The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-11
MEMPHIS APPEAL.
1Hn PnEsrDESr AND MExICo.

been desirable that our relations with
Mexico should be smicable. Now
railroads have fettered the TWO ccun-
tries in close connection, 1t is sbso-
lutely necessary thai our political re-
lations should conform to the new
condition Of things. The influence
that is bringing the two peoples into
closer intimacy, is already producing
90 decided an effect that a project for
a treaty with Mexico arranged short
time ago, and not yet acted upon by
our Congress, is fo1nd Insufficient for
It's purposes, and the President In his
message to Congress states that a new
treaty will be drawn up, broader In
its basis and more satisfactory in It's
details than the present one. II Is es-
sential for the peace ard welfare OF
the two countries, that any cause OF
dispute which may become OF
serious moment in tho future, should
be removed. A claim ma G. by the
Mexican Governme in the case Of
the Cutting tissco, IL not safe from
future contingency. The claim 10 that
Mexico has the right when foreigner,
any w here, commits AN offeuse against
a Mexican citizen, to arrest, try, and
punish such foreign person should 10
be found at any time within the
bounds Of Mexican authority. 1t was
in conformity with this claim that the
American citizen Cutting Yves arrested,
tried, and condemned in M xico, for
an act which, although against NIX
can law, was performed upon Ameri-
soil. Such a claim no American cih-
zen would submit TO, and President
Cleveland at once caused Mexico to
know that IL was altogether inadmis-
sible, although it was made by the
government aud required by The law
of Mexico. II Mexico may exer-
= ciee such a right, other countries
may claim the same right. AS this
country is largely settled by immi
grants from abroad, and aB the poei-
ton Of many Of them may induce
acts here which are made illegal In
iheir old homes, 1t Is easy to see that
American citssns, home born or nat
uralined, could not travel abroad
without the possibility Of being called
upon 70 answer chsrgss where, often.
there was no consciousness OF having
broken any foreign enactment, To
admit the Mexican claim Is impossl-
HE, and 80 the President las fully and
Rtrongly given Mexico 10 understand.
IL his message to Congress he declares
that to admit such q pretension would
bring serious results, and be an inva-
sion of the jurisdiction Of our govern.
ment, % we'll as dangerous to our c',i-
gems when abroad. Therefore, says
the President with characteristic de-
cision and frmness, ~ denied H."
That denial the country will
sustain. Our citizens when in a
foreign land must obey the laws
there or suffer the penalty, but an
American, acting freely in his own
land, must not be called into question
in another Ind for what is done in
this. an the case OF Mexico" the
message argues, there are reasons
especially strong for perfect harmony
in the mutual exercise Of jurisdiction"
and the President expresses the hope
that Mexico will remove reasons ioI
complaint, that, II continued, muet, III
the nature Of things, in the long run
lead to painful results, involving, per
haps, war itself. The vigilance and
persistency OF Mr.. Cleveland will no
leave this unpleasant snare Without
uuooiling it, if within the bounds o
possibility.