Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-24
THE MEXICAN BORDER.
History of the Troubles That Require
Troops Constantly.

THE PRESENT OUTBREAK Is NOT REVOLUTION
AND CARA IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CONNECTED
WITH THE MovEMESr-wHAr CAPT. BouRXE
SAYS OF THE LAwLEss BANDS.
The so-called Cara insurrectionary move
ment now agitating the Mexican frontier is the
subject of general consideration in army circles
just AT present. An officer high in rank. with
many years experience along the Texan border,
summarized the situation to a STAR reporter
today in the following words:
"A gang of adventures, with no Claims to citi-
zenship anywhere make predatory excursion
into Mexico solely for plumber and revenge and
now attempt to excuse their outrageous acts of
murder and robbery under the plea that
they are organizing political revolution.
This makes them appear to be patriots
when, in fact, they nothing but assassins
and plundercrs OF the worst sort. There are
too few of them and their outbreaks are too
sporadic to raise their actions to the dignity OF
anything approaching revolution. They
cross and recross the Rio Grande when closely
pressed by the law officers whose jurisdiction
ends at that river. and in that way usually
escape the just punishment for their crimes.
But to call them revoiutionists striving to BEN
efit the cause Of their country is a SANDER to
that noble band of patriots who occupy SO high
place in the history of the world"
MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN.
Notwithstanding this contemptuous refer
ence the so-called Cara revolution" Is
matter of genuine concern to the federal
authorities in Washington. Ever since the
with Mexico, which resulted in the acquisition OF
Texas and other valuable territory. there has
been frequent occasion for the employment of
United States troops for the preservation of
ne ~ ale hQ lin In ne n W.
lessness in that section became SO troublesome
that it nearly involved the neighboring re-
publics in another war. This during the
administration of President Hayes and much Of
the credit for that peaceful settlement of that
diplomatic incident is due to the good
Offices of Mr.. John W. Foster, the present
Secretary OF State, who was then minister
to Mexico. The relations of the two
governments were strained to the utmost
on account Of border troubles somewhat similar
to those existing at present and for which each
government placed the responsibility on the
other. Affairs we're eventually settled to the
satisfaction of each with reflection on the
honor of the other and peace again reigned on
both sides of the Rio Grande with few and fit
full interruptions until the fall of 1884, when the
only genuine Cara revolutionary movement
had Its inception.
THE ONLY GENUINE REVOLUTION MOVEMENT.
1t was in September of that year when the
now celebrated invasion OF Mexico by CATERING
ID. Cara and his associates occurred. They
crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico September
10 and had an engagement with Mexican troops
the day following. They numbered only about
sixty men and were easily routed and driven
back into Texas. From that time United States
troops were constantly on their trail to prevent
further violation of our neutrality laws without
material success until the following December.
when Capt. BOurke's cavalry attacked and
tod tbav llv ISrrp hat
the movement" was practically stifed Several
United States soldiers and many OF the revOlu-
tionists were killed and wounded i'll this
gagement. A few days later Capt. Hardies
command encountered nearly 200 Of Garzas
band at Rendandos ranch and completed their
decentralization. In his last report to the Secre-
tary of War. dated September 10, 1892. Gen.
Frank Wheaton, commanding the department
of Texas. says:
The Cara troubles may be considered
ended, though the frequent reports of the
sembling of isolated small bands of revolution
lists, with a view to violation of our neutrality
laws by invading Mexican territory, has
quired the greatest activity OF troops on our
Rio Grande border. This service has been
faithfully performed, under very trying circum-
stances, during the season OF greatest heat,
severely taxing the energies of troops and ami
mails. The operations were conducted in DESC
late, barren regions. very sparsely ii at all in
habited. where supplies of wood and water were
scarce, and where the necessary food for ami
mails was almost impossible to procure.
CARA NOT IDENTIFIED WITH EXISTING rRoU-
BLEs.
While the existing troubles along the border
are attributed to another uprising of insurrec-
tionists under Cara such is not believed at the
War Department to be the case, for the reason
that, so far as is known, Cara is in nowise
identified with them. According to official rec
OrlS that much- az yprtispd individual IL
where near the seat of trouble and has not
serted himself anywhere since early in 1892,
when the War Department received definite in
formation of his presence in Key West. He has
not been seen nor heard Of during the recent
troubles at St. Ignacio, and there is every rea-
son to believe that he is not in any way con-
cerned in the present outbreak, but that his
name is used BY the participants solely for the
purpose of giving it the semblance OF political
movement.
Notwithstanding the absence Of this formid-
able leader the present condition Of affairs on
the Mexican frontier is bad enough to call for
serious consideration. The government has
taken active measures for the protection of its
citizens and can no lOngt be regarded as mere
spectator of the contest between guerilla lead
ers for mastery in the contiguous territory Of
Mexico. Since the last revolution in Mexico
the worst elements seem to have come to the
surface, and instead of respect and cordially
between the local and the revolutionary author
tiles and that OF our government there lie almost
open and undi-guised hostility.
THE CARE OF THE MEXICAN BORDER.
To again quote from Gen. Wheaton's report:
1.-The care Of the Mexican border, which in this
department is defined by the Rio Grande, is
one that requires constant attention. To know
just how far this is the duty of the United
States, where exactly the state of Texas
comes in. is not always very plain. The only
safe rule is to regard all any person coming
from the right bank of the Hio Grande as an
idler, with arms in his hand and no visible
means Of support, as an intruder. There is no
complaint to be entertained of the Mexican
government. Their officers do their duty. but
the frontier is 900 miles in extent. with long
stretches of unsettled wild country. and no
police, civil or military, can effectually watch
such border and entirely prevent crime-re-
quiring notice by the United States forces. We
find that the very presence of troops serves as
n restraining influence. Murders have &C.
Cured, and the murderer runs quickly into the
wilds Of Mexico, and i. is plain but for the
presence of United States troops, few as they
arc, revenue regulations would be dead let
ter"
CAPT. BoURKE's OPINION.
Capt. Bourke, well known in Washington
was specially assigned to the duty of prevent
ing the organization Of raiding parties for
operations in Mexico. In a report to the War
Department in reQard to these banda ha soy.