The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-06
OUR INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER


OUR INTERNATIONAL FRONTIER
Captain John G. Burke has won a
name for himself by chronological STU
dies pursued on our frontiers. where he
served long and honOrably under Cook
and Stanley. Now, in the compare
tive leisure Of a term Of duty at Fort
Ethan Allen, the new cavalry post near
Burlington, VT, he has prepared short
and pithy account OF the condition or
affairs on our frontier between Texas
and Mexico. 1t is another chapter on
the miseries inflicted on whole region
of country by lax administration and
the absence of a strong hand. Along
the 1900 miles of the course of the Rio
Grande, the dividing line between
Texas and Mexico, region larger in
area than all the New England states,
and more fertile than the Nile Delta,
ever since the Mexican war, smugglers,
cattle thieves, train-wreckers and fugl-
tives from the jails on both side or the
line have kept the decent settlers, both
Mexicans and Americans, in state OF
bondage, have given employment 10 a
large body Of our regular army and of
that Of the Mexican republic, and have
made pretence Of hostility to the gov
eminent Of the latter, to rob and plum
der and kill on both side of the line.
Our own force Of regular soldiers was
reduced in spite of the protest of the
officer in command Of the department,
and the local authorities were as often
in full sympathy with the men openly
violating the law as they were help
less alone to enforce it. Traders found
their profit in supplying arms and am
munition and food and clotheing. The
federal courts tried often in vain to put
a stop to open violations OF law and to
crimes varying from theft to murder,
and Mexican cOnSulS and American
sheriffs were more than once assassin
ated for their honest efforts to enforce
to law and keep peace along the border
between the two republics. Captain
Bourke speaks with personal knowl-
edge of the efforts made to harass army
officers trying TO do their duty. by pre-
tended suits for violation of the very
laws they are trying TO enforce. their
efforts to restore order being rendered
nugatory by the action Of local maSis-
trates releasing offenders upon bail
furnished by their own number, ana
otherwise interfering with the due adj
ministration of justice.
Captain Bourke points out the meas
ures needed TO reform these abuses
first, a hearty and real cooperation
with the Mexican authorities. civil
and military; next the construction OF
military railroad up the valley of the
Rio Grande; then a strict enforcement
Of military law upon offenders, until
all freebooters are driven away. Then
and only then. the natural advantages
of this region. rich in possibilities, with
irrigation and order, will be develop
ed, and the two countries alike will
profit mutually by making their long
border line perfectly safe for honest
thrift. Captain Bourke has done a
real service by thus making the condi-
tons of our Texas Mexican border, and
the abuses that have been perpetrated
| out of n pretended Difference TO our
neutrality laws. These, as he sagniti-
cantly points out, are abused only To
encourage crime, and the strong arm OF
law enforced by military rule alone
can make our situation one that will
enable honest settlers 10 be safe and
put a stop 10 highway robbery under
pretence of political revolution against
peace. The matter is one that needs
, the attention OF congress and the execu-
tive, and - them Captain Bourke' :
pamphlet ought TO be especially com
mended. for 1t describes an existing al
| though diminishing the evil, and sug-
| gests a remedy. To know the actual
state OF affairs in this remote part OF
| our vast empire is more important than
| chronological and Archaeological research
! and il is well TO find that an army Of
ficer is master OF the situation, and can
turn from studies Of prehistoric times
/ and men to a question OF our own day
one affecting the credit Of the whols
country, and calling for 3 prompt and
complete and satisfactory settlement
/ Much as we have doie Tor our white
| citizens. and the Mexicans who have
been part Of our own population eyei
since the Mexican war must learn once
! for al that the government OF the | hit
/ ell States means 20 enforce us laws
everywhere, 10 have peace within and
on lis borders. 10 punish crime. and 1,
protect lis honest folk against thel,
! riotous nei-hbors Il Is discrediiabl'
that such a condition of affairs Should
have been allowed 10 exist for 80 many
years, and it is high time that the AL
fhoriues IN Washington and Ia Texa,