The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-16

border raids. And, moreover, it ought to
be known that these raids are not sporadic,
but systematic; and that they go on year
after year under the eyes and for the profit
Of Mexican officials AS reply to the pro-
test of Messrs. Lerdo and Iglesias and their
fellow Mexicans we give these words OF
a respectable American gentleman now
living in Mexico. They show who it is that
not only tolerates, but fits out and protects
these cattle raiders and murderers, whom it
seems We must not pursue across the
border Our correspondent writes
Every one knows OF the depredations :he other
never be found out even by = United States Commits
soner the that In tho great majority OF those
the individual depredaors are merely paid agents
as far in the Interior as Zacatecas or San LUIS
can name several men here who were formerly miners
or S Ss.r. smpsy S 81 Sees
thieves, under regular contracts with ac1ldcs
and Judges Of the town. For instance, a
certain person, tho principal citizen -oi the
place aud many years first alcaldc and then mill
tary comm andant OF the district, has furnished Tho
SIDE The agreement being that the to receive
certain pay whether successful or not, but being sue
cessfu 10 receive so much per head for The ant
mails brought Some secrets OF those trips arc
never known In detail ~ IN case which well re-
member One Of tho men left here very poorly
mounted In duo time he returned on worry line horse
spcnddly equipped in every respect, and sporting
PAIR OF silver ana ivory mounted rovolvcrs
OF latc years tho income derived from TINS
system Of robbery has been the only reason why the
Offices Of alcades and judges have breu sought by rival
parties Originally IL was difficult 10 find any one Will
Ing to be elected TO these offices. rs the government
docs pay anything IN the way OF salary 10 the IN
cumbcns except In the large cities But these officers
seeing many droves OF cattle gong by their doors
levied tax OF ntty cents per head CIV
ing In return regularly certified papers Of I'M
portation, government sealed paper. These
papors made the cattle and horses taxed legal prop
erty Of the shicves and no one could go behind the
papers" But this was too good thing to be left to
tho acaldcs OF the towns near the border ana evcntu
ally An order from the headquarters OF the dis
trict directing that cattle passing the border towns
receive documents good only as far as tho CHIEF
town of the district There the levying process was
repeated and the profits Of tho business became SO
great that length led TO prom unciamcnto on the
part and greedy officials, and "a revou
ton followed, lasting several weeks"
OF what use are empty protests against
such facts? Our people do not want to
acquire new territory from Mexico we be-
lieve there has never before been so little
desire in the public mind for expansion in
that direction many reasons lead the SEN
sible and respectable part of the public to
view it with aversion. But we warn the
Mexicans that the American people will
support President Hayes in the most en-
ergetic measures to protect our border and
that if the border line is ever carried further
south it will be their own fault.