Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-27
THE LESSONS OF THE TROUBLE.

THE LESSONS or THE TROUBLE.
This country has made a narrow escape
from war with Mexico, so narrow that
there ought TO be a valuable Lesson in the
Custing case and all it's incidents. The
peace maintained for nearly forty years
with our neighbors across the Rio Grande
had lulled Americans into feeling Of Sc
curity. When American capital went
down into Mexico and invested millions
Of dollars in railroads the feeling Of
iriendliness and security grew stronger,
aud serious trouble with the sister repub-
lie came TO be contingency not eppre-
hended by anybody on this side Of the Rio
Grande. The murder OF Arreusis and the
arrest OF Cutting have opened the eyes
OF the American people to the fact that
the fabric Of permanent peace between
the two republics rests on very insecure
foundation. The Latin-Indian race peo-
ping Mexico bears very little similarity
TO the Arglo-Saxon people dwelling in the
United States. Mexico is a republic in
name, but even its system OF government,
in many important respects, is totally dis
similar to ours. Language, civilization,
customs, aspiratloDs--al are foreign and
different. 1t is next to impossible that
two such peoples and civilizations shall
dwell and exist side by side, on the same
continent, without occasional clashes, in
volving possible resort to war. To
commence with, more attention should be
paid to our consular service in Mexico. |
Men OF ability, character and sound |
judgment should I'll the consulshlps at
all important towns and cities. II 1t Is
necessary to pay higher salaries to fill |
these offices, the money should be paid !
cheerfully and frst-class talent secured. |
An incompetent, laundering or indscreet
consul may be the cause OF very costly |
This matter is the PROV
ince OF the state department, and should
have early attention. Again, the war de-
partment has Its lesson Ia what mas &C.
Cured. With the expulsion OF wild and
hostile Indians from Texas, the policy of
the war authorities has been to gradually
reduce the strength and efficiency Of the
military establishments in the state. The
5arrisons along the Rio Grande, from
I'll Paso TO Brownsville, were found
IN decidedly inefficient condi-
lion when the Cutting trouble came
up. Any day the city of ElPaso could
have been Quilted by the Mexicans at Paso
del Norte, and the small garrison at Fort
Bliss, with its meagre equipment OF anti
qua.ed artillery, would have been power.
less to interpose an adequate defense. 1t
VIII always be prudent to maintain an eff
Itctive military establishment in this
state. II is to hoped, OF course, that the
peace will be kept permanently between
.he two nations, but it will be the part of
prudence to keep military force along
he dividing line sufficiently strong
enough to protect the border In case OF
emergencies. There is economy as well as
'afety In such policy, and 1t is to be
hoped that the state and war departments
Will recognize the Importance of a com
'rehensiye line Of action in the directions
Indicated. The Cutting AFFAIR will no
ioubt make both peoples more careful
md may prove in that way very portul-
Gus circumstance. But while we are
'areful and just let us not neglect any
'recaution first to avoid trouble, and sec.
md to deal with 1t when 1t comes.