Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-04-22
WAR ON THE BORDER.

WAR ON THE BORDER.
Tho Treublc Between tho United States an
Mexican Treops...Will Anything serieu
Ressit from Theme
: The troubles in Mexico have passe,
from tho demain Of the comic and hav
become serious. They menace our
selves, and nothing that concerns tn,
peace Of the country can be trivial. Il
spite of all the fine sentiment which dis
tinguished tourists, public men, ant
diplomatists have evoked, the genuin,
Mexican has no real affection for tn,
United States. Our prosperity snt
orderly comfort are offensive to the rest
less and reckless people on the othel
side OF the Rio Grande. It is natural
! therefore, that when q revolution breaks
y up what little semblance OF law and
order there may be left in Mexico, the
earliest impulse of each of the contend
ing parties is to break the head of the
list American citizen who can be
reached. If the americana has property,
he Is promptly plundered. Whatever
happens to the vagabond natives, the
foreigner is deeced, despoiled, and COM
PEELED to pay a heavy tax for the
privilege of remaining in the miserable
country. The American is foreigner
and q hereto /; he is the lawful spoil of
either party which happens to meet him
first. And it is noticeable that the war;
cry of each party, faction, and sub
division is the same. Each robs i'm.
partially and kills without compunction
in the sacred names of "God and
Liberty"
All this is admirably exemplifed in
the present turmoil on the Mexican bor-
der. Laredo is small town on the
Texan side of the Rio Bravo, about five
hundred miles southwest of Austin. On
the opposite side of the stream is New
Laredo, on Mexican soil. The latter
place was in possession of the govern
lnent forces. When We say government
forces, it should be understood that the
troops were attached to the army of the
republic when last heard from. There
is no knowing what flag they maybe fly
ing when these lines are in type. As
preparatory to possible change of
base, Quintana, the commander of the
Federal troops, levied "forced loan,"
as this sort Of robbery is called, and an
American merchant, Diamond by name,
was set down in the List for a goodly
sum. He protested, and was clapped
into prison. Word coming to the
United States commercial agent at New
Laredo, he crossed over to the American
side of tie river and informed Major
Merriam, commanding at Laredo, Tex
No Tho ior xuopt r,x,ap o,I
strated with the Mexican commander,
who said that he would not be RESPONSE
BILE if Diamonds store were broken open
and robbed. Some high words ensued,
and Merriam finally told Quintana that
American citizens should be protected
at all hazards. Whereupon the doughty
Mexican toll the American major that
he "might do as he pleased"
The result of this little unpleasant |
ness was that Major Merriam returned
to his post and trained his gun upon New |
Laredo. The Mexicans fred upon the |
ferry which connects the two opposite
points on the river, and finally COM
PEELED the withdrawal of the guard on
the American side. Merriam then
shelled New Laredo, and silenced the
Mexican guns. Meantime. the revolu.
tionists menaced New Laredo, and the
Mexican Federal troops were obliged to
turn their attention in another direction.
The town capitulated to the rebels, and
the partisans of Diaz are now in posses
sion of that place. Quintana escaped
down the river, leaving his threat to
shoot Diamond unfulflled. That hap
less citizen disappears in the melee, but
is supposed to survive in New Laredo,
where he will become the lawful prey of
The next man who happens to be the
of the revolutionary party.
All this is serious business. Hostile
shots have been exchanged between the
forces of the United States and those of
! power with which we are now at peace
More than this, Major Merriam holds
'ourteen prisoners, as they are called,
he same being fugitives from the Mexi-
IAN side Of the border. They gladly
ound refuge in the territory upon
which they were lately firing, as soon as
heir own countrymen opened a fire in
heir rear. Whether these fugitives :
lave been interned" or are actual
prisoners of war does not appear. 1t {
loes not matter. Their government is '
rst now SO busy looking after the revo-
ution in the interior, that it has no time
o spare for any consideration of the
xact status Of the squad. But it is a
natter of considerable Importance to us g
o know whether we are to have politi- G
al volcano permanently located on the
vest bank of the stream which divides
ur territory from that of Mexico. It
3 an abnormal and exasperating state of +
hings which maintains brigandage on \
he border in time of peace, and dan 8
erous hostilities in time of domestic I
7arfare. i
Meanwhile the revolutionists are y
aiming strength in Vera Cruz, Oaxaca, b
nd Puebla, the three states next south t
nd east of the capital. A movement L
, also made to disrupt the republic by Il
)rming new confederation of the =
even states to the north and west, un- !
er the name of Sierra Madre. There is o
OF much probability that this scheme u
secession will ever amount to any
hing. Any such movement would re-
llt in giving Diaz a new element of Q
trength, if he should succeed; and if t.
10 Lerdists should quell the revolt, n
IlSA 40 uOuoUAuAs vuAo plO- | =,
'ct would never be heard Of again. The II
lilitary chicftains of the unhappy re- n
ublic are now once more coming to the Il
lrface. A state of chaos has followed Il
, unusually long period of peace. The 81
ames of all the fighting partisans are 81
rominent on one or other of the two
des. Cortina, the cattle thieving COM r.
andant of the frontier, is heard of el
gain, though rumor that he has been -
lot by Diaz is, unhappily, not confirm Sc
|. 1t is fortunate for us that we have tc
natural, though insecure boundary line. ia
8 it it, tho river is a definite line, IL
ough it is easily forded. If the pre- al
mt disorders continue, it will be diff. d'
1t for us to preserve that strict neu. m
ality with Mexico which is our best W
York Times.
All Fixed.