The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-19

The map which we published yesterday
morning showed two possible new bound
aries to take the place of that which now is
so impossible for us to protect against the
Mexican robbers. We have reason to believe
that this map was made at the desire of
prominent persons in the late administra-
ton who saw that the border raids would
never cease until we had boundary
line much shorter and more easily
defensible, and who preferred, on
many accounts, the southernmost line
marked on the map. The advantages Of
this line were set forth by the correspond
ent to whom we are indebted for the map.
1t is only ego miles long, the present line
measuring 1878 miles. But it appears to
have still greater advantages in the fact that
it runs along mountain line which con-
tains but five passes, each Of which is easily
defensihle, if we may believe our CORE
spondent, by five hundred men placed in a
properly constructed work.
While Mexico possessed constitutional
government, or, in fact, any settled govern
ment at all, the American people were in
clined to be very long suffering toward it.
But that unhappy country is once more in
a state of disorganization. We can cherish
no hope that the Diaz government, or any
other which may succeed it, will do its
manifest duty of guarding the pres
ent or any other border line and
protecting our people against robbery
and murder. But if this is true we may
certainly claim the right to make our labors
of defence as cheap and convenient as pos
sible. One thing is certain-the admins
tration does not mean any longer to endure
the incursions Of organized robbers into
our territory, and in this determination it is
very evident the whole country and both
parties sustain the President. But the evil
is left to us to cure. What are we to do?
The Secretary Of War instructs General
Ord to pursue marauders across the Rio
Grande, catch and punish them. But stern
chase is long chase. Suppose General Ord
should pursue band to the capital of Chi
huahua? Suppose the arrival of the Ameri-
can troops should lead to public
demonstration asking them to remain?
Suppose the property owners of the
State Of chihuahua should on seeing
our flag fall in love with it? Suppose,
in short, the pear is ripe and falls into
our lap2 We are not making wild suppo-
sition 1t is very well known that the bulk
Of the peaceable and property owning
classes in all the Northern Mexican States
wait only for nm assurance of protec-
ton from the United States to fling them
;,,k> r 10 y,nt n
but deliverance they look for; nor is it
probable that once they had ventured to di-
vorce themselves from Mexico Diaz or any
possible successor Of his would have strength
to interfere with them.
We are not seeking to deprive Mexico Of
territory, but we have right to good
boundary if she is unable to defend us. We
do not mean war, nor is her government
able to make war. If our troops to-day held
the passes in the southern boundary pro-
posed on the map we published yesterday
we doubt from all we hear whether
any attempt would be made to dis
turb them. Elsewhere our Washing
ton correspondent sends MS report of an
interesting conversation with Mr. Schleicher,
the able member Of Congress representing
the Texas border district. He confirms the
report OF our New Orleans correspondent
that his people are stating their claims for
damages against Mexico What he says
Sonora also confirms our reports He thinks
no Mexican leader would venture to organ
ize secession Of the Northern States, and
no doubt he is right But suppose the pear
is ripa2