Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-25
The Mexican Question of the Moment
From the New York World.


The Mexican Question of the Moment.
From the New York World.
1t is satisfactory to be assured by our
Washington correspondent that the adj
minlstratlOn is not indifferent to the
gross indecency Of the attack made up
on the honor of this country by General
Diaz In his official commentary upon
the orders issued to General Ord The
hopes which the administration seems
to entertain of an effectual cooperation
by the Mexican commanders on the Rio
Grande with our own in the repression
of laWlessness and the restoration Of
peace and order along our frontiers are
scarcely warranted either by past expe-
rience OF by anything of substantial
character in the present organization of
authority in Mexico. But it is proper to
entertain them, and the country will be
glad to see them borne out by the pro-
gress Of events. There would be more
likelihood Of this if the authority of
General Diaz were able to make itself
felt in the particular regions which are
now, as for many years past they have
been, the headquarters of the evils with
which we have at last been compelled
by the progress of our Southwestern
populations to deal. Unfortunately the
Central Government of Mexico has
never been able to exert any effectual
control whatever over the greater part
of those regions. There is great belt
of territory stretching from chihuahua
into Coahuila, and more than equal in
extent to the whole commonwealth of
Maine, which has never been entered by
so much as a detachment Of regular
Mexican troops for the last thirty years,
and is never likely to be, unless it is first
cleared and made accessible to them by
such dashing American soldiers as Lieut.
Bulls Gov. Charles, of Coahuila, who
grants passes through the custom-houses
of the frontier to organized parties of
Lipan Indians, RENTING the Mexican
duty Of per cent. on the geldings which
they may bring back from Texas, and
who recently caused two unfortunate
Mexicans to be shot for guiding Ameri-
cans through the mountain detiles, will
be as much affected by any orders issu-
ing from Gen. Diaz as he would be by q
firman from the Sultan. Doubtless Gen
Ord understands all this, and doubtless
he may be trusted not to allow himself
to be put off with fair words where effect
ual action is required.
Meanwhile the country will await with
serious attention the course to be taken
| by the administration in vindication of
its own character and of the character
of the United States Its order issued
to Gen. Ord has provoked from Gen
Diaz as gross and deliberate an insult to
the American Government as could well
be offered by the responsible agents of
one civilized State to those of another
The Minister of the United States in
Mexico has formally communicated the
language used by the authority of Gen.
Diaz to our own government after as
formally bringing it to the attention of
Gen. Diaz himself in an official memo
randum, a copy of which, received by
us from Mexico, was yesterday publish
ed in these columns. 1t is not possible
for this country, with due regard for
its own honor, to hold any further COM
munication with the so-called govern
ment of Gen. Diaz until this language
has been formally retracted and formal
apology for using it made in the same
public manner in which the Ofense was
committed in the City Of Mexico The
question of the Rio Grande goes for the
moment to the rear In regard to that
question a letter from our alert and act
i've correspondent at San Antonio, which
we publish to-day, makes the very SEN
sible and timely suggestion that the
force under the orders of Gen. Ord ought
to be at once strengthened with a body
of effective light cavalry. In such cases
If you wish for peace it is eminently
wise to show yourself more than ready
for war. AS to the leading question of
the present hour, the administration can
need no suggestions from any quarter if
it is in earnest in it's professed determi-
nation to make the rights of American
citizens and the policy Of the United
States once more respected throughout
the world. 1t can take no action in car
frying out such determination which
will not command the unqualified sup
port of the patriotic people of this
country. Of course it is likely enough
that it will be assailed and embarrassed
in taking any action whatever by the
demagogues and machine-drivers Of
both political parties; for while there are
not few republican politicians who
dread the development of any policy
which promises justice to the people of
the great Southwest, there are not a few
democratic politicians who are short
sighted and ignorant enough to fancy
that the prospects of the democratic
party will be darkened if democratic
principles are carried into effect by
president who was nominated though
not elected by the republican party.
But the masses of the American people
are made of a different stuff from these
men, and they will not be apt to deal
tenderly with any man or any set of
men who may get in the way of a
prompt, thorough and intelligent vindi-
cation of American honor and of Amer
lean interests.
No More Side-Saddles.
Under a recent date a correspondent