The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-16

The war News from the hio cf"""''
The troubles in III Paso county have
broken out afroeh, and Gov. HUBBARD of
Texas has seized this purely local quarrel
a. n pretcxt for declaring that McNicans are
Invading the state, and for calling for
United States troops to rcpcl this invasion
Of our territory"
Neither In Gov. HuBBkRDs dcspateh to
HAYES nor in Sheriff KERBER's despatch to
Gov. HUBBARD, Is there the slightest proof
that the Fl Paso troubles have anything more
~ do with Mexico than with Massachusetts,.
There is not the rcmotest evidence that any
Mcxicans have crossed the Rio Grandc save
khe unsupported assertions of officials who
once before asserted tho same thing, when
Investigation showed them to have made an
utterly unfoundcd accusation.
III Paso county the seat Of the present
disturbance, is in the extreme western part
Of Texas forming the corner between New
Mexico aud the Rio Grande. Its inhabitants
arc at least ninctcen-twentieths Mexicanby
race In this county il situated the village
OF FL Paso principally noted for its salt
ponds. These ponds or springs have been
used from time immemoral az public prop
nrty, and large quantities Of salt have been
taken thence, not only for domestic use, but
Dor mining. Some months ago company
Of American capitalists undertook to 10
safe land certificates on these salt lakes,
and notified the people that their time
honorcd privilege Of getting salt free would
be taken away. Public indignation vented
Mself in loud outcries against this act The
agent of the salt company was man named
HOWARD, q politician who had been APP
pointed District Judge by Gov. COKE. When
HOWARD undertook to arrest two citizens on
Abe charge of designing to take salt, the
people seized Howard; and, on the civil
authorities interfering, they seized them
also.
This outhurst Of local feeling was tclc-
graphcd all over the country as an invasion
a Texas by Mexican forces; there was tie
clarcd to be an intrenchcd camp of Mexican
troops on American soil a wholesale mas
eacrc Of all the Americans in III Paso county
was predicted; state troops began to arm,
and even in New Orleans volunteers were
asked for to cross the Rio Grandc. But
meanwhile Lieut.. RUcKER had hurried To
San Elizario, found everything quiet, and
the invasion pure fiction; and he
officially reported that During the seven
days that the mob was in existence no blood
was shed nor any acts of violence com
mittcd."
Now. what reason have We to suppose
that the prescn, i not similar instance OF
a Texan riot charged TO Mexican accoun,
The scene is the same, the actors the same
The annexation then constructed out of a
local squabblc tremendous Mexican out
rage and All armed invasion; and probably
fhey are doing the sauis now, although I'll,
fray l. this time much more serious.
In THE Sun of Thursday will bc found
many Of the official documents disclosing
the former game of the anncXationist-
based on the FL Paso riots. One o
of last October was settled by an agreement
OF HOWARD to give the ncighboring people
the free use Of the salt works, and to leave tn,
country. Whether this was the agreement
or not, we cannot say; but no sooner had h,
been set free than news came that he hac
s,lled Lr1e Cards, the popular leader onl
had then fled.
We shall soon hear another side to th'
present story-wc are likely to hear Of re
ncwcd outragcs on popular rights in thu
interest of monopolics. There seems Ia b.
no doubt that blood has been shed. But
until further proof comes. We are iustiic
ny the past in rejecting the assertion q
Mexican invasion as an annexation trick
designed. like so many that have gone be
fore IT, to rouse popular passion, and to pre-
sipitato on false charges, wal with Mexico
II the present riots in FL Paso county
which have at last led 10 serious fighting
should prove the prelude to bloody borde
war, the responsibility must be- largely lai
al the doors of the HAYES ADMINISTRATORS
by reason Of the encouragement 1t has give
~ the plots Of the anncxatoni.ts.