The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-08-13
The Cutting Trouble.

ment AZ nara laDOr ana 10 pay une
of 5000. The sentence has caused a
great deal of bitter feeling among his
friends in Texas. 1t is believed that
the action of the Mexican Judge, which
seems TO have been taken with a de-
liberate intention Of sho wing contempt
for the United States Government,
will have the effect of bringing matters
to a crisis. If he cannot pay the fine
he will have TO serve 100 days longer
Medina who caused all the trouble, has
leave TO sue Cutting in civil suit for
damages. The question of censuring
the American Consul Brigham, and
asking for his removal is referred to
the Supreme Court at chihuahua.
The facts leading to the arrest of
Cutting are given as follows
The Texas editor libeled a Mexican
editor, Senior Medina. This was done
in Spanish paper owned by Cutting
and printed in Paso del Norte, Mexico.
This fact brought the Texas editor
within the jurisdiction of Chihuahua,
he being found on its territory. Mr..
Cutting resides in the Chihuahua town,
doing business in the Texas city.
Under the first arrest he agreed TO
make an apology to the Mexican court
as well as retract the libel against
Medina. He published in FL Paso an
English article or card, which only
pretended to give the apology demand
ed by the Court and agreed to by Mr..
Cutting, while it repeated the libel
against Medina III more severe form.
This libel, it is charged, he "uttered"
that is legally distributed and issued
in Paso del Norte. Copies In Span
ish as well as English were sent over
to the Mexican side, Cutting accom-
panying the carrier. He was arrested
again and placed in the town Jail.
Here is where the clash came. The
first arrest or suit was made in accord
with rule of law common to both
countries, as the work of preparing,
editing, printing and publishing was
all done on Mexican soil and the
medium was newspaper az least
nominally Mexican in character.
The fact of Cutting being an Ameri-
can citizen-living on The border, and
he being arrested tried and sentenced
in Mexico is the cause of bringing the
matter before our Government. Sec
retary Bayard has given notice de-
manding from Mexico the release OF
Cutting. This has given rise to q
bitter feeling between the two coun
tries along the border-and many
threats of war from both sides have
been given. A Washington CORES
pondent of the New York Son dated
August 9th. thus gives the views OF
Secretary Bayard
81 see no reason why satisfactory
adjustment of the difficulty should no,
be reached. l have been assured tina,
such is the desire of the Mexican
Government. Senior Romero, the Mex
lean Minister here, said some days age
that his Government would promptly
settle the matter" The Secretary
seems to think that the difficulties il
the way have been created not so much
by Mexicans as by obliging friends in
this country, who in their efforts to
embarrass the Administration have
suggested to the Mexican authorities
methods of opposition which, perhaps
they would not have thought of. Mex
ico's attitude, it is alleged, has beer
greatly strengthened by the efforts Of
Mr.. Blaines friends to show that Mr.
Bayard has acted with precipitancy
and has been too exacting with Mex
leo.
Mr. Bayard himself feels strongly
on the subject and said, with much
impressiveness, that he considered the
principle involved in the Cutting affair
to be one of the gravest Importance
and one as to which the whole country
without reference to party, should be a
unit. The personal merits or demerits
OF Cutting himself had nothing to dc
with the case. 1t made no difference
whether he was an angel of darkness
or an angel of light, but it did make
the greatest possible difference to the
American people whether tine conten.
tion raised by the State Department in
his case should be maintained or not.
Mexico claims in Cuttings case the
right to try an American citizen for
an offence committed in the United
States, and Cutting has actually been
convicted and sentenced for publishing
libel in Texas. Mr.. Bayard thinks
this raises the gravest possible question
between the two countries, and if Mex
ico's claim were once conceded no
American travelling in Mexico would
be safe. Mr.. Bayard is deeply in earn
est in his determination to resist the
position taken by Mexico, and he ex-
presses full confidence as to popular
approval of his course.
"My countrymen," he said, with evil
dent feeling. "will not be deceived by
partisan misrepresentation. They will
recognize the gravity of the question
involved, and will never consent that
one of their fellow citizens shall be
tried by foreign power for an offence
committed in this country. Suppose
Cutting had stabbed his Mexican rival
on Texas soil, instead of merely attack
ing his reputation, does any one pre-
tend that Mexico could have tried him
for murder =? Certainly not -
The case, Mr.. BayaId thinks, is toe
clear for equivocation, and he has nc
idea of retreating from the position
taken by the department weeks ago
when it demanded Cuttings release.
The Secretary will not anticipate the
action of Mexico, but he evidently
looks for full reparation from that
country. That the local court should
have convicted Cutting does not neces-
sarily imply that the Mexican Govern
ment will refuse to set him at liberty
and go TO war. Speaking of this fea.
ture of the case Mr.. Bayard said that
both countries were pledged by the
treaty of lS4S to exhaust every posi-
BILE means of effecting peaceful settle
ment of all political questions. Should
Mexico persist in her present attitude
the question would then arise as to
what action should be taken by this
country to enforce acquiescence in its
demands. The rupture of diplomatic
negotiations would naturally follow.
Sanrafaru Rayo,J ao,a lo koa ,,oao;.a I