New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-23
4 TINS ANNEXAIION SCHEME.

PLAN OF THE BORDER CLAIMS RING-A CONVENIENT
MOUNTAINS RIDGE-PRoPRRTY TO BE ACQUIRED
-, NEW PROTECTION FOR THE FRONTIER
trpou A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
WAsuINGToN, June 19.-Running side by side
with the popular project of the Administration Tor
protecting the Rio Grande frontier Is an old annex
ation scheme reuvenated. The Government gives
IL 10 countenance, but it is skilfully directed by
men who Will try to mako it ride to accom-
plishment on the back of the new policy OF
vigorous resistance TO Mexican raids. There
is nothing sentimental about this scheme
il is wholly an affair Of dollars and cents. Its man
ayers are not enthusiastic about planting the Stars
and Stripes on newly acquired territory, or extend
ing the influence of the laws and civilization OF the
United States wild and baibarous regions; they
are not fond of patriotic apd0odle; but they want
10 realize on "A speculation in Texas claims which
they went into about three years ago. Alter inc
Robb Commission secured the Texan border and
drummed up about twenty millions OF claims ior
Mexican depredations, a pool was formed IN New
York for the purchase of large amount OF
the vouchers. Two or three active politicians
then in Congress were concerned in if, and half
dozen or so of capitalists of a speculative turn.
AGENTS were sent to Texas and no difficulty was eX-
rerienced IN buying ali the claims the ring wanted
10 carry at from three to ten cents on the dollar
Many of them were quite fictitious and all were out
ragrously inflated. Hcrdcrs who had lost hundred
head of cattle put in claims for thousand, and
made he price double the market rate. Others who
had left their lands account of the insecurity OF
the country got ND TidicuOusly exaggerated claims
for what they had lost by not being able to continue
the stocl-ralsing business.
The Presidential campaign prevented the Claims
Ring from making movement year ago to get the
Government to take action in direction that
would render their purchase valuable. and last
Winter the Electoral count made further postpone
mcnt advisable. Their project from the start con-
trmplatcd annexation. They designed first to get the
Texan border claims audited and assumed by the
United States and thcn, the refusal of Mexico to
pay them, from inability to raise the money, slice
of territory along the Rio GTande was TO he taken
IN full compensation. The final step. after
the Government had got its pay III land
from Mexico was of course, for it to
pay the claims in money. When tins shTewd scheme
first began to come out ltle from under covera good
deal Of discussion in the newspapers about the
wisdom Of annexinga strip of territory about 50 miles
wide. rnnnmgalougthe west bank of the Rio Grande.
Somebody. inspired ny the CLAIMS Ring. discovered
that the natural boundary was not the river, which
Is ioIlable al many points, but the crest of ridge
of mountains that seemed to spring up on demand
at convenient distance in the inteIio of Mexico.
The way to protect the Texas border, it was demon
stratcd with much show of geographical knowledge,
was 10 annex this strip of cOuny and picket the top
of the ridge.
As time passes the ideas of the anneXatiOnists ap-
pear to enlarge. No doubt the volume of the Claims
.ss increased, for every fresh raid Is good Tor
million or so Of new vouchers The little strip OF
territory along the Rio Graude is not sutc ent COM
pensaton for the damages Mexico has inflicted,
and the mountains that were to form such an
admirable natural boundary line seem 10 have
uysteIionsly disappeared No good line, it is now
reported can be found without swinging clear
around To the south west and striking straight
across to the Pacific from the mouth Of the Rio
Grande taking in the Mexican States of Nuevo
Leon, Colhuia, Chihuahua, Durango, S.naloa, and
Sonora. This newly invented line IS only 600 miles
long, while the present boundary measures 1870
miles. OF course there is range Of mountains
right ON tie proposed line, and Il most accommo-
dating range too, for it has only five passes
in its whole length. There need only be a con pauy
If cavalry stationed in each pass and tie frontier Is
guarded! How many troops ii would take 10 guard
the thousands Of half-brced brigands, eucrillas,
cattle thieves, and cutthroats to be annexed along
with the new territory nobody has estimated.
At the bottom of this and every other project 10
acquire territory from Mexico viii be found The job
OF the Texas border claims. The Administration is
too saeacious TO give any encouragement tn these
schemes, but such .uormous pr'h womb accrue 20
the holders of the claims II thtlr ploJcct t"NH c
carried out that ~ VIII not be allowed To dic easily
a goul deal will probably be said about anne Narion
IN the newspapers and IN Congress for several years
10 come every gifOrt 81 the GovcTimeni 70 pro-
feet tie k.O GIaudc f. ntiyrsucn VIII Ho oOnDJ DC
made the most oil to bolster mp The scheme.