The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-04-07
frniutinr EOraXs.

New York Journal of Commerce, lst,
IF the government had moved some
of its superiluous troops from LOUISE
ana to the Mexican border of Texas
year ago, we should have heard less OF
the Louisiana troubles and nothing at
all of frontier raids. But there Is no
political advantage to accrue rom the
performance of useful military duty III
the southeast corner of Texas, and
hence that region has been abandoned
to the raids of Mexican banditti. Had
the disturbers OF the peace in that sec
ton been the kukluX khan, and their
victims the negroes alone, who doubts
that the administration would have
contrived to spare troops enough TO
suppress the outrages. But MS the
mIlrderers and thieves are only Next
cans, and the sufferers the white set
tiers, and politics not at all mixed up
in the mCtec, there is no lnducement
for the administration to Interfere.
The fruit of this let-alone policy
is now apparent in the flood of
Dad news we are receiving from
Texas. Bands of Mexicans are not
merely coming over the line, killing
and burning and stealing, and then
running back again for safety, but they
are possessing and holding the country
between Corpus Christi and the Rio
Grpnde, and there Strengthening and
ravaging at will, and showing no in
| tention of retiring since there are no
United States soldiers in that part Of
| Texas to oppose them. A tract of Tex
as, about one hundred miles in width
and several hundred miles along the
Rio Grande is virtually occupied by
these Mexican cut-throats, and they
are steadily pushing their forays north
ward, and increasing the difficulties to
be encountered in their final expulsion
from the state. While these atrocities
have been going on, our government
has done nothing but carry on highly
polite correspondence with Mexico,
asking her if she would be good
enough to stop her citizens from
crossing the border to butcher Amer-
cans, and receiving in answer new
assurances Of her distinguished consi :
Grafton and also of her utter helpless
ness to check the raids. Mexican in
ability to prevent these outrages is SO
notorious that it is surprising that Pres
ident Grant or Secretary Fish should
| have dreamed for moment that
Mexico would or could do anything to
lessen the cause of complaint. Com
missioners are even now engaged at
Washington in settling up the long
arrears OF claims made by American
citizens on Mexico for wrongs precisely
| like those new occurring Mexico
cheerfully consented to this inVestiga-
ton, and -professes her readiness tOpay
The damages found against her; hut
she cannot, and frankly says SO, curb
the rapacity of her people living on the
Texan border. This fact having been
SO long recognized, the fault of the adj
ministration in not taking the chas-
tisement of these border ruilians into
its own bands is all the greater and
more reprehensible. Now that the
Mexican Bandits have taken to rob-
bling the postoilices, they have
stirred the blood of the new
member of the cabinet, Mr.. Jewell,
and at least one voice will be raised
against the continuante of the present
imbecle policy Of the administration
on the Mexican frontier. The govern
ment cannot ex use itself on the score
of deficieneyo OF soldiers. As@e have
already said there are troops enough
available in Louisiana, aud not wanted
there for any honest purpose, TO crush
out utterly the Mexiran invaders Of
Texas. They could be transported by
water in few days to the scene of nc
ton. But il the pretence is made that
Louisiana still needs all the federal
forces on her soil, General Custer has
a splendid body Of soldiers under his
command in Dakota territory who
could be spared for the work. The
troops in the Indian country have so
little to do that the government, in
sheer despair of getting any use
ful work out OF them, ordered
off Custer and his men on the
Black Hills exploring expedition of
last summer. The net result of that
excursion was the discovery Of sever
al new species of flowers, small vial
full of fine gold, and the stirring up of
q hornets nest of Indians by the vio-
latioD of a treaty and the armed In