New-York tribune., 1873-06-17
OUR BORDER TROUBLES.

way, and it is to be hoped she will.
OUR BORDER TROUBLES.
II is evident that something must be
speedily done to preserve the peace on the
boundary line between Mexico and the United
States. There are two branches to the Indian
troubles which distress tho frontier. From
Arizona, it is alleged, the Apaches raid into
Sonora and commit depredations upon Mexi-
can citizens, so harassing them that life is
made doubly uncertain and property vauees5
anywhere within forty miles of the territory
of the United States. In Texas, as we have
had recent occasion to notice, the settlers along
the Rio Grandc arc subject to constant incur
sions, from the Mexican side Of the river,
KickapOo Indians being chiefly conspicuous
in the raids. 1t is, however, suspected that
gangs of outlawS-Mexicans of the baser
sort-dsguiso themselves as KickapOOs and
organize predatory excursions on their own
account or accompany the Indians when they
cross the Rio Grandc. The KickapOO5 arc
not "civilzcd" Indians but they are
many grades above the Arizona Apaches
in intelligence and general knowledge
of their moral responsibilities. They
have been dOmestcated on reservations
in the United States, and know that their
errands across the border are unlawful and
have not even the sanction which they might
have according to the flexible rules of savage
warfare The average border Mexican and
the Kickapoo occupy about the same social
and moral plane either of them would steal
drove of horses or cut herdsman's throat
with complete serenity Of mind and conscience.
Some of our fellow citizens of tho Pacific
States and Territories Indignantly deny that
any deprcdatiOns arc committed on Mexican
soil by the Arizona Apaches. Within few
days, denial that any such raids have been made
has come from the Indian Agent in Southern
Arizona. Yet, the complaints made by Mexican
authorities are explicit, clrcumstantial and
supported by strong evidence. Gen. Luna,
commanding the National Guard in Sonora,
lately gave a newspaper correspondent the
points on which he establishes the guilt of
the Cochise band who are situated on IA res
ervatiOn near the Mexican boundary. He tes
tilted that no Apaches live in Sonora that
the raiders have been trailed from Sonora to
Arizona; that property taken from Mexican
citizens has been found at the Apache ReSer-
vation and that these raids have increased
in frequency since last October when the
Apaches were placed on the Reservation,
whence they have but six-hours' ride into
the sparse Mexican settlements. 1t looks like
q clear case against our Apache "wards."
1t cannot be expected that the troubles on
the Texan border should be kept down by
repetitions of such excursions as that lately
made into Mexican territory by Col Macken-
vio M I'm
occasional threat but it cannot be recognized
as a permanent corrective. 1t is proposed to
the United States Commission which lately
surveyed the border that the Kickapoos should
return to their Texan reserve, II they choose,
and so end the difficulty. This Is weak ex-
pedent for evading the whole manifest duty
of a neighbor. We do not want the Kicka-
poos and they probably do not want to return
unless they can do an equally thriving busi-
ness on this side of the line. lt is not
worth while TO consider such childish pro-
position. If Mexico cannot take care of
her Indian and domestic Tabble, it would
be n humiliating confession of weakness
to ask us to take them off her hands. The
United States Government and that of Mexico
should institute q rigid military police system
along tho boundary line between Sonora and
Arizona, as well as between Nueva Leon and
Texas. If Cochise's band are suspected of
raiding into our neighbor5 territory, they
should be removed from their present prox-
unity to the border, unless they can be
watched. There is no question about the guilt
of the Kickapoos, we believe; and wei must
exact of Mexico the same strict accountability
which we arc prepared TO assume for the
doings of the Apaches but extra vigilance is
required on our part, as our neighbors are
weak and lax in their management Of
affairs. At any rate we cannot afford to
have vast fertile tract of soil in
Texas, along tho banks of the Rio Grande,
made uninhabitabe by the forays Of pre-
dacious vagabonds from the other side of the
river. For all these material damages we
have no direct redress. There ia no longer
any treaty Obligation compelling either nation