The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-22
The outrages on the Border and who
are Irresponsible for them.


Apparently there is preconcerted
effort on the part Of some certain parties
to embroil this country in war with
Mexico The effort is being persisted in
with an energy and determination worthy
better cause. There has not yet been
developed and shown to the country any
good and sufficient cause for dignifying the
border troubles into national matter
which requires the arbitrament OF the
sword, and unless the country looses its
equilibrium and good sense, we still be-
lieve there is little real danger Of drifting
into an actual and declared war. If
partizaus at Washington do not take up
the matter for the sake Of making
political capital out of an appeal to the
patriotism of the country aud the creating
of war sentiment, there is nothing so far
developed which could not be peaceably
and readily settled, if approached 10 the
right spirit and with the desire to find a
peaceful solution.
When the governor ofIexas cries out
that Texans are getting murdered by
"Mexicans" he doesi not Imean that
Mexicans have come across the border.
He means that there is trouble between
American and other citizens of Texas, the
latter Of Mexican origin or birth. Yet this
frequent outcry Of Mexican" outrages and
attacks deceives northern public senti-
ment 1t should be understood that the
border counties of Texas are largely popu-
lated by people of Mexican birth or origin,
and that when we read in Texas des-
patches that "Mexicaus" broke open q
jail or ran away with horses or committed
a robbery, these are almost always in
habitants Of Texas. The census shows
that Cam eron county, which contains
Brownsville, has 10,999 Inhabitants, of
whom 6,972 are Of foreign birth and nearly
all Mexicans. and Of those who figure in
the census as native born a considerable
portion are of Mexican origin. Hidalgo
county. the next on the border line, has
1887 people, of whom 1919 are Mexicans.
Maverick county, which contains Eagle
Pass. has 500 natives and S35 foreigners,
FL Paso county, the scene of the riot, has
1910 Mexicans out of a total population
of 3,67l. Preside, the next county to FL
Paso, has $50 Mexicans out of a total
population Of 1886. Whenever one of
these Mexican citizens of Texas or a
native born man of Mexican descent com
mits crime, it figures naturally enough
in the reports as a murder or robbery by a
Mexican, and the impression is left on the
public mind that these Mexicans crossed
the border to commit a crime, whereas
they are. 10 almost every case residents
of Texas.
The latest kilograms from Washington
say it will be shown by the investigation
committees that since the Inauguration Of
President Hayes not more than two o.
three parties have crossed the border from
Mexico to rob in the Lower Rio Grandt
country. 10 the Upper Rio Grande regioI
the raids have been altogether by nomadiC
Indians who have been pursued int
Mexico by Bulls and others.
Unless therefore something more i'm
portaut and more derogatory to nationa
honor and national interests shall be show
than what has yet been presented, a wa
would be simply political move and no
the cause of national justice and honor