New-York tribune., 1877-12-20
of duty throughout the Northern states 10
protect the honor and credit OF the Nation
TILE R0RpER TROrBLES.

TIE BORDER TROrBLES
The people of the Rio Grande Oofdei nave
but q faint appreciation of the character OF tne
combinations memaced 10y their Disturbances
and we must not allow ourselves to be gulded
bv the sensational and exaggerated dispatches
with which they are now heating the telegraph
wires. To them war between the two repuD-
lies i not q curse To be avoided, but bless
inc to De invoked. In the mastering OF troops
and the thunder of the conflict they ioreSee
ONLY the prosperity of their miserable little trad
inc towns, the opening of vast fields OF 'pecu'a
tiou, and the sudden development 0l Stuhieu
settlements into 0ycrgrOwn towns. ANA even
the least selfish of them are unable 10 com
prehcnd how small part the Texas frontier
really Is of thc United states OF America "A
quarrel over salt lick or IA stolen COW IS II mat
ter of grave National concern III their eyes I'd pe
settled by tho sacrifice of tens OF thousands
of lives, the expenditure OF millions ol
money. and the increase OF deDt ana
taxes. For many days they have represented
to us that the State troops OF texas
were besct by the "MeXcans :" the Mexican
army was i'm movement toward the frontier
and meanwhile the disorderly Mexican popu-
lation WAS arming itself at discretion ana
hurrving across the river to massacre American
citizens ON American soil. Aud If these false
rcuorts have not " fired the Northern hearl'
il certainly is not because the representatives.
of fine speculative annexation ring III New
Yorl, and Washington have neglected any
opponmity to fan the eNctment.
The trouble. as our dispatches show, has no
international character whatever. 1t is moth
ng more than local riot of which Mexico IS
as innocent a. Madagascar No MeXicans APP
pear to have taken any part III IT. ana the
mob called Mexican was composed entirely OF
onr own people. The population OF the
border. on this side of the river as well as on
the other, belongs in great part TO the Spanish
and Indian races. Both Governments have
trouble enough to keep 1t in order, ana
neither seems to be entitled to complain
very seriously of the other. If the raids
and sauabblcs of a few herdSmen are
allowed to embroil us in war, the whole
world will condemn us. As the stronger ana
better organized nation, 1t Is our part to set
the example of justice, coOlness and modeIa-
ton. If a rampant and destructive Democratic
House of Representatives had not deprived
the country Of the armed force which 1t needs
for the preservation of the peace, 1t would
be the duty of the President TO order
strong body of troops to the RIO
Grandc, and station it as barrier
along the rivera barrier not only against dep
redatois from the Mexican side but against
lawess incursons from ours. Having only
few hundred soldiers, President Hayes has
done as well as possible with them, and he
has shown commendable prudence in sending
to the scene Of excitement some of the wiscst
and most cautious officers in the service.
general with a clear head and a calm temper
will do more good III Texas just now than
brigade of troops.
As to the rumOrs of secret diplomatic negO-
tations for the acquisition Of Stiip of this
disordcrly border land, we do not believe in
them. There is no denying The fact, however,
that they are credited by many people, and
that they exert disqueting influence which
under certain circumstances may be Il cause OF
danger. Probably, the inquiries of Mr.. COnk-
ling's committee will set them at rest. But If
the committee expects to do any good it must
pursue its Investigations in a patriotic and
frank spirit-n0t with the purpose of gatify
ing private grudges or carrying personal quar-
rels into the discussion of our foreign rcla
tions. but with sincere desire to save the
country from a dangerous embarrassment