The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-30
THEY MUST CEASE.

III the administration desires war, rs mas
been charged, 1t is now within Its reach.
1t can either force o war or have one legti-
mately and properly. 1t is about time that
the outrages committed by Mexlcans on
our territory should cease. kilograms
from Galveston, state that these incursions
have become so frequent that "nearly ali
travel on the highway has ceased' that
stockmen are deferred from hunting their
cattle and horses that these banditti-for
such they are-have been for some time
crossing the Rio Grande in small detach-
ments for the avowed purpose of clearing
out the white men within striking distance"
of that river, which is said TO extend to
from fifty to seventy miles in the interior,
"where ingress and egress can safely be eff
fectcd." These outrages can be stopped in
one or two days. The marauders can be
pursued even into Mexico, and there pun
ished, as was done a year or two ago by
Mackenzie But the trouble with this
course is that 1t is illegal. Because the ire.
sponsible Mexican banditti violate our ter
ritory and commit depradations thereon,
we have no moral or legal right to retaliate
in kind The moment our troops or citi-
zens cross the Mexican line, for such q
purpose, that moment they become tres
passers and marauders. The soil of Mexico
is sacred from the tread of our soldiers
unless they 60 as an invading army in u
legitimate war. We have no more right o
throw our troops into Mexican territory,
than these Mexican banditti have TO make
forays on our soil. Both are without ex-
cuse and unjustiiable.
The territory of Mexico is as sacred as
is that Of the United States or Great Brit
ain. The situation of Mexico and thu
United States is l,culiarly favorable FOL
these marauding expeditions but so i:
that Of Canada and the United States
Mackenzie pursed these bandits into Mex
leo, and inflicted summary punishment or
them. He did it, however, because Mex
leo was weak and inefficient. Had it beer
rich and powerful government, our re
dress, if we obtained any, would have beer
attained in another way. As it was, Mac
kenzie's act, as an act of the United States
was mixture of buster and cowardicc-
for it is always cowardly for the strong tC
attack the weak and defenc eless. Does
anyone suppose that if Canadian bandits hat
invaded the United States, they would have
been pursued beyond the border or tha
similar incursions from the United States
would have been met by the presence OF
British troops on our sol, ? We all know
that they would not. We know that w
did not, because we dare not, pursue TIT
rebels from st Adams into Canada, an(
that Great Britain did not, for a simia
reason, attack the Fenians on the soil o
Vermont. They dare not, not from wan
of physical courage, but because ii woulC
have been an act OF war We ,.lua. trea
Mexico as We would Great Britain, and a
we demand to be treated. But these for
avs must cease. Mexico is responsible, il
measure, for their occurrence. 1h0
government must redress our grievances
She ought TO be supreme in her own teri
tory, and she can prevent these raids if sh
will If through weakness or ineillcienc
she is incapable of restraining her own Gil
liens, she must give us the right to punsl
them wherever found-no matter if it
within the exclusive jurisdiction of Mexico
If she neglects or refuses to restrain an
punish these banditti, or to give us til
right so TO do, then let us treat it as an az
of war, and govern ourselves accordingly
for these raids must cease