The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-10

OoRT1NA's ARREST A MoCKERY.

O0RTINA'S ARREST A MOCKERY.
When President Lerdo of the Mexican RI
public caused the arrest of that notoriou
freebooter, Cortins, the people of Texas, and
: indeed, the citizens of the South generally
felt as if at last there had come day Q
J reckoning for one of the most copsummat
scoundrels that ever challenged the vigilance
or the power of the law. The press of thu
country was loud in its applause of the con
duct of the Mexican President, and the tardi
ness of the arrest was overlooked or forgiven
when it did come.
Hopes and expectations Of speedy judicia
retribution were INDUCED in by ALL and es
pecially by the farmers on the Texas border
whose homes had been ransacked, and who's,
friends murdered by Cortina and his reckless
followers. Rarely has an arrest been made
where the charges against the prisoner were
more numerous, more serious, or more easily
substantiated, and the expectation that 6
speedy trial and certain conviction of this
villain, by military commission, was surely
built upon reasonable foundation. But, 10
the sequel We learn from the San Francisco
Morning Ohu that Cortina has arrived in the
city of Mexico, and that instead of being con-
fined in close quarters, he is allowed ''the
freedom of the CITY,"
Shortly after his removal from Matamoros
his wife followed him in company with DR..
Brewster, an American, and took with her q
large sum of money; and this acknowledged
thief and murderer is now domiciled and
living comfortably in the very capital of the
republic whose laws he has wantonly out
ragged, and whose power he has mockingly de-
fed. In searching for cause for this strange
conduct of President Lerdo the Morning CaU
finds probable reason in the fact that there
is to be Presidential election in Mexico in
September, and that Lerdo is candidate for
reelection against powerful opposition can
didate, Mejia.
Cortina is known to be strong adherent of
Mejia, and Lsrdo fnd, it necessary to keep
him quiet, and will possibly make use of him.
At any rate the supposition is that Lerdo's
desire is simply to keep him out of the way
until the election is over.
Cortina's absence from the borders of the
Rio Grande and the efforts of our own govern
ment are relied upon to keep things quiet in
that section, for the present at any rate.
The Mexican Government, by its assump.
lion of this attitude, puts itself clearly in de-
fault, and if the old followers of Cortina
should renew their depredations, the re-
'ponsibiliiy would fall heavily upon the gov
which has not only entirely failed
% perform its fixed duty in the matter, but
1as by its inaction given rise to, if not sane
toned, the belief that it has acted in bad
aith. Should there be renewal of the Dor
,ility, become the duty of the United States
o hold the Mexican Government account |
ble, and war between the two countries |
will certainly be the result.
This course has already been pressed upon
he consi 1eration Of the Washington author
ties, and some of the prominent journals of
be West have applauded the suggestion
nd urged its speedy adoption. We do
OF advocate our country's going to war
18th an other nationality, unless there be no
Their honorable and just solution of the diff
ulty. But where all the laws of comfy and
justice are so clearly violated, it
ppears but reasonable to US that the default.
lg nation should be brought to speedy
ial, and even that, if necessary, the arbitra-
ent of the sword should be resorted to in
der to enforce proper observance of es-
blished laws.
The idea of using criminal charged by an
tire nation with the most heinous crimes
IMPLY as an electioneering tool, without the t
ightest regard being paid to the accusations G
ainst him, and in clear contempt of the !
gifts of his accusers, may readily give rise /
the belief that if the criminal be guilty, c
ose who have failed to act as reason and 8
stice direct, may subject themselves to 9
arge of being accessories to his crimes.