The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-07-14

JUAN N. CoRTINA.-Tho departure of
tho notorious bandit chief, Cortina, from
the Rio Grande border, in charge of a
force Of cavalry, en- route for the City of
Mexico, is an event in the history Of that
locality the Importance of which few
persons unacquainted with his remarka-
BILE career, extending over q period of
moro than twenty years, can appreciate.
Since 1859, it has been a problem with
every one of the shifting administrations
ut tho Mexican capital, how to rid the
section of this notorious freebooter,
whose catalogue of crimes probably sur
passes thnt of any living man. The war
ring Of the conflicting parties in that
distracted republic, generally so evenly
balanced rs to make the possession of
every element of strength desirable, has
proved his salvation heretofore, and his
present arrest is the natural result Of
that strength which hns accrued 10 the
Government during the long term Of
comparative peace which has followed
the downfall of the empire and the death
OF Maximilinn. Cortina is the embodi-
mcnt of that spirit of nntagonisn between
tho hnlf-breed Latin and Indian of
Mexico and the Saxon Of the United
States which existed before the war be-
tween the two republics, and which took
spective combatunts became impcrsOn-
ated in the "Grcascr" and the '.tiringo "
This nntagonism has been the more
marked on the Rio Grande frontier,
where the two races have been i'll con-
slant contact, and where constant incen-
tiyes to renewed bitterness of feeling
have not been wanting Oh either side.
ReachlnS the years of manhood soon
after that struggle WAS over, his cnrlicst
recollcctions were of the defeat md hu-
initiation of his people, over which his In
dian nature was constantly brooling and
to revenge which he seems to have de-
voted his life. II did not sign the treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo," he said, while
laying siege to the city Of Brownsville in
1859, after numbering several Of its moro
prominent citizens; and it is not recorded
that tho important omission has since
been rectiticd. Defeated and driven off
at TINT time by combined force of citi-
zens and tho United States troops
stationed there, he has since kept up ~
bitter, unrelenting war upon the persons
and~property of American citizens, hun
dreds of whom ho hns caused to be shot
or hung to tree, as is the peculiar Gus
tom of the country. During this time he
hns boon partisan Of every cause and Of
every faction in Mexico, constant to no
ono of them long. Secure amid the
ranches and small villages of Northern
Tamaulipas, he hns defcd the power of
both the national and State Governments
Mt intervals as his sarviccs were required
or his demands imperative, serving as
Governor of the State, Mayor of Mutu-
moras, Administrator of the Custom
House, A1njor-Gencral of the Army, or
whatever other position he chose to ns-
sumo in order to reward his followers or
punish his enemies. He has been the
head and front of tho cattle raids into
Texas, NIL of which have been carried on
by his immcdints followers and under
his Immediate directions. In arrcsting
him in the midst of his retnincrs and
friends, who comprise worry large pro-
portion of tho citizens of NIatnmoras,
President Lcrdo hns done what no other
head of the Mexican Government has
dared attempt, and hns doubtless pre-
vented grave complications between his
own and the Government Of the United
States. 1t is sincerely to he hoped fit
ting termination to his career may be
found against the wall made memorable
by the death of Heron, Nilnnrri and
others, victims of the hundred rcvolu-
tions in Mexico.