and kindle in other breasts an enthusiasm kindred to that which burns in his own. Whether it be true or not, then, that an armed expedition has crossed the Rio Grande at El Paso—whether it was filibuster in character or not—we have very little doubt that the world will yet hear more of General William Walker, in a similar connection. The despatch alluded to, though probably bogus, may prove prophetic. There is a large party in the South ready to aid him in his filibustering schemes, and we may depend upon it that the long headed, “grey-eyed man” and his sympathizers are not asleep, but simply watching and waiting.

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