Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-19

| were wiz, Adll-Sd'aoS, ASSASSS 80 "
men, and prone to riot and violence when
they were in the settlements and full Of
frontier whisky. But there is no doubt
that they have been joined by consider
able number of professional criminals, des-
peradoes and outlaws of the kind who
hang around all frontier settlements, and
for the last year or two their operations
have taken the form of systematic and or
ganized robbery. The ruffian recently
killed, and who was known as Billy the
Kid, was fair specimen of the worst
kind Of " cowboy" He appears to have
really been an Eastern man, who fed to the
plains after committing crimes of various
degree, and who at once took up the role
of highwayman and bandit-leader. He is
said to have had between two and
three hundred followers, and their opera.
tions were of the most varied and
audacious character, varying from the
capture of large bands of cattle to the
plumber of small villages wholesale.
Billy the Kid" has plenty of copies
among the cowboys, no doubt, and all OF
them are reckless and desperate men, fond
of fighting for It's own sake and ready fol
any adventure, however dangerous. II is
probable that among them are to be found
many of the men who served on one side
or the other during the rebellion, and then
contracted lawless habits which they could
not shake off when the war ended. 1t is
well known that many of this kind sought
the frontier then, and continued to make
things lively there for good many years
subsequently,. The cowboys, however,
have not been at all polite in their pro-
ceedings. Had they made friends on either
side of the border, they might have con.
tinued their depredations much longer with
comparative impunity. Bat they were toe
greedy. They would steal herd of cattle
on the American side, take it across into
Mexico and sell it, and then steal it back
again. The consequence is that they have
made hosts of enemies, and that the Mexi.
cans have at last resolved to unite with our
Governmental serious attack upon them.
The rapid extension of railroad con,
struction through the region they have SC
long controlled is another nail in their
coffin. Commerce cannot afford to TEN.
porize with lawlessness Successful trans.
pertation is out of the question in coun-
try exposed to brigandags ON large scale.
The Indian question on the plains was
never thoroughly settled until the Pacific
Railroad was built, but as soon as that
highway was completed the Government
realized that the route must be made safe
permanently, and in short time all
trouble from the Indians ceased. The
same considerations now apply to the cow
boys and all other frontier desperadoes.
So long as they were virtually beyond the
bounds of civilization comparatively little
attention was paid to them, and though the
Government was of course under obliga-
tons to protect its citizens and to prevent
injury being done to its peaceful neighbors,
in fact it did very little of its duty in this
connection. The cowboys had their own
way, and the residents in the region which
they infested were too much terrrorized to
take any organized action against them.
But the reign Of lawlessness on the frontier
is approaching its close. 1t is impossible
for either the United States or Mexico
longer to tolerate outrages which repel set
Element, and which if continued must pre-
vent free travel and transportation on the
new railroads in process of construc-
ton. The cowboys have had th@ir day,
and they have abused their opportunities.
An era is opening which las no use for
them, and they will have to go.
1t is perhaps serious question what is
to become of the dangerous elements
which are about to be driven from the
frontier region. Some of them will no
doubt be satisfactorily accounted for in
the process OF dislodging them, and the
more that are disposed of in this way the
better. Some of them will find their way
to the wilder regions of the Southern
States, and may there emulate the James
brothers and the Youngers for some time
to come. Others, however, will be apt to
retire upon the Western cities, and their
presence is likely to be far more exciting
than agreeable. There has always been a
large lawless frontier element, but it has
been so scattered that its numbers have
not been appreciated. This element has
gradually worked towards the Mexican
border, as the most favorable for its opera.
tons, and if it can be stamped out there
good radiance will be made of very dan
gerous material. The frontier desperate
is undoubtedly one of the most hopeless
products of modern civilization. lie is less
cautious than the Apache, and to the
full as bloodthirsty, fierce, treacherous and
cruel. There is absolutely no place for
him in any civilized programme, and while
our troops are settling the Apache ques.
ton on the frontier they cannot do better
than to settle the cowboy question also.