The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-01
CONGRESSMAN schrercher ON the Situation,

WASHINGTON, June 30. - Representative
Schleicher, Of Texas, in a conversation to-day
concerning the situation on the Mexican bOr-
der, stated that the district he represents ex-
tends the whole length of the Texas frontier
on the Rio Grande and he Is consequently
very much interested in everything connected
with the Mexican raids. s.r. 3.
He was asked what he thought of the con-
dition Of affairs there. Mr.. Schleicher replied !:
at is the same that has existed for the last
thirteen years. The Mexicans raid upon our
people and carry off their property"
@Why don't the people prevent it?
"How can they? When the Mexican thieves
come over they never go in a body that num-
bers less than twenty, They pounce upon
rancho where there are never more than two
or three men; these are powerless against a
mob and cannot prevent their cattle from be-
ing taken while this condition of affairs con-
tinue. No. If the government makes no ag-
gressive movement the people will band to-
gether and go over into Mexico and break up
The nest of robbers who make it their abusi-
ness to steal cattle from Texas"
F'Our troops and every now and then pursue
bands of Mexicans across the border"
"Yes," exclaimed Mr.. Schleicher, "but with
what result; they never go into the country
which these robbers make their headquarters.
They only go into the country between the
Rio Grande and the nests, and then why don't
they follow them uD-because they never go
with force enough. These robbers are in that
portion of Mexico where there are40,0 900 people
who uphold and encourage them. What could
O. force of 500 or 800 men do in their midst.
suppose the Mexicans know this Of course
they do; why, they have seen in Mexican
camps this very condition of affairs, I have
Just stated to you. 1t has been mentioned and
quoted as coming from me. In connection
people that | had correctly put forth this
condition of the case and that they need not
fear any raids from the United States troops"
"Diaz has been recognized by this govern
nent.''
"Why don't he do something to prevent
those raids %
"Simply because he is afraid to. If attempts
were made to put down these people they
would rise against him and join EScobedO.
and whoever is fighting him. This he can
not afford to do. The robbers will always
join the man who is fighting the one who has
the reins Of government If the latter evinces
any disposition to stop the raids. For these
reasons the man in power always cOmpro-
misses with that element
"What remedy is there, then, but warp
off the government desires really to stop
these raids, it has, | tell you, to adopt
aggressive measures, with strong force to
carry them out"
HAS not the administration been charged
with, attempting to precipitate war with
Mexicow
"Yes," said Mr.. Schleicher, "and If there
had been an administration party at its back
we should have had war before now. II it
had declared war it would have had that party
at it's back very soon Look how favorably
the order to Ord, to pursue the raiders across
the border, was received"
"The people of the country do not seem to be
much In favor of war;"
"That is partly because they do not fully
understand matters and on account of the re-
action consequent to the late civil war. AS
soon as they thoroughly appreciate that our
countrymen are being slaughtered and their
property stolen by Mexicans they will de-
mand redress; it is inexplicable why they
have remained so long in Ignorance. The
time will come, however; this condition of
things cannot last always"