The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-06-02
The Rio aranda Rayar.

O0uuiCtS DotWocH hmbFNcAnH 04k&
Nrxicans are continually occurring on
he Rio Grande. Only short time ago
, mexican lieutenant. accompanied by 1
,cvcral Mexican soldiers crossed the
RIO Grande at Eagle Pass with host
intent. and several of the invaders VI y
hot in the yer while trying to return
the Mexican side OF the boundary.
For this and similar disturbances the
rio Grande river itself is partially 10
blame. 1t is most peculiar stream.
Ordinarily it is the most natural thing
in the world to select large river as
boundary line, hence rivers are called
natural boundaries. 1t is possible for
nations to quarrel about lines il they
are merely artificial. but the general
,upposition is that river is perman-
ent institution. In Europe or Asia. II
YOU put large river down anywhere
out of doors, 1t will stay where you put
it You might 60 off and be gone a
thousand years. and when you got
back that river would be right where
you left it. Nobody can coil up river
II thousand miles long and carry 1t of.
any more than you can lift lofty
range of Handicapped mountains up
and put it into hand cart. Sdch. at
least, has been the generally accepted
opinion in regard to rivers, hut with
this, as with all other rules. there is an
exception, and the exception in this
case is the Rio Grande. which is the
boundary line between the United
States and Mexico.
The Rio Grande is the most psculiAe
river in the world. Words cannot de-
scribe its crookedness. and the color OF
its waters is like unto the compilations
of the Mexican horse tn ewes who in.
fest lis borders. Whether the crooked
ness of the natives is caused BY the
waters of the river. or whether the
river has been induced to depart from
the straight line of duty by the bal ex-
ample set it by the lords of creation
who prowl along its banks. is one Of
those intricate questions we have not
space to discuss. The soil of the Rio
Grande Is alluvial, and very similar to
that Of the valley of the San Antonio
river. When it rains the soil dissolves
into soft kind of mush, and the river
flops about on it. like snake in water.
One of the consequences Of this Is
that the boundary line, which is de-
clarod to be the middle of the channel
of the river. Is as uncertain and rs
utterly unreliable rs political pre-
diction in the NeW York Sun
For instance, John Smith, an honest,
industrious and unexcept enable Anglo
Saxon. settles on the American side Of
the Rio Grande. He is an American
citizen in the fullest sense of the word. !
The Rio Grande. according to ID 8
costumbre del Pals, gets on a bendefA
and next morning John Smith finds
that he has become. by an act of God.
rs Blackstone calls it. Mexican. The
boundary line has gone around him
during the night. having selected u
new channel, which leaves him several
miles in Mexico Tho channel of tho
river being the boundary. the Moxicans
claim the land as Mexican territory,
and so it is.
What is poor John SIN tn 10 dor
When you are in Rome you must
howl with the wolves In q short time
John Smith has become tranmogriHed
into Don Juan Esmte-that's the way
tho Mexicans call it He wears o
great big sombrero; smokes cigarltos;
big spurs jingle at his heels. he goes
to mass regularly. and to inspire his
Mexican comrades with confidence, he
steals an occasional horse. In few
years. were II not for his red head and
blonde freckles and an occasional oath,
nobody would take him to be an Amer
lean. This is all right, as far as it
goes, but just about the time Don Juan,
Esm:te begins to relish Chill con carre,
and other Mexican luxuries, the boun-
dairy line gets on another tare. and go
ing back to its old channel leaves Don
Juan Esmite high and dry on the
American side once more. The Amer
leans claim their land, and if Dom
Juan Esmite does not move away, he
fails to feel at home. The very first
time he gives any of his Mexican lingo
10 his American brethren. or rs soon
as he yields to his acquired habit OF
stealing horse. ne has trouble of the
most serious character on hand. In
other words. ho has got to the end OF
his rope.
The same disasters befall the Mexi-
can citizen who. contrary to his wishes.
is converted into an American. and
back again to Mexican citizen by this
extraordinary river. Then, again. ip.
many places it goes dry entirely and
the two twin sister republics are lett
without any boundary line Whatever.
There should be perm anent and nm
changeable boundary line between the
two countries. Sifings.