The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-19

Views of IEx-Minister Thomas III. Nelson.
Interview in Terre Haute Gazette
A reporter called this morning on our towns
man, Col Thomas H. Nelson, ex-mnister to
Mexico, for his views on the Cutting case and
the complications which have grown out of it be-
tween the United States and Mexico. In an
swer to the interrogatories of the reporter,
Colonel Nelson said, in substance:
II think that Cutting has not been wrongfully
deprived of his liberty by Mexican officials. He
was the publisher of a newspaper in Paso del
Norte, in chihuahua, and was arrested for pub
fishing a criminal libel, and was discharged
upon his promise to make full retraction
which he failed to do. He passed over the river
Del Norte to Ell Paso, in Texas, and printed a
repetition, with aggravati on, of the libeous
matter, and added defamatory attack upon the
Mexican court He then returned to Ell Paso del
Norte, on the Mexican side of the river and cir
culated the libel, for which he was Justly ar
rested, tried aud convicted. If this statement is
correct, an offense was perpetrated within the
jurisdiction of the Mexican State of Chihuahua,
and no question of international law Is involved
Mr. Bayard was altogether too hasty and ag-
gressive in demanding the immediate and I'M
conditional surrender of Cutting. and the House
of Representatives very properly declined to
adopt resolutions indorsing his vehement de-
mand. Corresponding energy was not exhibited
question of the fisheries; but then Mexico is weak
and powerless, while Great Britain is strong and
not easily bullied. There is marked parallel.
ism between the present condition of affairs and
that which prevailed in 1876. The war with
Mexico was waged upon pretexts almost as con-
temptible as the Cutting affair.
"The administration of Mr.. Polk came into
power with very aggressive policy on the Ore
gon boundary question. In his first message
Mr.. Polk asserted that our title up to 81 degrees
40 minutes was clear and unQuestionable
Fifty four forty or fight became the war-cry
But when Sir Robert Peel the En-
Parliament that the British might would
defend the British right to the territory in dis
pute, the administration ANONYMOUSLY backed
down, and the forty ninth parallel was soon
adopted the boundary. To cover the failure
to bully Great Britain the war with Mexico was
at once inaugurated upon the smallest and most
frivolous pre:exts. We thrashed our HELPLESS
neighbor numerically, seized upon more than
half of her territory for a nominal consideration
and covered the administration ali over with
glory! Perhaps this is what Mr.. Bayard is aim
ing at now
1.-THE appointment of Mr.. Sedgwick, a New
York lawyer, as envoy to Mexico to hunt up the
facts in the case, looks suspicious. Mr.. jackson,
our minister In Mexico. is an able and expe-
rienced diplomat and we'll qualified to perform
this or any other official duty. Sedgwicks APP
pontment is an obvious indignity to him. be-
lieve that Sedgwlck's mission is hostile to Mex
leo, and that for the purpose of justifying Mr..
Bayard in his premature and arrogant demand
ex parte statements of the Cutting affair, and
general arraigRment of Mexico for real or i'm
aginary non observance of friendly relations, is
designed"