National Republican., 1877-07-18
gatiuaal gepnhlitaa.
fHE PROBABILITIES OF A MEXICAN
WAR,

Our relations to Mexico, which have long
been exceedingly unsatisfactory, are now in
such q critical condition as to cause very
grave apprehensions In the minds of we'll
Informed persons that war may be precipi-
tated at any time by some rash action upon
The part of the Mexican authorities. Under
these circumstances 1t is very proper that
the history Of the conduct Of that Republic
towards this country during the last six
years, TO go no further back, should be fully
understood by our people. The facts while
tbey show the utmost forbearance on the
SArt of our Government towards Mexico
Aemand from the people Of the United
Etates cordial support Of the Administra-
zion in the measures which it has been COM
PEELED TO adopt for the purpose OF protect
jng the lives and property Of American citi-
Gems.
The story Of the intOlerable wrongs which
sNve have suffered can be told in few words.
ARMED bands of Mexican robbers and half
civilized Indians have for years been in the
habit of making inCprsions across the Rio
Grande for purposes Of plunder. They have
not only carried off vast quantities of prop
erty, but they have destroyed numerous
dwellings on our soil, and murdered large
number of American citizens. After these
Mexican raids it has very frequently hap
pened that persons holding official positions
.nnder the Mexican Government have been
seen in the open possession Of property
stolen from our citizens. In short, hun
dreds of outrages have been perpetrated
any one of which would be, by the law OF
nations, a just cause of war.
For all these injuries and insults no re-
paration has ever been made. We have
patiently endured these wrongs simply be-
cause we have pitied the weak and dis
tracted condition of our sister Republic
All the resources of our diplomacy have
been exhausted in efforts to induce Mexico
to adopt such preventive measures as
would render it unnecessary for our Gov
ernment to resort to force to protect the
lives and property of our citizens. As early
rs the 4th Of January, 1871, our Minister
Mr.. NELSON, applied for permission for oul
troops to cross the frontier in pursuit of the
robbers, but the permission was refused OIL
that occasion, as well as subsequently.
All negotiations looking to the adoption
of mutual arrangement for preventing tht
Saids of the robbers and outlaws having
failed, it became absolutely necessary fo
our Government to adopt some efficien
measures to prevent our Texan frontier from
being depopulated. This led to the issue o
The famous order to Gen. ORD. That order
did not authorize any invasion Of Mexican
territory, although by the law of nations
such O measure would have been justifa
BILE. It simply required him to attack al
bands of outlaws and robbers found by hin
on American soil, and instructed him Il
pursue them until captured or dispersed
even though it should be necessary for tina
purpose to follow them into Mexico.
: Now, Gen. ORD's instructions were JUS
as restricted and guarded as it was possibl,
10 make them. If permission 10 cross tn,
Mexican frontier had not been given him it
would have been useless to issue it at all
The old state of affairs would have con
tinued just as long as our troops continued
TO stop their pursuit on this side Of the Ri
Gande.
After this order was issued to Gen. ORR
On agreement was entered into between hin
and Gen. TREvINo on behalf of the DIA
government, intended to prevent any col
lision between American and Mexica
troops. The latest advices received in thi
city from the Mexican frontier state tina
Gen. TREvINo was instructed to revoke thi
agreement. Although this state of facts
contradicted by a special to the New Yor
Herald, we think the condition Of matter
on the Rio Grande none the less critical
However much disposed the Mexica
authorities at the capital may be to proven
collisions, the Mexican troops are not unde
such dicipline as to render their co-opera
tion safe. The frequent revolutions in tina
country have destroyed all subordinate
in the army, and almost every officer act
entirely upon his own authority, Even
an agreement were made between ORD an
TREvINo, the subordinates of the latte
would at any time be liable to connive q
the robberies, or TO bring on war by an un
provoked attack upon our troops
: Thus, while the peculiar internal condi
ton of Mexico renders that country unabl
TO restrain the unlawful proceedings of he
citizens, the honor Of our flag and the pre-
tection of the lives and property of our cit
zens could not be secured by any measure
less decisive than those which the Admir-
tstration has adopted. Texas is GROWN
rapidly in wealth and population, and ever
day larger interests are exposed 10 III
Jayages of the Mexican inyudrre, "',' o.
often led b. men holding On.' .,, .
An their own COUnt'r .r ul ,EG .