National Republican., 1886-08-17
The Cutting Episode Again,

The Cutting Episode Again,
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN has not given
great prominence TO the Cutting episode
because that affair has not seemed to this
journal to justify large expenditure Of
time and space. We have had no serious
apprehension Of war, because we have not
supposed it probable, or scarcely possible,
that this great republic could be guilty Of
picking quarrel with weak nelghbor for
the sake of plunder.
True, that is precisely what our govern
ment did about forty years ago true, also,
that the same party and section then domi-
nant in national affairs are now on top.
But the institution which that party then
worshipped is dead the idol at whose shrine
that party desired to offer Mexican territory
has been dethroned. There being no call
now for slave states TO balance the growing
era of freedom In Congress or in the cleo
toral college, we have been unable TO be-
lleve that the administration could possibly
be guilty Of the great folly and greater
criminality Of making needless war on q
people whose friendship we ought to cult.
vate, whose commercial aud social inter
course with ourselves we ought to eucour-
age.
What had Mexico done TO call for harsh
words or strong measures when this dis
turbance was inaugurated She had simply
arrested and was holding for trial-or rather
q state Of Mexico, not the republic, had
arrested and proposed to try an American
who was domiciled on the Mexican
n. L. nj NhA huI rtaNaN AL
the laws OF Mexico on both sides
Of the line. Since then the man (Cut-
tingl has been tried, convicted, and SEN
fenced, and, looking at the case as fairly as
we can, we fail 10 see that the honor Of this
country has been in any way assailed. Cut
ting circulated his libel in Mexico, he re-
sided in Mexico, he was tried under Mexi-
can laws, and 1t Is not our business to inter
fere. The state Of Chihuahua has done no
more to Cutting than the state of Texas
might properly have done TO any citizen Of
Mexico domiciled in Texas and offending
as Cutting did.
Representative Hit, of Illinois, is de-
serving of public thanks for that investiga-
tion OF the facts Of this case which led him
to a sudden and total change Of mind, and
induced him to make the speech which pre-
vented the House from backing up the
false position Of the administration. Mr..
Hit and almost the entire membership Of
the House were disposed to pass the reso.
luton desired by the administration. They
had not read the correspondence, for there
was little time for reading during the clos
| ing hours OF the session. But Mr.. Hit
used the few hours that he might have de-
voted to rest in reading the letters sent tc
Congress In support Of the demand fol
Cuttings release. As he read he saw thai
we had no case at all, had literally nothing
to 60 on, and had already gone too far
The next morning he told this to the
House, and that body did the only proper
thing when 1t declined to pass the resolu
tion in support Of the administrations dc
mand.
1t has been said that Cutting was tried In
Mexico for an ofrense committed only In
Texas. This is now known to be false
But, II it were true, Mexico is not the only
power which claims and, under certain con.
ditions, exercises the right to try citizens
Of other countries for offenses against thell
laws not committed within their border
The Chicago Times has an interesting arti
Gle on this subject, from which we clip the
| following:
The law of chihuahua, to which Mr.. ireland
| declares that the people and government o
mis- country will never submit, is taken almos
| literally from the penal code OF France. 1t Il
| probable, moreover, that substantially the
| same law is found In Spain Italy, Austria
Germany, and other European states. Extend.
ing the assertion of Mr. Ireland, what appear
| is that every editor or other person that print
| in this country aught that Is offensive TO the
courts in those foreign states can at any timt
| when he is found within their territorial
| jurisdiction be arrested aud punished. Now
| IT, as Mr., ireland announces and Mr.. Bayart
appears to believe, the people and government
OF this land never will submit TO the Chihuahug
law, It is u corollary of that decision thai the!
never will submit TO the French law, nor thu
| like law of any other for9lgn state. II thu
| Washington government Is resolved to repea
| the law of chihuahua, 1t must also, In order Il
| fulfill the requirement OF MIR. Ireland and tn
people Of this country, repeal the law of France
of Spain, of Italy, &c.
The facts are, as we have already stated
that the offense was committed on boil
sides Of the line, and that the publication o
the libel in Merico, by Cuttings circulation
Of his dirty paper, was the act for whicI
he was sentenced. This fact will be mad
sufficiently clear and prominent by the re
port OF the lawyer who has been sent to tn
border to investigate. Meantime let us nc
make our asininity too protrusive insth
eyes of other nations.