The morning call., 1892-01-03
THE TROUBLE on THE RIO GRANDE

The border foray on the Rio GraDde re-
calls the stories of wild frontier life in the
ante-bellum days. One Cara, who ap-
pears to be a Mexican desperate and
bandit by profession, gathered around him
q band of mscTeants in the Mexican States
Of Iamauliras and Nnevo Leon and fell to
ravaging the country. According to his
own story he was impelled TO this course
by his objections to he attitude of President
Diaz on church questions; he proposed to
demonstrate his attachment for the church
by plundering ranches and numbering their
inmates. I he authorities of Tamaulipas
falling to appreciate his political views, he
followed the example Of other border
Tuffians, crossed the Rio Grande and estab-
Iished a camp in the chapdrral in Starr or
Hidalgo County. Texas. From this base
he operated with imraTtiality in either
country.
We have in that section of Texas an old
fort called Fort Ringgold, which is gar
risoned by three or four companies of
troops, chiefly cavalry, under Captains
Hardis and Bourke. They have taken the
field and are trying to fEd Cara. RumOrs
are afioat that Captain Bourke did meet the
bandit and was outnUmbered aud defeated;
but the rumors lack confirmation and ap-
pear on their face to be untrustworihY. On
the other side Of the line the Governor of
Tamaulipas has set his State troops in mo-
ton and tie President has dispatched eou-
pie Of regiments to the scene of action.
They were TO have been led by very CON-
petent and gallant soldier, General Garcia.
but the story goes that when he reached
MiPr, on the southern border of the Rio
GTande, his troops .mntinied and murdered
him. Whether the mBtIny led TO general
Generalization in his command is not vet
known. This story also has been contra
dicted. IL is probable that the Governor OF
Tamaulipas, with such Federal forces as
can be obtained from the southern States Of
Mexico. will be able to give a good account
of the bandits as soon rs they are driven
across the river. If they are not we have
convention with Mexico by virtue of which
United States troops could follow them into
Mexican territory.
The raids Of which Garza's is an ex-
ample are normal occurrences in that part
of the world. The northern tier Of Mexican
States, comprising Sonora, Chihuahua,
Coahuila. NuevO Leon and Tamaulipas. en-
brace an area Of about 2go,ec0 square miles.
or something more than Texas. with popu-
y
ton of this region is cordilera and min
habitable; but 4 still larger portion is fairly
good land, in which the valleys will grow
anything from the products of the tropical
to those of the temperate zone In the
cOrdllleras immense veins Of metalliieTous
rock seam the mountain sides: some day.
under scientific exploitation, they will fur
nish the world with gold, silver. lead and
copper Yet few portions Of the inhabited
globe are poorer than Northern Mexico.
This arises from the fact that it is, as a rule.
inhabited by the wrong kind of people. OF
the 10, 100000 inhabitants If Mexico 5OOO
eco are full-blooded Indians, and 100000
are half-breeds, or mestiZces. Neither race
has thus far shown any capacity for i'm
proyement or high civilization. They are
as Incapable Of developing the natural re-
sources Of the country as the fauna that
were found there by the companions
OF Cortez. They are in the stage of evolu-
Ton Of which brigandage 5 a natural fea-
ture
deNCO would be more prosperous and
more powerful If she got rid of the north
EN- siar oI states, and with them Lower
tai3oioia, SinAloa and Durango. Her
'sah'5 resource are drained to police these
mos uHhhabi.ed areas. She can neither
reduce tDe Indians to submission nor keep
ofQSf among Der own people. IL is quite
Cuz 81 her poser 20 construct or to aid in
The construction of the roads which are nee
essaly 80 ~ stop IT, brigardage. and to
assist tHe development Of her mines of coal
ga ne preo'eis metals. The scattered