The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-19
THE OUTRAGES TN MEXICO.
Facts Throwing New Light on the Cases
Of Editor Cutting and Rasures.
Loose and Lawless Manner of Conducting Le-
gal Business on the Border Mexican
Patriotism and American Avarice.
Special to the Indianapolis Journa,.

the tenor of the dispatches and editorials in
many of the American newspapers, it would
appear that the excitement in the United States,
and especially in Texas concerning the recent
Mexican ''outrages" is at fever heat 1t is hard
ly probable that the better judgment of the
cooler heads in control of affairs at Washington
will be carried away by the loud talk of Gov.
Ireland and few other warlike statesmen of the
Southwest, whose zeal for the honor OF the flag
had far better opportunities for display some
twenty-odd years ago, but failed to display
The alleged 'outrages" will doubtless be inyesti-
gated in cool and diplomatic way, and settled
according to what may seem to be the demands
of justice upon the facts presented in each case.
There is no doubt that wrongs are psrpetrated
along the border, perhaps, every week-certainly
every month In the year-many of which ap-
proach, in severity and lawessness, those of the
Cutting and Rasures cases now being so excited
lY discussed These wrongs do not grow out of
the fact that either this country or the United
States encourage or countenance the doing Of the
acts referred to. 1t is we'll known that where
the borders of two distinct nations join, and
there Is no natural barrier to prevent easy access
$1,000 OAAo
Sesorts of thieves, smugglers. outlaws and toughs
OF all classes, who evade arrest by passing from
one country TO the other whenever close pressed
by the officers of justice To claim that the
wrongs against life and property committed along
the Texas border are solely the work of Mexican
outlaws, is to take from the Texan "rustler" the
'honorsr which for long years he has faithfully
labored to secure. The fact is apparent to any
one'who has lived upon or visited the Rio Grande
border, that the day is a very cold one in which
any foreign citizen can gain much advantage
over the American tough, and the morning must
not be very far advanced when he starts out
with that intent
In the case of Rasures one fact has been de-
veloped which throws some light upon the tout
rage business in general, and which places the
petty officials of both sides in anything but an
enviable light The Texas sheriff vino arrested
and delivered Rasures to the Mexican authori-
ties. admitted that the principal inducement for
doing so was promise upon the part Of said Off
Gals to deliver TO him an American offender who
was in hiding in Mexico. How much reward
was waiting upon the capture of this man was
not stated. The writer once heard border
Texas sheriff loudly complaining that while he
addevered several offenders to theMexican off
cials they had not kept their promises to deliver
to him certain fugitives for whose return large
rewards could be obtained. It is this system of
traffic and trade in prisoners, carried on by Off
Gals of both nations, that is the cause of many
of the troubles which are constantly occurring
on the border. The greed for gain in the secur-
ing of rewards often leads to wrongful arrests,
and the mprsonment-pro5ablyt the killing-of
men who never had any connection with the
crimes for which they were arrested. Scores of
men have been killed, upon both sides of the
river, of whom mention has ever been made.
Some of these cases possessed more of the ele-
ments of Outrage" than those of Cutting or
Rasures, but the sufferers had no influential
friends Taking all these cases or alleged
wrongdoing, it is almost impossible to find one
in which blame can be thrown upon either gov
eminent. In almost every instance the 'out-
rage was committed in the pursuit of gain, or
for the qualification of personal malice.
AS far as the government of Mexico is con-
cerned, it is undoubtedly true that the feeling
towards the United States is of the most friend
ly sort, and that every possible effort is being
made to build up commercial relations upon a lib
eral and permanent basis. 1t is equally true,
however, that among the people generally. and
especially in the States south of Chihua-
hua, there is prejudice against
Americans and American enterprises,
amounting almost to positive hatred. The gov
eminent of this country, as at present admin
istered, d probably as oppressive upon the peo-
pie az can well be borne. The people are be-
coming restless and uneasy under the many inn
positions and burdens placed upon them and
Mexico is likely to have trouble enough
at home without being forced to fight Governor
Ireland, or any other foreign power The time
is opportune for revolution, if only some known
and trusted leader would raise the banner of
revolt The newspaper reports, recently pub
lished, of battles, in which from fifty to one hun
Gred men were engaged on either side are too
ridiculous for notice. These are guerilla parties,
who fight very little and steal all the time All
this. however. serves to keep the people in
state of excitement and preparation for some
thing OF greater Importance. IT, as possibly
may be the case soon, some prominent general
of the army should go over to the revolutionsts,
taking with him his armed force, or if General
Trevino, now discreetly soiourning in the
United States, should return and declare hos
tilities, serious trouble would ensue with the
chances largely in favor of the driving out of
those now in power A change must come. Al
most any change would be relief to the op-
pressed and burdened masses 1t would be
well to have it come through the influx
of American immigration, which has
heretofore been large, and if peace
can be preserved will greatly increase in the flu
ture. 1t might come through annexation by pur-
chase, scheme not at all to be desired by the
United States, and which would be bitterly OBJ
posed by the people of Mexico There is no de-
nying the fact that at present the times are tur-
buent 1t may be, therefore. that the change
will come through revolution and civil strife, and
that the historian of coming time who shall
write down a truthful chronicle of the last days
of the Mexican Republic will dip his pen in blood
to make the record. d. W. q.
Mexican Patriotism and American Avarice.
The appended article is from the pen of F. p.
Martinez, prominent citizen of Chihuahua and
was published in Cuttings paper, Ell Sentnella,
in which was printed the original libel against
Medina, which gave rise to all the trouble
HuRRAH FOR MEXICO!
"a people who have founded their Independence in
liberty and justice is invincible Macmillan.
Since the American press has given such i'm
portance to the insignificant but disagreeable
nf Uniting