Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-07
Governor Rice Praises Mexico.
CUTTING RIGHrFULLY ARRESTED A STORY
OF HIS CAsE.-lNrELLiGENT SYMPATHY
IN TEXAS WITH MEXICO.

Ex-Governor Rice, of Massachusetts, who
has been visiting in Mexico for the last three
months, came to New York on Tuesday night.
He spent the greater part of his time in the
Citv of Mexico, but came back by the way
of Ell Paso, where ne remained several days.
According to MIR. Rice's statements, there is
ANYTHING but a unanimous Endorsement of the
proposed action of our government in the
Cutting case among the people Of I'll Psso
and Texas generally. mo greater mistake
could be made" he said yesterday, than to
suppose that everybody is for war down
there. The better class of people-and by
that moan intelligent business men, law
yers clergy and the like-are stro Ugly opposed
TO any hostile meaaures. They consider the
case of too trivial character to cause any
serious disturbance between this country and
Mexico. | could not find a lawyer in Ell
Paso who did not think that Mexico was
right and that we were in the wrong. Our
government abors under misrepresentation
of the facts of the case
What are the facts of the case?" he was
asked,
Well. according to the statements of the
most prominent citizens of Ell Paso, such
men as Judge Crosby, Colonel Barr, Govern
or Torres of Sonora and the Mexican Consul,
Mr.. EScobar, they are these; Cutting was a
printer in FL Psso. His reputation was not
the best possible. He started paper there,
but failed. Becoming defaulter he crossed
the river and started a sheet in Paso del
Norte. Mexican started another nevspa-
per in opposition. This angered Cutting and
he made violent editorial attack upon his
rival. The article was libellous in the ex-
IRENE, according to the Mexican laws, and
P tnI Tka 70 hot
whom he was arraigned. treated him with
great leniency, and let him off without pay
ment of costs, on condition of his publishing
a retraction in his paper. He did so, but
printed this in the smallest type possible and
in the most obscure corner of his sheet. Then
he went over to Ell Paso and got The Herald
of that place to publish card attacking the
magistrate. This paper is printed in English
and Spanish. and circulated almost as much
! in Mexico as in Texas. Cutting took copies
of this paper, containing the article against
the justice, and person lily distributed them
| in Paso del Norte. For this he was arrested
and is still held
"Of course there is certain amount OF
what might be termed popular sympathy with
! him. Perhaps if public meeting were
called in Ell Psso to-day. the majority would
side with him. but that majority would be
made up largely of the lswless element. Bat
the sensible part of the people are of a differ
ent opinion"
You think :hen that the Mexican Govern
ment is in the right?"
Il think that if the same thing had hap
pened up here. il man belonging to this
State had published criminal libel against a
New Jersey Judge, he would be arrested as
promptly ny any court that has respect for
itself The Mexican laws are more stringent
than ours, know but this lie necessary in a
country where so many of the people are
turtu lert and ignorant IL must be remem
hered, however, that these strict laws have
opened up the country for American capital.
Brigandage, which fourished so extensively
there few years ago, has been put down
entirely. and the death penalty which is at
tached TO tram -wrecking ha. broken up that
uefarious practice most effectively. The
country is peaceful almost throughout. The
people are friendly ID Americans. Unless
in matters of political or religious ehsrac-
ter, have never known our. countrymen to
be Disseminated against in the courts. Our
Consul General in the City of Mexico stated