The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-23
Hayes as a Raider.

IIuyCb us n
The HAYES Administration seems to be
recovering from the panic into which 1t was
thrown by the action OF Congress upon the
Mexican plot. The investigating commit
tees having slackened their labors till after
the holidays, the annexationsts are pluck
Ing up their spirits. San Antonio tidings
show that the troops may raid into Mexican
territory In the future as in the past, except
that they are TO take care that the trail Is
fresh, and are 10 cross only whore there are
no Mexican troops-the latter fact TO be as
certained, no doubt, by actual experiment.
Thus HAYEs's war policy continues to
present him TO the country as the chief Of
flibusters and raiders. While President
DIAZ complies with his International obli-
cations by paying the debt Of Mexico the
day 1t is due and by offering to enter into
treaty stipulatlons for the settlement OF all
the border questions and for the proper
policing OF the frontier, HAYES refuses him
the recognition which diplomatic courtesy
demands, In order the better to play his own
role OF the great American raider. Flattercd
by the praises which the Texans lavish on
him in this role, he takes up their cry that
DIAZ Is only de fdcto President, and ar
CUES that, until Mexico can Theoretically
seal frontier fifteen hundred miles long
against the secret passage of a squad of
Indian thieves, he is entitled to violate Mex
lean soil at his will.
How his conduct as n raider appears to
impartial spectators, Mr.. HAYES can per-
haps surmise on turning TO the opinion OF
the arbitrator in the Mexican Claims Com
mission. or Claim No. CAT, this arbitrator
Sir EDWARD THORNTON, said:
"rhe claimant truly ys that the bands OF thieves can
be quickly collected and make their ncur.ions when The
United States troops distance from the point Of
attack but At this makes 1t difficult for the authorities NJ
The United States to prevent such incursions. VI Is the
case with more reason with regard TO the Mexican au
thoriucs, II TO collect band TO the river the
work Of hour to collect considerable drove OF cattle
and drive them 10 Mexican territory requires much
longer time and gives greater opportunities to the
Oorucs OF the United states 20 attack The robbers and
recover the cattle Hence It does not appear as
rule that there has been greater want Of vigilance
the part OF the Mexican authorities than the part u
the authorities Of the state Texas and thoss OF the
United States The arbitrator does not nnd in this
sunicent evidence to make the Government Of Mexico
responsible for the losses suffered by the claimant and he
consequently decides that the Claim be dismissed"
When we remember that HAYES justihes
his raids on the supposition that Mexico is
not doing her duty in policing the frontier,
the bearing Of this decision Of Sir EDWARD
THORNTON will be apparent. For, if under
earlier Mexican Presidents there was no
culpable lack Of diligence. still less can that
charge be brought against DIAz. II is DIAz
who has largely stopped the raidlng done
under LERDo; 1t is DIAZ who holds fast in
Jail CoRrINA the most notorious NcNican
raider that ever infested the Rio Grande. As
between HAYES and DIAZ, which is the
f.bustcr Which IS the rri lcrY
t,r (.s-G-I FN.fa In
aiming Gen. SHERMAN the other day, got
from that oiloer Il statement that he was
not asked to approve, and did not approve,
the order authorizing the cavalry raiding
Into McNico. Like testimony had brcn
previously given by Gen. SHERIDAN. Here,
then, we come upon the important and sig
niicant fact that this pcrilnns and war
provoking policy wa launched from the
White House without the approval Of either
the General or the Lieutenant General Of the
Army. Who, then, begot this policyY Who
but HAYES in league with the annexation
lists?
II is clear, then. that those irritations Of
popular feeling and mischanceS Of action
which are naturally unfavorable to COM
plcte amity," and which are accordingly
deprecated in the message Of Mr.. HAYES,
are fomented 10y HAYES himself. Should war
come out Of this constant and continuous
provocation Of border anlmositics, it must
b. largely charged to his totally inexcusable
action-the responsibility will rest upon
him. The American people AS a people, do
not want war with Mexico. The only plot
ters Of war are the rings Of border men, an
nexationists, spectators. and Adventures,
who find HAYES, the raider, a contiding ally
and plant tool.