Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-03
BORDER BANDITS.
Their Raids Endangef Our Relations
With Mexico.
A Rich Section Of cssaip Given Up b
lAuiesssess.

washington, Jan. 2.--Capt. John G..
Bourke, Of the Third United States Cav
airy, who has taken an active part in cam
paigns against Mexican bandits along the
border has oeen 10 consultation with war
department officials here and returns to the
Rio Grande country tomorrow. 1t is un-
derstood that he will be given enough
troops to stamp out the so-eslled reyolu-
tiotrfsts and maintain order. The repre-
sentations of the Mexican authorities 10 the
state department have been such that
prompt action is necessary if friendly rela-
tons with our Southern neighbor art 10 b.
maintained. Capt Bou.ke said recently
II really believe things cannot help be
ing worse before they ARE better. also
believe that the | niied States is going TO
do its best TO make life burslensome for the
irresponsible and troublesome Mexicans
who have for tho past year made themselves
conspicrously aisagreeahle,
There are two kinds of Mexicans on our
side of the boundary line. Those who re-
side in the towns. such PLACES as Laredo
townsville, Matamoras, Corpus Slaristi
and san Diego, are in the main very Alseent
people, and of course, have no,hing.to do
with these troubles, The 5elligerer.t class
is made up of the worst elements that ever
stood in the way of civilization. Msxicans
in their origin and speech, but anti Mexican
in sympathy, they cause our Southern
nciglibor great deal of trouble. Incl
denlally they worry us great dead, for
they are just rs much anti-Ameriean as
they are anti Mexican
Their character is utterly devoid of
principle and in all their uttcrances there
is no senblance of patriotism. When you
say they are 'agin the government ON boti,
sides of the river. You have stated their
creed. They live from hand to mouth, and
are, altogether, extremely undesirable peo-
pie 10 have any dealings with.
''Most OF them are of the criminal class
refugees from beyond the border. When
there is an opportunity to do a little SNUG
Cling or a great deal Of smuggling they en-
brace it eagerly, and if it happens to in
yolve a murder or two they are less dis
turbed about ii than anybody else. Some
of them raise few cattle, which run around
in the brush, a few goats and handful of
sheep, and occasionally they take advantage
of a rainy season to plant few hills of
corn and beans.
None of them ever attempt to raise
fruit although they could do so easily
they prefer putting in their time in more or
less successful endeavors to raise trouble.
To hunt them up and secure reasonably
sound testimony against them is almost inn
possible, as We have discovered TO our sor-
row all through this Cara business.
They are not uniformed, and in sun
mer time very few of them have enouc 6
clothing to dust fiddle, but they can shoe !.
-.
and dignity Of full-dress rcg.mentals, Al |
if pursued at night, can, by throwing their
carbines and cartridges aside, speedily re-
solve themselves into the most peaceablc
shepherds.
Everybody in that region, or nearly
everybody, sympathiscs with this lawless
ness, and in very many instances officials
who have sworn to uphold .he statutes have
barred the way so effectually that justice
could not be meted out. Ii after much
trouble Il mar erous vagabond is arrested
his conviction is by no means certain. If
he has n little money or few cows with
which to pay fee he can hire somebody
who thinks he is a lawyer and who is at
least able TO calumniate the civil or military
officials who caused tie al rest.
The Rio Grande valley is n very rich
county. Its area is as great as that of all
New England and its soil extremely fertile
wherever water can be poured upon it.
Just now it is the home of the coyote AMI
wild hog. but the day is coming when this
country will draw largely of its sugar sup
ply and its grapes from that same valley.
The great need of the country is a rail
road, and when that has been supplied, sar
from Brownsville to Laredo and mp the river
cotton will be raised in enormous quantities.
The mulberry grows wild throughout the
entire region, so there il no reason why
silk culture should not be a great success
"'fhe day is coming when that Will be -
wealthy section of the United
States, but before such a desirable condi-
ton is possible we must purge ourselves OF
the detestable class which now prevents civ
iiization from putting its foot in the valley
of the Rio Grandc..-'