The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-20

The sacrifice Of three victims to popular
fury at san Elzario will stir up the anneXa-
tionists to fresh efforts. This riot among
American citizens Will be used to help the
war plot against Mexico. We shall be told
that MeXicans led the mob, and that nothing
short Of the cession of Sonora, or else Of the
region between the Rio Grande and the
Sierra Madre can avenge the slaughter at
San Elizario.
The plain truth is that HOWARD the salt
agent, courted his fate by rashly violating
he plighted faith. He had agreed in writ
ing, as Lieut.. RUcKER has officially reported.
To quit the county forever, as a condition OF
his life being spared in the former riot
Besides, he, a Judge, or ex-Judge. had shot
and killed in a street brawl his political
rival, Cards, the favorite OF the people and
the chief obstacle to his monopoly schemes
an act Of violence which mad been lead
ing source Of the first popular tumult Yet
he ventured back to renew his projects and
to punish the people. or the two others said
to have been shot by the populace, ATKINSON
has not before been prominent IN the record
Of the riot; but MCBRIDE was the other
Judge seized in September. and released
when HOWARD gave the pledge now violated,
The unhappy scene Of these riots was
quiet enough until the annexationists chose
1t as a theatre OF operations In corner by
itself a thousand miles by river from Mata-
moras, and several hundred above the cattle
raiding region near the mouth OF the Pecos,
FL Paso county untn lately contained, ac-
cording to Col ANDREWS, only about thirty
resident citizens OF American" descent.
But we observe that these thirty had man
aged to control all the leading Offices and to
rule the county The Sheriff, CHARLES
KRRBER; the Deputy United States Mar
hhal, BLANCHARD; two local Judges, How
ARD and McIRIDE; and also. we think, the
Collector Of Customs and County Clerk, we're
Americans; :" the GARCIAs, GREGoRIo and
PoRFIMo, local Justices at the county seat,
arrested with the other civil authorities last
September, were exceptions, made necessary
in population almost wholly Of Mexican
descent. Thus interlopers found no diff
cultyamong this tractahle people IN pocket
ing the county vote and the official spols. 1t
was in trying to turn the public salt ponds
TO private use that they alone found opposi-
tion. There used to be little garrison at
Fort Bliss, on the river. chiefly because that
point was opposite the Mexican town Of FL
Paso del Norte; but peace on both sides was
70 continuous that year or two ago the
station was abandoned and the troops with
drawn.
The history Of the former riots also shows
n moderation rare in mob rule Quarter
master RUCKER went to IL Paso, on that oc-
CASTOR, hostile witness. He at first re-
ported the lives Of all Americans to be In
peril; hut. on the road 10 San Elizario, he
met twenty Of this ferocous mob escorting
Judge HOWARD to n place Of safety and
soon afterwBrd he made a striking report Of
the public grievance which caused the riot
adding that "during the seven days that the
mob was in existence, no blood was shed, nor
any acts 81 violence committed We should
remark that shortly after making this re-
port, RrCkEH was Superseded at Fl Paso by
Capt BLAIR
II is clear that the populace Of san
ElzarlC, after sparing all their prisoners,
and trusting to their word OF honor not to
again use their official positions against the
public will and public veal, We're reused to
rage by the reckless violation Of this pledge,
il only remains TO see in what way HAYES
and the Adventures will turn to account
tins outbreak OF local wrath in their schemes
oi army increase and Mexican annexation.