New-York tribune., 1873-05-26
TROUBLESOME NEIGHBORS.


At last. we are in fair way to secure
peace on the Mexican border. For many
wears there has been chronic state of guer-
rilla warfare along Che line of the Rio Grande,
the base of the most extensive operations
being in Mexico. Occasionally, the Texan
people, much outraged and never very pune
tilious observers of legal forms, crossed
into the territory of our neighbors and
sharply retaliated upon the raiders. But
regard for the principles of international usage
has heretofore prevented the military power
of the United States from being used to
pursue the plunderers into Mexican territory.
The maraudng bands are sometimes native
Mexicans REINFORCED by other white stragglers
and vagIants; and sometimes the kickapoo
Iipan and Mescaero Indians organize these
predatory incursions. The KickapOos were
originally removed from Illinois to Kansas,
thence to Texas; and most of them finally
found their way into Mexico, where, it is al
legged, they stay for the purpose of thieving
from the Texans. All of these bandits,
whether "greasern or Indian, are famous
horsemen-quick, daring, and bold. 1t would
be impossible to establish military guard
along tho border so as effectIaly to stop
these raids such force would require nearly
the whole army of the United States. But
even the troops which are available for this
especial duty are oftener balked by flight
across the border than by the difficulty of
oyertaking the raiders in n fair chase. To
follow the rascals into Mexico has been
thought SO clearly impossible that the fugi-
tiyes have turned around and mOcked in the
| Iol loI uh
across the Rio Grande.
Diplomatic correspondence has been layished
upon this subject without much effect. The
conclusion Of the whole matter. however. is
that the local authorities on the Mexican side
of the border undoubtedly connive at the
raids. The Mexican Government is not in a
position to compel observance of inter
national obligations it cannot even
obtain truthful version of affairs
from its officers on the frontier, and
when pushed for satisfactory expla-
nation of its own position, the Mexican
Government has said that it had no power to
permit the entry of foreign troops on Mexican
soil, but, if such an entry became Impera-
lively necessary-well, they would talk about
it. This is substantially what we must con-
CluOe IRON lDe puDuC ItOOiu VIC Hd'c VI lHe
negotiations. Col. S. Mackenzie who pursued
band of the predatory Kickapoos and
Lipans into Mexico, lately, was prob
ably acting under orders. 1t is quite
likely that our own Government has come to
the conclusion that test case might as well be
made at once Mexico, it is clear, cannot pro-
tect its own border; it is not likely that we shall
be able to prove a tithe of the damages wrought
upon our citizens, nor to collect from Mexico
the amounts fairly due on that account. When
an invasion of friendly neighbor's soil is made,
the aggrieyed party must make representations
of the fact and demand an explanation. IL is
easy Ito give in this case one which should
satisfy any reasonable Government.
What the State Department will say TO the
Mexican Minister when he wants to know why
Col. Mackenzie's troops have penetrated eighty
miles into Mexico, we cannot surmise. But if
Gen. Sheridan, who commands Col. Mackenzie,
has received instructions from the War De-
partment which have resulted in this dash across
the border, the answer to Sehor Mariscal will be
designed to try conclusions. If our trouble
some Deighbors, whose boundary protects all
sorts of nuisanees, cannot punish these
thieves, they must expect that we shall try
to 90 it. Tho unhappy republic on our