Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-08-28


Correspondence of the Alexandria GAZETTE.
ZACATEcAs, MEXICO, Aug. Goth, 1885,
In parts of Mexico there are many Ameri.
cans ard it is but a duty the United States
owes them to sec and demand that they are
protected in property, life and liberty. we
that ars here expect it and live ia hope OF
receiving it when the occasion requires it.
Whatever success this country may grant
our efforts and with all the comforts it can
supply there will yet be in store for'each of
us many cold and comiortless days, as is al
ways the case with a stranger in strange
land We all, more than ever before, love
the land we left, and indeed, it will he a
very cold day for us when By it we get left.
But does our foreign policy indicate any
thing of this kind? Not if we read the
signs of the times Alright, and not, when the
combined voice OF the press and the people
unite in raising the war cry until the dark
war clouds are almost ready to burst on the
border. And all this because one citizen
was reported to have been wrongfully iui-
prisoned by another power Now this places
our country 10 proper light before the ma.
tiuns of earth and teaches them the value of
an American citizenship, besides it gives Us
absent ones al assurance that its aid will
not be wanting in the hour ofneed, and am
glad that can say have always found our
consuls ready and willing 10 &c their duty
in this respect. thus the State tulhlls its
duty to the citizens abroad.
On the other hand cur citizens ia other
lands hayo double duty to perform. First,
to sustain the honor of their own country;
and second, to obey the laws in the land
where they 20. From my own observation
and the statement of Mr.. Mackey, our cons
sui at Nuevo Laredo, ald DR.. Campbell, of
Monterey, | learn that about eight out Of
ten OF the American citizens in Mexico fail
in the first duty, and from the number that
are brought to trial here it is sufficient ev.
idence that they fail in the second. Most
of these have fled from justice in the States;
bit here they are tree, and all goes we'll un-
til captured by this government for later
offences, then we hear the appeal for pro.
lection and the cry of oppression. When
all this is made public, Texas wants war de-
clared against Mexico and Gen. Stanley
receives orders at San Antonio to he ready
at any time for marching orders to the
frontier. Our consul adds to the excite
ment by demanding the mans release before
he is tried. Then Minister Jackson is drawn
into the matter, and he secures from the
Mexican government an order for the mans
immediate and unconditional release This
should end the matter, but as there are
many restless spirits on the Rio Grande that
nothing but war will satisfy, it is hard to
tell when we shall hear the last Of it, The
border is over-stocksd with both American
and Mexican bandits. When the latter are
captured in Texas they are dispatched by
the rangers after a sort of drum.head
court. martial trial, but when the former are
captured in Mexico they too often receive
the protection and release of our govern
ment, after which they resume their work
in new parts under 4 new namo. Thus pro-
lection is too often premium on border
outlawism.
AS to American oppression here in Mexi-
CO, | have only to say. when NO leave our
own country it is expected of Us to obey the
laws in the land where we go. If we do
not and are punished as the citizens Of the
country are for the same oilense, it can
hardly be called oppression. so, then We
oppress every foreigner we bring to trial on
our soil. Slander is Il criminal ononse in
Mexico and editor Cutting is said to have
violated this law, hence he should be tried
aud punished without the interference of
the whole United States. This same law
protects your correspondent and every other
American here from the tongue and pen Of
the SANDER and it is bad rule that won't
work both ways. There are laws iu Mexico
that are not good and the protection granted
by the government is not what it should be,
yet every foreigner here receives the same
protection as that granted to citizen Of
Mexico aud TO ask more is hardly just.
The only remedy TOR those who think it in
sufficient is to leave the country and the
people alone severely. If they try to re-
form things they will find that it will be
time aud labor Loaf. Americans in few
cases have received special protection here.
During the revolution last year in Monte.
rey, property was destroyed and houses
bombarded, yet by the request of our con-
sui, DIR. Campbell, each side respected every
American and his property during the en-
tire trouble. In the interior Americans are
respected, yet don't know how long this
would last if a war cloud should cover the
land You know all is fair in war, and we
being conveniently situated for the purpose,
might be the frs. to crafty this country's
greed for human gore, hence we would ask
our we'll wishers at home for the sake of
our safety to drop the subject. But should
the nation think it best and the worst must
come, the absent ones with ali their
strength will ever be found ready to respond
to the call of rally once again. T.W