The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-28
Character of the Rio Grande Revolu-
tionisis Described By Captain Bourke.
Outlaws WhoLre "lgin" Both the United States
and Mexican Governments. and Who Are
Shepherds One Day and Raiders the Next
How Senator Cullom Wonld Like TO
Amend the Interstate Commerce Law.
Senator Frye's View Of the Two Panama Canal
schemes-Columbian Exposition Souvenir
Coins Likely TO BE Counterfeited.
BAD CLASS OF pEepLE.

BAD Las OF PEOPLE.
Captain Bourks Talks About the Outlaws
Who Are Making Trouble on the Border.
WASHINGTON, Dec. b. Of all tho officers
IN the United States army who have an ac-
qnaintancs with the unfortunate condi-
tion of affairs on the Rio Grande. none arc
more familiar with the real conditions
than Captain John Bourke, of the Third
United States Cavalry, and that fact Is the
reason why Captain Bourke was summoned
to this city by the Secretary Of War. In
ternationally, things are pretty badly
strained on the border, and although the
State Department is inclined 10 make light
Of such statements. it is generally under
stood among the diplomatic corps that
Mexico is really agrieved at tho slowncss
apparent In the movement of the United
states 20 stamp out the petty revolutionary
troubles that have their origin on the
northern side Of the river.
What do / think of the situationp said
Captain Bourke. when approached by q re-
porter to-day. IL really believe things
cannot help being worse before they are
better. / also believe that the United
States Is going to DO its best to make life
burdenscme for the irresponsible and
trouble-making Mexicans who have for the
past year made themselves con~spicuously
disagreeeble. Now. you must remember
that there are two kinds of Mexicans on
our side of the boundary line. Those who
reside in the towns-suoh places "a Laredo.
Brownsville. Matamoras. Corpus Christi
and San Diego are. In the main. very de-
cent people. and. of course have nothing
70 do with these troubles. The belligerent
that over stood in the way of clviliza-
ton. Mexicsns In their origin and
speech. but snti-Mexicsn in sympathy.
they cause our southern %nclRhbor Q great
deal of trouble. Incidentally they worry
us u great deal, for they are just as much
anti-American rs they arc anti-Mexican.
Their character 10 utterly devoid of princi-
pie. and in all their utteyances there 10 no
semblance of patriotism. When you say
they are "agin" the governments on both
sides of the river you have stated thoir
creed. They live from hand to mouth al
together and are extremely disagreeable
people to have any dealings with.
Most Of them are Of the criminal class
refugees from beyond the border. When
there 10 an opportunity TO do q little snug
viii embrace it esgerly, and il it happens
to involve o murder or two they are less
disturbed about IL than anybody else.
Come of them raise q few cattle, which run
around in the brush, . few goats and
to plant . few hills Of corn and beans.
None of them ever attempt to raise fruit.
afthough they could do 90 easily. They
prefer putting IN their time In more or less
successful endeavors to raise trouble. To
hunt them mp and secure reasonable sound
testimony against them is almost impossi-
all through this Cara business They are
not uniformed, and IN summer time very
few of them have enough clothing TO dust
o fiddle, but they can shoot just az well as
o man who has the covering and dignity of
fuil-dress regImentals. and If pursued at
night can. by throwing their carbine and
eartrid ges aside. speedily resolve them
selves into the most p~eaceable shepherds.
Everybody in that region. or nearly every
body. sympathises with this lswlessness,
and in very many instances officials who
have sworn to uphold the statutes have
barred the way 90 sffectually that justice
way she came In. If. after much trouble. o
murderous vagabond 10 arrested, his con-
viction - By no means certain. If he has q
little money, or o few cows. with which to
thinks he Is = lawyer and who is al least
able to calumniate she civil or military off,
cials who caused the arrest"
rs tho RE Grande valley OF any real
valnsY
well. I should say it is. It's area is as
great % that Of all New England. and Its
soil extremely fertile wherever water can
be poured upon it. just now 1t 10 the home
of the coyote and the wild hog, but the day
is coming when this country will draw
largely its sugar supply and its grapes from
that same valley. Without water sgri-
culture 10 possible only in spots. but where
wells have been dug and pumps are oper-
ated there has been o most satisfactory
yield. The great need of the country Is q
railroad. and when that has been supplied.
say from Brownsville to Laredo and mp the
river: cotton vii be Tsised In enormous
throughout the entire region, so there 10 no
reason why silk culture should not be q
great success. The day is coming when
that will be q remarkably wealthy section
Of the United States. but before such o de-
sirable condition is possible we must purge
ourselves Of the detachable class which pow
prevents civilization from putting its foot
IN the valley of the Rio Grande."
The following telegram has been received
at the War Department from General
Wheaton. commanding the Department of
Texas, dated Dec. 25: Lieut. r. w. West,
Third Cavalry. struck a camp of bandits
yesterday twelve miles northwest of Roma.
While five hundred yards from the camp
the bandits fired on the troops. They made
O short stand. then scattered in all direc-
tons; Que e them was killed Kill and one
reetion and came upon them again just be-
fore dark. They scattered In all diiec-
tions IN the brush again, and could not
DO found In the night. West captured
three horses and q quantity of ammunition.
saddles. etc. q Mexican cavalry sabre and
two uniform overcoats taken ut the San
lgnacio tight. also n printed manifesto and
blank commissions. Lieutenant Lang
horne got in here tSan Antoniol yesterday
and left ut z o'clock this morning with his
troops for Roma. The bandits reiterated
towards the river. Have notified Mexican
officers at Camargo and Mier. Tho number
: OF banditsi Is estimated at thiriy-tve.p This
IL the first official information received ut
sthe War Department of anything sp-
preaching an organized attempt ut revoln-
tiop.