, 1873-12-26

THE NEXT FOREIGN WAR.
Tho American merchants aloqg the Mexican
frontier havo remarkable grievance, and to re-
dress 1t they think the United States ought 70
to var with Mexico. Many yearuago Mo1ico hnd
protective tnriR. Tho duty under tho American
tariff was ut that timo comparatively small. Tho
principal townB on tho Mcxlcan sido OF the rlvor
aro Matamoras aud Nuoya Laredo. The result
was that the American merchants could undor~
soil those on tito American side Of tho river, just
as tho Canadiang can now undersoll merchnuts
in this country. Tho meanB Of crossing tho Rio
Grando arc very simple. In addition to the
public ferry-boats, tho river may 10 crossed in a
canoo or my other boat at any point for tbou-
sand miles. Az tho goods tho Moxicans needed
could bc purchased on the American
aldo 60 much cheaper, tho a1oxicuna,
for n long distance back into the
country, traded with tho Americans. They
brought oil thoy had to sell to tue American
side, and, exchanging it for wbat they needed,
had no difficulty in getting back with their puE-
cbases FREQ Of all Custom-uouso supervision.
In plain English, our people did a very extensive
trade with tile Mexican smugglcrs. Tie weak
Government Of Mexico, failing. as might have
been expected, to break up this smuggling by
which it lost its revenues, and the trade Of iss
own cities being destroyed, resorted to the heroic
remedy, md established "free belt"-Zona
Understanding the whole length Of tho Rio
Grande aud reaching back si1 miles from the
river. It decroed that all foreign goods brought
into Mexico within this district should be FREQ OF
duty. Under our very moderate tariT prior to
was practically FREQ belt on both sides Of
tue rivor. This continued until after the
Rebellion, whom Texas again passed un-
der our laws. Then tho enormous chango in
our tariff waa at once foIt. The state Of things
had become exactly reversed. On tho Moxican
side thoro was no tariff on the American side
was tariff amounting to perhaps GO per cont in
gold. As a result, tho whole Mexican trade went
to the Mexican cities. The American trade fol-
lowed It. Tho Texans soon discovered TINT
they could got from 60 to rs por cont more
goods In exchange for their products on tho
Mexican than OH the American sido Of the river.
Thore was no difficulty in getting these goods
into the Unitod statcs, and the smuggling which
WIS once general along tho whole border from
tho United States into Mexico ia now carried on
moro extensively by our own pooplo from
Mexico into the United States. Tho merchants
at Brownsville see their customers cross the
rfr ~ Inot or Nn}o Iva
towns now do the trade for both sides
OF tho river, just az tho American towns
did before tho establishment Of tho
Libre Zona and consequently there is a domand
made Oh tho United States Government that it
compel Mexico to abolish tho FREQ belt-tllat ie,
to onaot tariff. The member Of Congress from
that part of Texas lays hig grievance before
Congress- eyo1y year, and the rascality Of the
Mexican Government receives its annual expos
nro. Mexico, refusing to abolish the L'bro Zonu,
tho American merchants along tho Rio Grando
think that tho United Statoa ought to declare
war upon that Republic, and make 1t pay DAM
agca to compensate the American merchants for
tho loss OF trade. Mr. Fish lns not, thus far in~
olned to war, but there is no knowing when the
seoretnry Of the Navy may deem it wiso to OK
pond s1o,o0oooo or $20,ooo,ooo equippiug a
navy to compel Mexico to enact tariff Oh the
Rio Grande.
Gu our Northern border, the Dominion Of
Canada offers for sale eyory description Of
goods needed hy our people at from 20 to 30 por
cont cheaper than they can DO purchased In tho
United States, aud the opportunity is
largely embraced by our people. Tho
stato Of Vermont furnishes the country
with tle author OF tho preaent tariff.
Vermont is always vehement for protection to
American industry, yet wo suppose thore
are fifty dollara' worth OF foreign goods smug-
glel annually into Vermont from Canada to one
dollars worth that Il smnggled into Texas from
Mexico. Though Vermont iB IN inland State,
she includes probably as large body Of expert
Hmugglors Us any State with III extensive coast.
Whom ono Government works Itself up to the
point where 1t can assumo to dictate to other
Governments tho management Of its customs
laws, VIC suggest that 1t begin with Canada.
Tho trade botwoen tho Canadian Provinces and
this country Ia extensive, aud ia largely carried
Oh by amugglors. II poor Mexico IL to bo COM
PEELED to levy such tax Oh hor OWL citizens Oh
will make Americana trade OIL their own aide Of
tue riyor, We do not zoe why We ought not also
to broalt up tho more extensive smuggling over
tho Canada border, by compelling the Dominion
to ralao ita tarin to tho zane uonsonsloAl rates
na our oWn.
The message Of Gov. Moaes, OF South Caro-
ltuA, nhioh naa Rad before tho Assembly iast