New-York tribune., 1873-06-25
cOIONJZING ROBBERS.


IT, il not a little discouraging to tho average
American citizen that few lawless lnuiiIo
on the Mexican border should cause hiucn
trouble between two nations IL Is ha'ui"'
perhaps, that the Mcxicans should fecl ags,"-
waited by violation of their territory W
limited States troops in pursuit OF the maIauu-
ing Kckapoos But, though their local pr'u0
NAV have been soIely wounded, their Govern
ment is almost without cause for complaint
Some of the inhabitants of the State Oh 0od-
buila excitedly required not only the surrender
Of tbe Kickapoos captured on that famous eX-
nedition. but of Col Mackenzie, who com
manded the raid. Lattcrly, however, this pre-
MYSTERIOUS demand has been abated 10
rcouest that the United States Govern
ment shall order return Oh '"o
contivee - Mexican territory. According to a
recent report of the American commissioners
who were sent to treat with the Mexican "u-
thorties for the removal OF the hlckapoos 10
the United States, tho negotiations snow 'h"I
the matter stands about thus: Inc hlchapooS'
who were once domesticated in Texas, cannot
be kent from marauding across the border Dy
the Mexican authorities; 1t Is dllnculI lor no
to protect our whole frontier line against theH
incursions; therefore, it is proposed that tncSo
lo,vIoes nconle come back into Texas, where
they can be taken care of and watched DuO
they say they will not come back unless inc
captiyes taken by Col. Mackenzie arc hrst
formally restored to them. In other worus'
having pursued and punished these DanditS'
they say they will not consider any proposl-
ton to return to the United States uhth "poi-
ogy and reparatiOn are made!
OF course the weakness OF Mexico ana INC
friendless condition of the wandering hicka-
poos should bo some argument IN 1aVor Oh
treating the matter with the same careful con-
sideration which would be exacted by more
poverful neighbors But it Is somewhat
bumilating that these border robbcrs-for
they are no better-should be able by Their
lawlessness to leopard the peaceful rela-
tions between Mexico and the United States.
The Governor of Coahuila, in his official
instructions to the Mexican Commissioner
SAYS that on the removal of the hlckapOos
depends the continuation of those relations
If we want peace with Mexico we must get
the Indians back again, and VIC cannot open
negotiations with them unless we surrender
the captives taken by Col. Mackenzie. There is
no assurance, even, that the kickapo0s
will consent to return after they have secured
their demands. The Mexican authorities fore
seeing that the Indians may refuse to move
after they have regained their captive brcth-
ren, pledge their word that the prisoners now
held by Col Mackenzie shall be again given
ND if the KickapOOs do not come back to
Texas, As the Mexicans have shown neither
diligence nor ability in the management of
their troublesome tenants, heretofore, we must
see that this promise is not worth much. If
we could demand these prisoners! of Mexico,
after once giving them up, we cannot be far
wrong to keep them now. But the objection
able feature of this whole business is that the
return of the rascally Indians cuts so con-
spicuOus q figure in the case. The settlement
of any difficulty growing out of Col Macken-
zic's expedition should not bo complicated
with the question of the future location OF
the Kickapoos These Indians are emphati-
cally bad lot; they are worse than the
Modocs, for they have all of the vices and
intelligent lawlessness of the civilized white
rufiians among whom they have lived. Their
plea that they were not committing depre-
dations at the precise moment that they were
pounced upon by Col. Mackenzie is worthy of
Tombs lawyer. We are well rid of them
when they are fixed in Mexico. The mauly
dignihed disposition of the whole case would
seem to be to remand the Kickapoos to the
control of the Mexican Government, whose
protection they long since sought. We do not
want any such awards" The statement that
we cannot protect our border against Kickapoo
raids from Mexico is ludicrousy weak argu-
ment in favor Of colonizing the dreaded rob-
bers upon our own soil. When we have ex-
hausted resource in the defense of the frontier
and Mexico has shown its inability or unwill-
ingness to discharge its duties to friendly
neighbor, it will be time to talk about stronger
measures. But this negotiation with sullen
outlaws is unworthy Of the diplomacy Of the
trn mhlica