Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-09
SCHLEICHER,
or Texas, Gives at Length His Views as
to the Mexican TrOubles-HOw they
Originated and are Perpetuated
by the Mexican Government.
M'KenZie's Last Raid and the Wfshy-
Washy Policy OF the Hayes Admins
tration-The Army Sufficient If
it is only Properly Distrib-
uted and Posted.

it is only Properly Distrib-
uted and Posted.
| st. Louis EUeniHg Post: Hon. Gustav
| Schleicher, member of congress from Texas,
| passed through the city yesterday, on his way
| home from Washington. An Erefing Post
reporter met Mr.. Schleicher IN the afternoon
at the Laclede-Bircher hotel.
Tell me your opinion regarding the rela,
| tons between Mexico and the United States,
| said the writer.
RECENT MEXICAN HISTORY.
J "You are no doubt familiar with the recent
history connected with the recognition OF the
present president of Mexico. No? Then |
| will briefly summarize the facts, so that you
may understand the present situation of
| affairs. The government of President Lerdo,
which preceded the present government of
| General Diaz, was the government that had
| been recognized and befriended by the Uni
ted States ever since 1859, when Mr.. M Lean,
sent by General Cass, who was then secre-
| tary of state, recognized the government of
Juarez, the head of what was called the con-
stitutional party. which was then in Vera
| Cruz. The church party recognized Zuloaga
| as president, and were IN pos
session of the City of Mexico. From
] that time to the victory Of the constitu-
| the French and the establishment of the
Macmillan empire, to the downfall of the
| empire IN 1867, and even since, the United
States government always acted a friendly
| part to what was called the constitutional
| government. Lerdo was the constitutional
successor of Juarez. The present president,
| General Diaz, reinstated the old rule of mill
| tary revolts which prevailed in Santa Annals
| time, and succeeded in expelling Lerdo. Our
| government naturally hesitated long time
| before recognizing the successful revolution
| ist whose success marked the downfall of the
| only government that country ever had which
| promised peace and order.
HISTORY OF THE RAIDS.
"Well, the troubles On the Texas frontier,
caused by the invasIons of little bands of
| Mexicans, whose sole business was the theft
| of the stock of our people, and who often COM
mitted murder in their raids, have been
| going on since 1866 Our government, when
| they came to consider the recognition of Diaz,
| stipulated as condition of such recognition
| that the Mexican government should actively
| interfere, which they never had done, to sup
press the raids into Texas. Diaz did not
| comply with these conditions formally, but
| did endeavor to keep the raiders down In Or
| der to obtain recognition. In other words,
| he was on his good behavior while he was
not recognized. Our government for no con-
ceivable cause, retreated from its conditions
and recognized Diaz Internationally. Since
! then, the little restraint that existed during
his efforts for recognition has been removed
from the raiders. The raids broke out again
in verse shape than ever. In April last,
three or four different raids were made across
the Rio Grande, for the purpose of stealing
horses. About twenty persons were killed,
among them number OF young American
boys herding their parents stock. In re-
Spouse to our appeals to the military and civil
officers of Mexico along the Rio Grande, they
were insolent, and made not the slightest eff
forts to prevent the raids, or to assist in the
recapture of the stolen stock, or the robbers
or murderer's who took them.
M'KENzIE's RAID.
General M 'Kenzie, on positive Informal
ton that the largest raid in April was organ
lied and started at Santa Rosa, and that three
or four hundred horses belonging to Ameri-
cans had been taken there, crossed the river
for the purpose of recapturing the animals.
The Mexican troops concentrated on the other
side. General M Kenzie called on the COM
manding officer to assist IN the recapture of
the stolen stock, as the Mexican government
had promised the cooperation OF their troops
for that purpose. He was told, In answer,
that. so far from assisting him, their orders
were to obstruct his movements, and, if
strong enough, to attack hun. The presence
of hostile force made 1t necessary for him to
keep his troops together, and therefore it was
entirely impossible to search for the stolen
stock. He retired across the river, his expe
dition being complete failure, and his re-
port was to the effect that the Mexican gov
eNment, instead of assisting in the suppress
sion of the raids, had taken every means in
their power to prevent the capture of the
raiders and of the stolen property.
EXTENT OF THE DEPREDATIoNs.
''This is the condition Of our border now.
have late letters from friends, American
residents of Medina county, west of San An
Ia II. III
Mexico, and particularly through the Santa
Rosa country. They say that horses with
American brands are more numerous about
Santa Rosa and in that country than in any
portion Of Texas. They also say that, of
certain brands of cattle, the owners of which
live between San Antonio and the Rio
Grande, there are more to be found about
Santa Rosa than in the counties where the
owners reside.
ASTOUNDING IGNORANCE AND INDIFFERENCE
''Since have been in congress | have tr1ed
to bring these facts to the attention of the
American people. There is an astounding
ignorance and still more astounding degree |
of indifference prevailing among the masses |
Of our people, and prevailing also in con-
gress, upon the subject. The accounts Of |
murders of American men, women and chill |
dren, on American soil, by foreign invaders, |
are read by American Legislators in the news |
papers, and listened to on the floor of the |
house, with about the same interest as the |
horrors of Bulgaria, and without realizing in |
the slightest degree that it is their own coun- |
try, and their business to prevent it.
PRESIDENT HAYEs's FACILITATING COURSE. |
President Hayes, about year ago, forgot |
for moment that he was politician, and,
remembering that he was the foremost man |
of a manly nation. showed the first sign of I
energy by authorizing troops stationed on the |
border to cross into Mexicoi in pursuit of raid
ers, for the purpose of furnishing them and |
recovering stolen property. His act was uni
versally applauded throughout the United |
States. The Mexicans demonstrating, he, I'M
fortunately, emasculate this order by quail |
flying it, adding a proviso that if Mexican
troops were on the other side, as they were
expected to cooperate, the pursuit should be |
turned over to them and abandoned by our
troops. The utter folly of this idea was made |
apparent by General M'Kenzie's late expedi-
ton across the river, when it was already
shown, as had been known to every one along
the border for years, that the Mexican troops
and the Mexican authorities, so far from ex-
erting themselves to punish raiders and re-
capture stolen property, protected them and
participated IN the profits of the theft. 1t is
to be hoped that our government, now that
its eyes have been opened In manner which
bears no excuse for inactivity, will take ener-
getic measures for the protection of our people
without depending In the slightest degree up
on anything that the Mexican government may
promise to do. The government, even if It
has the best intentions, never has the power
to carry out an honest and energetic policy
against these raiders. 1t has come into power
by revolution, and is in constant fear of being
displaced again by revolution. Just as soon
as they would take any energetic measures to
stop the robberies on the Rio Grarde, which
are source of profit to the people there, the |
whole population of the frontier States would |
JOIN in the first revolution against them.
AWAKENING PUBLIC OPINION.
ANY other government but ours would |
long ago have taken reprisals or other ener-
getic measures to suppress this great wrong. |
There some hopes that President Hayes's ad- |
mnistration will do its duty. They certainly |