The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-12-22
The Bal1etia.
THE BORDER TROUBLES.
Gen. John A.. McCIearnand Gives nis
IdeSs on the Border Troubles,
Open Letter to Honorable W. M.
Springer.

the other OF oit-reeurring future danger.
The discussion OF one Of tso.e questions 10
the discussion Of both.
The issue OF the existing crisis must be
judged in the light Of reason and expert.
ence. In 1915, we had a dispute with
Mexico, turning upon the southwestern
of Texas. President Polk was
pledged by his election to insist upon the
line OF the Rio Grande. After some delay
on his part to assert that line, he was pres
sed by many Of his friends Of his admins.
tratlon to do so. On the other hand, the
leaders of the opposition party protested
against II, as AL act OF war in Its conse-
quences, IL not in itself. Between con-
ficting influences, he adopted middle
course, sending simply military corps Of
observation to the vicinity Of the Rio
Grande. The weakness OF the corps, and
Its advanced position, melted the Next
cans, in ignorant hardihood, to pass that
river and TO precipltate an attack. A war,
'hus begun, was accepted rather than pro-
claimed by the president, and the response.
bility ofinitiating 1t attaches to the enemy.
But what WAS thus gained in one sense
was more than counterbs laRced in anoth-
er. The war lasted for years, whereas a
holder couse might have ayerted or crushd
II by single decisive stroke, in IT'S incept-
ion. What is the deductionf
Now We have border trouble, II not
boundary dispute. In some respects, it is
quite as irritating; in others, more otfen-
siye than its predecessor. Our territory IL
hsbitually entered by Iawless Mexicsns, to
plumber an alarm it, peaceful citizens. Re
mons.rances falling to ARREST these oura-
ges, detatchments OF our troops have cross.
cd into Mexico in pursuit Of the bsndittl,
and to recover their criminal spoils.
War, then, in degree and irregular form,
already exists, which OF its own course,
alone, must sooner or later eyentuste in
regular, formal war. One Of the peculiari.
ties Of the situation is, that the adoption Of
suitable provision to meet that event may,
and mDst almost Hsrtsinly, promote it.
Hence, there Is danger in standing still, or
In receding or advancing. What Is trans
piring, however, must soon resolve the del
emma. Both sidea are snow assembling
jealous and rival armies upon the frontiet.
These armies confronted, and only separa-
ted by the narrow bed Of the Rio Grande,
can hardly avoid embodiment. Accident
or the willulness OF one may serve to bring
IL abont.
Then, since We are Involuntary, II not
irresistibly, drifting wsrward, what does
common prudence and patriotism dictate
This question has been variously answer
ed. Among other things it has been init
mated that the ordsrto our troops to pur.
sue, across the border, intruding Mexican
robbers, should be revoked. To do this
would DO not only to impeaeh the validity
fthat order, but to incite these robbers TO
persist in their outrages.
Again, 1t has been suggested to increae
the number OF military posts upon tine Dor.
der, or to connect those already established
by series of cantoppents, which is prac.
tically the same. This scheme appears to
me to be liable to several objections.
While degrading the army to the office of
rowing constabulery, unsupported by
strong force, it must prove Intellectual in
the present emergency. It's purpose il
purely defensive, and to contiue co.eyally
with Mexican lawlessness. 1t must be
attended, in the meantime, with heavy OK
pense, which the sense and spirit Of the
American people will lily brook. 1t per.
verts the design OF Qualifications and gar.
risons as barrier against organized and
formidable invasion to the use of q picket
against the inroads Of struggling and vaga-
bond thieyes, whose crimes should chal.
lenge the care and cognizance of their own
domestic authorities.
More wisely, in my judgment, 1t has been
advised by. experienced and distinguished
military men, that the regular force on the
Rio Grande be increased. Obviously, this
Is proper, whether to overawe or to con.
quor hostile outbreak. But the increase
must be timely end adequate, and, il not
within the limit ofthe regular army, with.
out uncovering other portions OF our ex-
tended frontiers TO Indian butchery, then
out side oft by the addition OF volunteers.
Above all things, let there not be dishon-.
oring sacrifice Of handful of, brave and de.
voted men sent forth upon rude and rash.
enterprise.
At the same time, think our policy to.
wards Mexico should be essentially chang
ed, Temporiziug and negative expedients
have been long tried In vain. Hencetorth
let our couse be firm, vigorous and pos.
tive. self.preservation is the first law OF
nature. The rights and duties of nation
I are correlativs. These rights concern eth,
er the.nation in its collective capacity, OF
the individuals composing 1t, and, among
other things, impose upon the nation the
duty of maintaining both its boundarie.
and the lives and property Of its citizens
inviolate against the.lawless incursions o.
banditti, Therefore, upon notice to the
Mexican authorities of this purpose, ant
their neglect or failure to restrain and re-
dress such wrongs, it would be competent
with the cosent Of congress, to resort to ,
system Of special reprisals to punish ant
indemnify them; and the resort might b'
punished, consistently with the laws o
nations, to tho seizure and appropriation
not only Of the property belonging to tn