Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1886-08-13
The Cutting ImbrOgliO.

ChOib OA SuC pdlS VI SCI sdlu lCPuOliShu
papers, organs of Mr.. Blaine, to misrepre-
sent the affair growing cut of the arrest
and Imprisonment of Cutting, the Texas
editor, by the Mexican authorities, and
the prompt and firm policy adopted by
the administration at Washington in deal
ing with this important question. 1t is
said that Mr.. Blame himself is taking
personal interest in the matter. Efforts
are made to show that Cutting is man
of disreputabe character and to delude
the people with the assertion that this
government is using its great influence
and power and threatening war to screen
a disreputable man from punishment
Efforts have also been made to show that
the offense of Cutting, though primarily
committed by publication in his paper at
Ell Paso, Texas, was subsequently, repeat
ed by the circulation OF his paper in the
Mexican city of Paso del Norte.
The true animus which lies at the bot
tom of all this is no doubt the chagrin
that is felt by Mr.. Blaine and his friends
at the effective and complete manner in
which the present administration has de-.
nolished the aggressive foreign policy"
boom of Blaine and his supporters. 1t is
in bad taste indeed that Mr.. Blaine, who
in time of profound peace, for the sake
of political capital, almost involved this
country in causeless war with the South
American States by his aggressive for
eign policy" should now be endeavoting
to criticise the display Of little nerve in
the protection of an American citizen in
his rights of citizenship.
All efforts to impress the public mind
with the danger of war with Mexico
will be unavailing, as no one can see
anything but benefit to American interests
to result from such conflict. The at
tempt to make it appear that the gravity
Of the question involved is in any manner
affected by the personal character Of Cut
ting is simply absurd. The question in
volved is one of grave international sig
nifcance with which Cuttings private
character has nothing at all to do. He is
an American citizen, being citizen of the
State Of New York, and the question in
CONTROVERSY is shall an American citizen
be imprisoned and punished in Mexico,
under Mexican law, for an offense COM
c;tt>d IN Tho I-r;&o5 Ct,t.. IT, oonoal.
such principle in this case would
establish = precedent which in future
time might prove destructive OF the rights
and liberties Of the best American citizens.
No charge has been made against Cutting
in the trial of committing or repeating
any offsnse in Mexico, but, as shown by
Secretary Bayard's letter to the President,
the time of his arrest precludeI any such
offense on his part.
The only question involved is shall the
government of the United States protect
Its citizens in foreign countries in the
rights and privileges of American citizen
ship, and the administration has prompt
~ and firmly decided this question in the
affirmative. 1t is said that, under recent
Republican administrations, so careless
has the government been in the matter Of
outrages along the Mexican border, that
citizens of Texas who have occasion to 90
over into Mexico, have been accustomed
to represent themselves as Englishmen, to
secure for themselves the superior respect
and safety accorded to citizens of that
government. 1t is time that this disgrace
ful state of affairs bad been stopped and
the prompt action of the administration
in that direction is fully endorsed by the
people throughout the country.
1t does not now seem probable that any
war will result; but the indications are
that the matter will be peacefully adjusted
by regular diplomatic negotiation. The
Mexican government, will recede from its
position and Cutting will be released.