Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-08
The Rio Grande River.


Mex cans are continually occurring on
the RIO Grande. Only short time
ago Mex can lieutenant, accompanied
b; several Mexican soldiers. crossed
the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass with hos
tile intent. and several of the invaders
were shot in the river while trying To
return 10 the Mexican side Of the
boundary.
For this and similar disturbances the
r Grande river is partially to blame.
1t is most peculiar stream. Ordnar-
lily ii is the most natural thing in the
world to select "A large river us boun-
diary line. hence rivers are called
natural boundaries. 1t is possible for
natiops to quarrel about lines il they
are merely art fetal. but the general
suppostion is that river IS a perman
ent institution. In Europe or Asia. ii
ou put large river down anywhere
out OF doors. it will stav whore you put
t. You might 60 off and be gone II
thousand Years. and when on got back
hat river would be right where you
left il. Nobody can coil up ii river II
thousand miles long and carry it oil,
am more than you can lift n lofty
range of Handicapped mounta rs up
and put II into hand cart. Such. NJ
least. has been the generally accepted
pDnlon IN regard TO rivers. but with
this as with all other rules. there is an
except on. and the exception in this
Ease the Rio Grande. which is tho
boundary line between the United
States and Mexico.
The Rio Grande is the most peculiar
RIVER in The world. Words cannot de
,crl be is crookedness. and the color If
IT'S waters is like unto the complex on
IT the Mexican horse thieves who lhfosl
Is borders. Whether the crockelness
Of the natives is caused bv the waters
If the RIVER. or whether the river has
peen induced 10 depart from the straight
ine of duty by the bad example set II
nv the lords of create who prowl
dong its banks. is one of those intri-
cate questions we have not space to d s.
cuss. The soil of the r o Grande is
,liuvial. AMI very similar TO that OF the
vale, o. the San Anton river. When
/ rains, the soil dissolves into II soft
ind of musii, and the river ilops about
~ {, Ike snake in water
One of the consequences OF this is
hat The boundary line. which is dccar
III 10 be the middle of the channel of
Inc river. is As uncertain and rs utterly
;nrsliabIe IA a political pred elton in
he New York sun
For instance. John Smith. an honest,
Industrious and nnexceptionable Ang lo-
saxon. settles on the Amer can side of
in, Rio Grandc. He is an American
citizen in the fullest sense OF the word.
The 70 Grande. accord ne TO the cJst-
q,,,b del RaS. gets on bender. and
next morning John Smith finds that he
Has become. by an set of God as Black
,.one calls it, 4 Mexican. The boundary
inc has gone around him dnrng the
night, hay NO selected a new channel.
which leaves him several miles in
Mexico. The channel OF the river be-
NJ the boundary. the Mex cans ella IN
The land as Mex can territory, and so 1t
What is poor John Smith 10 do7
When YOU are IN Rome YOU must howl
With the wolves. In short time John
SIN tn has become transmogrified into
Don Juan ESmite-thats the way the
IcXicans call it. He wears great
ng sombrero; smokes cigaritos; b z
spurs jingle at his heels, he goes to
mass regularly. and to inspire his Mex
can cOmpddres with confidence, he
steals an occasional horse. In few
Years. were il not for his red head and
blonde freckles and IN occasional oath.
Iobudv wonld take him to be an Amer
can. This is all right. as far as it
,oes. bat Just about the lime Don Juan
E,mitc begins to relish Chill con carne,
md other Mexican luxuries the bound
,ry line gets on another tare. and go
W. back to its old channel. leaves
Don Juan Esmte high and dry on the
American side once more. The Ameri-
Guns claim their land. and if Don Juan
E>mile. does not move away. lie fails
10 feel nj home The very first time
je gives any of his Mexican lingo to
American brethren. or as soon rs
10 .elds to his acqu red habit Of steal
ng Il horse. he has trouble OF the
most serious character on hand. In
plhcr words. he has got 10 the end OF
hIS rope.
The same disasters befali tho Mex
IAN citizen who. CONTRARY to his wishes,
- converted into an American. and
pnck again to Mexican cit zon by
his extraordinary river. Then. again.
n mlnv places ii goes drr emf rely.
~ he two iwn sister republics are
eft " thout any boundary line what
ever There should be a permanent
aud Interchangeable boundary line be-
ween the two counties. - IeLdS