The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-08-12
WHAT AMERICANS SAY.

WHAT AMERICANS SAY.
CITY OF MEXICO, August THE border com
pications continue to excite much attention in the
press and at the leading clubs, and in diplomatic
circles the Cutting case is uppermost. In order to
ascertain the state OF opinion among representa-
five American cit Zens here, an Associated Press
correspondent had, to-day, an interview with lead
ing members of the American colony Neither
General jackson, the American minister, or Con
sui General Porch felt at liberty being officials of
| the American government, to express any opinions
| for publication. 80
lean Central railway said he was sorry that so
much trouble had arisen from petty quarrel be-
tween two such disreputable persons as Cutting
and Medina, both of whose characters ne knew
very we'll and would testify to their being thor
oughly bad lie also said it was great humilla-
ton to every American in Mexico, and was the
subject of comment all along the line of his rail
| way that the United states should make such
peTemptury demand, and then back down. h.
Washington government should be more careful
| to have full understanding of the CASE and he
| fully lntrenChed in its position before allowing
euCh final demand to 20 forward
! Wells Fargo ~ Co. do an expensive express
business in this republic, having agents in almost
said that as regards the Cutting case he had been
too busy to read it up, but considered it matter
of little importance. In his extensive business
dealings with the Mexican federal and state
officers he never had the slightest occasion for
complaint. He thought it highly uni Just for Ameri-
can papers TO assert that there was no protection
in Mexico for an American citizen engaged in
business Both federal and state authorities al
WAYS we're ready to protect the regular operations
of his business AT d aid promptly in Furnishing of
| lenses against it. Wells, Fargo IL Co. were eN-
tending their agencies confident of protection
everywhere.
Mr. Chas L. Seeger, publisher of the Mexican
| Financier, organ of the commercial railway and
mining interests, said 81 do not think our gov
eminent and people at home realize the dis
agreeable and dangerous position in which the
business interests of Americans, living here, are
placed by the conduct of worthless and irrespon-
sible advenurer the border, who tries to use the
| American flag to protect him in order to obtain
| little notoriety While believe in a vigorous for
eign policy the part of the United States so that
the lives and property of its citizens shall be re-
spected abroad, | am convinced that any inter
national conflict, based on this pretended outrage
would be piece of folly. Many Americans en-.
gagged in business enterprises would be wrecked
| only to vindiCate the behavior of a hrawler who
would inevitably land in Jail wherever he might
/ b.
Frederick r. Gurnsey, editor of the Mexican
! Financier. said: This and other cases on the
border emphasize the need of a special tribunal OF
an international character to decide questions con-
tinualy arising Such International court should
| be composed of half Mexican lawyers and half
| Americans. As General DiaZ had pointed out the
Rio Grande border was sure for years to become
| the hot he'd of disputes, arising from the mixed
character of the population there. At the present
time investment of American capital IN Mexico,
including railroads, mines and business houses, Is
not less than $l25,O00,00O. 1t would be pity It
this enormous investment should be leopardzed
by lawless adventurers on the border. The tone OF
| General Daz' administration is friendly toward all
decent, self-respecting Americans"
Mr.. j. Mastella Clark, publisher of the 1.-TWO
Republics daily pasT and organ D OF Sne ea to
Mexico he Voluntarily subjected himself to Next
can law. 1t would appear that he had no right
when arrested in Paso del Norte, for acts com.
mitted in Mexico as well as in Texas to as nme tnat
injustice would be done, and he reported that the
Judge before whom he was brought declined to APP
point counsel or allow bail, but he called upon his
government for protection before justice mad Oeeh
denied, and Secretary Bayard's demand seems to
have been made in ignorance of the fact that Cut
ting was to be tried for acts committed in Mexico
1t looks as If Cutting and Consul Brigham had at
| tempted to bully the Mexican authorities. If Mr.
Cutting had been denied justice and sentenced to
excessive punishment or even punished at all, in
violation of Mexican law, he may be sure the
Mexican government Will speedily redress ms
wrongs. residence in Mexico of eighteen years
convinces me that the federal government is always
ready to encourage and protect foreigners
Another: p Cushing, an American lawyer
practicng in the Mexican courts, said the position
taken by the United States in the Cutting incident
was false one. The act for which Cutting was
arrested has been for years an oense according to
the penal code of Chihuahua, and the principle Is
quite right that if man ayalls himself OF such
long range weapon re the press to inJure another,
he must Keep out of the jurisdiction OF the courts
of the domicile of the injured party. The United
States has nothing more to do with this case than
If he had fired rifle across the river and in
tentionally killed man on THIS side,
and then, on coming over, had been arrested by the
Mexican authorities and put on trial for murder.
All the American government can do is to insist on
decent treatment and speedy and impartial trial,
and this much has been given him. If, as ls stated
on the highest authority, Cutting brought over and
distributed number Of papers containing Sian
der this alters the case entirely, and divests it OF
the last particle OF International character, and II
becomes an offeAse committed against the laws OF
the state OF Chihuahua
NJ (,uat editor
, puhlicp who has given the case much close atten.
| ton and study, said: "Ilaving closely followed
the Cutting flair from the beginning. never con
eidcred 1t a Mt subject Tor dlplomatlG lhur
of the legal protection guaranteed u
American citizens under similar clrcum stances
and bv his refusal to recognize the authority o
the court, he himself prevented due consideration
of the question of jurisdiction. Consul Brigham
in uphOding him in this, stepped beyond his dut,
and aided in creating the complication whlch !
wa. his office TO prevent, Cuttings ofense. al
though technically committed on Texas soil, was
e breach of the covenant into which he had entere
It with the Ndicia authorities Vt Ays place ot Iesl
i dence, and cannot conceive OF greater ABUSE q
:, American citizenship than to use it rs cover 10
q law breakers. The position taken by Texas an
n American papers, and also by Secretary Bayarc
i originated, in my opinion, from ignoring the fac
$ that Mexico has constitutional government lik
q our own, ant that the different branche
"A of the government cannot Interfere WIN eact
other, while moving within their constitutions
against the United States is concerned, can sa.
Dl as daily reader of most al the papers publishe
in this country, that aside fi2m pl ejud ces troI
the clerical and conservative patty against Amer
cans, as progressive promoters ct professionalism
and as principal upholders of rerubicanism, n
prejudice exists here against the people of tn
United States, which has not been caused by indi
Greet action of Americans while here, or by super
Mt fetal American criticism of Mexican customs an
I'd institutions. The prevailing European inftenC
rk also initiates against Americans, but the presen
| Government shown
ad United Sta es, and seems most anxious to pr
ic- mote and eliminate friendly relations with Il
RS neighhoring republic
y, In the case of the murder of Rasures, natura
is lied American citizen, brought to Piedras Negri
e. and there shot by Mondragon, the opinion is e
ny pressed in government Giro es that MondragC
will be convicted of murder and suffer the highe
penalty, ana II is also thought that Texas official
who gave up an American citizen without prelii
mary examination TO an unauthorized person, all
deserves condign punishment No one here just
as fes Mondragon, but on the other hand, there
as universal adherence of his brutal and wicked az
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