New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-06
THE BORDER WAR.

The change of purpose in those Sena-
tors who had intended to visit Mexico,
although no doubt justified by their own
sense OF prudence, is especially unfortu-
nate for New Orleans at this moment. It
lends more importance to the rumored
position of our own government than the
mere fact Of border troubles would have
OF itself occasioned. There will be an
abatement Of spirit of commercial amity
which had arisen between the people of
the two republics. There will be substi-
tuition of that suspicion and instructive
luminosity which springs eternal in
the mind Of every patriot at the moment
he is told that the integrity of his
country is threatened. There will
be then the influence of the
military element which sees in all avenues
OF danger column erected to glory.
There is also spirit of present gain from
war expenditures too impatient to await
more gradual yet solid accretions which
come OF commercial intercourse.
Yet we can not suppose that the two
nations on the verge of more intimate and
confidential relations will be precipitated
into war by such a cause as that now
pending.
We lay it down as cardinal maxim
that the integrity of American SOIL and
the rights of American citizens in person
and property, must be respected and en-
forced at home and abroad.
With this postulate, let US review the
situation. The United States and Mexico
are separated by boundary which can
not be less than fifteen hundred miles in |
length. On the one side the territory is
inhabited by frontier population, who
usually carry their lives and their laws in
their own hands 1t is the same restless
reckless movement which has preceded
American progress whether in Kentucky
or California. 1t is always succeeded by
a more permanent population, which is
protected and provided for by the mother
government.
This population is confronted by a from
tier people imbued with the prejudices of
race and religion, and instigated by chief
Eains whose existence depends on per-
petual discord. Add to this that the saw
ages on both sides are irrepressible in
heir thirst for blood and plumber. This
orms about as favorable complication
or an international difficulty as could be
oredicated.
The Northern States of Mexico have
been always turbulent. They have, in
Eject, their own State laws and rates
If revenue. They have reserved
light to demand the payment Of
ak upon all commodities introduced
within their limits. We have even heard
hat various small towns demand toll on
IL cattle passing through their gates.
That Mexico has not been able to enforce
Ter own national laws over these States.
specially upon the American border, is
hown by the fact that she has established
free strip of territory along the bound
ry. within which imports may be landed
nd held, making their duties thereon
ayable when these imports cross the free c
trip into Mexico, thus interposing a
ifficulties of exposure and inspection in +
&ing through this free strip to the
Iexican consumer.
1t is then palpable that Mexico does not Z
ish to create difficulty with the United 6
tates. She is, on the contrary, giving v
lie highest evidences of her good will in b
lie railroad and other grants to American c
tizens. Mexico can not control her own
element. The government u
too far from the scene OF disturbance. t.
he local authorities are too weak, and e.
le lawless element too strong to be con- ia
oiled by tslegraphic messages, and the al
'st OF an adequate force to maintain Al