The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-04-09
cRAwroKD,s ASSASSINATION.

Sometimes one is forced to blush TO,
his country, when it confesses weak
ness or displays cowardice. There il
such an occasion now, when every
proud and true American feels sens'
of shame and humiliation atthe course
of the government in regard TO the kill
ing of Captain Crawford. There seems
to be no doubt that the gallant Captain
was deliberately and maliciouslr muir
dered by Mexican soldiers; and what is
worse, he was shot down by the troops
of an ostensibly friendly power, and
while virtually under the protection OF
a flag of truce. The right to be on
Mexican soil with his command was
not in dispute, and he was there for a
purpose beneficial alike TO Mexico
and the United States, being in
pursuit of hostile Indians who
were raiding and committing depreda-
tons in both countries. The plea put
forth by murderers that he was shot by
mistake, the belief being that he was
an Indian or belonged to a band of
renegade raiders, was long since shown
10 be false, by testimony to the effect
that the Captain was wearing a portion
of his uniform, was within few feet of
his assassins when they shot, and had
been conversing with them. The Den
yer Tribune Republican, according to
dispatch in this issue of The HERALD,
brings further proof of the falsity of the
claim, and the dastardly infamy of the
Mexicans, in the statement that
Lieutenant Maus was taken prisoner
and released only upon the payment of
heavy ransom by his men,
1t Is because such deeds are doce.
such insults are offered to the United
States and its flag and power and no re-
dress demanded or apology required.
that one bushes for his country, and
mourns the decadence of national
pride and the loss of that spirit of
bravery and manhood which enforces
the respect due to great power. The
fact is, when occasions like these arise,
there is regret that Jackson is not at
the head of the government, and one is
almost sorry that a Blaine does not
have charge of the State Department.
For generation past. puny, insignific-
ant Spain has been in the habit OF
sneering at the American flag and heap
ing indignities upon American citizens:
now and then a weak protest has been
put forth, but it has always been ut
tered in a tone which excited the con-
tempt rather than the fear of the in
sulting government. The fear and
humiliation become positively disgrace
full when the tribe of outlaws, Indians
and Greasers on the other side of our
southern boundary, shoot down Ameri-
can soldiers and extort ransom from
others, without fear of punishment aud
in open defiance of the United States.
There is scarcely a State in the Union.
which could not, single handed, compel
an ample apology and full reparation
from Mexico for these deeds of brigands.
miscalled soldiers; and there are few of
the States which would not cheerfully
undertake the business.
1t will be one of the blacklist spots in
the present administration, if Mex.
ico shall not be made TO apologize fully
and humbly for the assassination of
Captain Crawford and for the indignity
put upon Lieutenant Maus. The
sooner such explanation and apology are
demanded and compelled, the greater
will be the credit to Mr.. Cleveland.