Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-08-18
FROM TEXAS.
War with Mexico Threatened.
lF0r the SPECTAToR.l

|
SAN DIEGO, TEX, Aug. Z, 1886.
Editor Of the Spcctator::-
| The Mexican trouble is now the allah
sorbing topic on the street here, and where.
ever little crowds of men are seen, they arr
anxiously discussing the situation and ca
gerly listening for all the news regarding
| it, and no doubt before this reaches you fol
publication, A. K. Cutting will either have
been released by the Mexican Government
or war will have been declared between the
two sister republics, and supposing that
might give your readers some facts about
the matter-being on the s-l-I write
you this letter. "a
THE OF sxs@
A. X. Cutting, one of the owners of a
newspaper published at Ell Paso Tex, call
ed ''El Centenilla," in said newspaper
charged Mexican, who is known as Medi-
ma, as being ''dead- beat" and used some
words in connection with said Medina that
were not complimentary to the Mexican
Government. Under the laws of Mexico,
man can be punished when found upon
Mexican soil, who, previous to that time,
has published or uttered anything deroga-
tory to the good name of the republic, OF
to any of its citizens. This law, while it is
in direct opposition to the international
law, is the law, nevertheless, in Mexico,
and on the statute books, and after Cutting
had published this card he crossed over the
Rio Grande River into l'aso del Norte, and
was arrested upon complaint of Medina and
lodged in jail, where he still remains.
Judge Castenado, who issued the COM
plant, had Cutting called before his Court
July 9th, at Paso del Norte, and informed
him that he might employ counsel. Cut
ting refused and defied the Judge, and on
the next day he was brought out again and
have counsel and bail. Cutting defied the
Court and demanded an immediate release,
and said he was an American, and relied
upon his country to defend him, after
which the Court appointed counsel for Cut
ting whether he wanted it or not, and it is
reliably reported that he has been convicted
and sent to the penitentiary for twelve
years.
WHO is CUTTING?
He is an unknown editor, and, no doubt,
an adventurer, and partakes somewhat of
the character of border rough-a man of
the world-and it is said has wife and
children in Kansas City, whom he deserted;
but this is denied, and reports say he was
in Ell Paso doing his utmost to better the
condition of his family, and frequently and
regularly sent money to his family. But
be this as it may. that has nothing to do
with the case. He is an American, and as
such is entitled to protection, and to be az
rested and thrown into prison for an al
legged crime, which, if it was crime, was
committed in Texas, is an insult to our
flag, an outrage upon one of our citizens,
and by holding him our requests as ma
tion are scorned and our power defied.-
Poor America! What shall become of her
great nameo
WHO is THIS MEDINA?
He is, in short, ''dead- beat and a vii
lain, and pronounced type of Mexican
bully, and what Cutting said about him is
true. He is not fit associate for the re-
spectacle element of any community. He
seems to be imbued with the impression
that he is a popular hero and has o right to
act as he pleases. He has lost no opportu-
nifty to show his importance, and uses in
sulting and violent language on the streets
and in all public places when speaking of
Americans. He has often boasted that he
would make complaint against anyone con-
nected with an American newspaper who
dared to cross the river, and as. soon as
Cutting crossed over the river he had him
arrested and threatened to murder him or
execute him if he did not retract. Cutting
was powerless and went before Judge Cos
tenado and retracted what was printed in
the card and was discharged, and, upon re-
turning to Ell Paso, printed the same card
and worse language than that used by him
he Il. 1,of Al -
Upon bis first arrest he was not placed in
Jail and nothing was thought of it, because
he (Cutting) was Immediately released. 1t
is for tho second arrest that the United
States has demanded his release, and on
July goth, q. s. Minister jackson tel
egraphed the authorities at Washington
that the Mexican Government positively
refused to surrender Cutting and asked for
further instructions.
THE MEXICAN CONSUL.
Escabor, the Mexican Consul at Ell Paso,
says that Cutting has conducted himself in
such manner as to prejudice his case Sc
riously, and that the American Govern
ment's demand of Mexico was a suitable
one to make of Geronimo or other wild saw
ages, but not of an enlightened and civil
lied Government like Mexico; that Cutting
will never get any $4,000 damages: that
Mexico had already paid the United States
Government 81, 000, 900 on claims similar to
this, but that that time had passed and
gone forever.
REPORTED DEMAND FOR RELEASE.
Some of the papers have published re-
port that the Government at the City of
Mexico has demanded Cuttings release of
the authorities of the State of chihuahua,
in which said State Paso del Norte is sit
uated, and the request or demand has been
refused by said State authorities. This is
all nonsense, and an attempt to draw the
wool over the eyes of the United States of
ficials. ~
If the Mexican Government cannot en-
force its demands for the release of Cut
ting, the United States must do so by force
of arms.
Our citizens are eager for the fray, and
express a determination. if called on, to
shonlder their muskets and march to the
front to show the Mexicans that they can
not, with impunity, insult the American
flag.
IN CASE OF WAR
Texas could put so, 600 soldiers, volunteers,
in the field, and Texas alone could whip
Mexico, unless France, still smarting over
the Maximillian affair, coupled with the
stand the United States has taken relative
to the carrying out of the "Monroe doc
trine," will help Mexico. Then, I think,
Texas would need some help. believe it
is the duty of the United States to see that
every American citizen receives justice,
even if it is necessary to put rifle in the
hands of every male citizen of the country.
When Cuttings release was refused, Secre-
tary Bayard should have instructed United
States Minister Jackson to demand his pass
port, and the
MEXICAN AUTHORITIES
should have been formally notified that un-
less Cutting was released in twenty
hours, the troops of the United States
would be pushed across the river and Cut
ting released by force. This might have
brought on war, and should it be done it
will bring war. Let it come. There are
many calamities worse than war. One is
that people should lose confidence in their
government. Why. right now, Americans
in Mexico are really claiming to be English
subjects. For shame Poor America
PEOPLE and nations must be tauoht that