Year: 1875

bers and cutthroats We have really been for in
a condition Of warfare all along the line OF the hex
border, and although constant appeals for pro-
lection have been made to tho general government
both by prominent citizens Of Texas and by the Execu


of that State of every shade of politics. the people
have been left to shift for themselves and scarcely
pretcpoe has been made to guard the soil from the
invading bands Tho indifference manifested
by the general government In the matter has excited
faong Of indignation all through the State This feel
ing intensified short time ago when the Secretary
OF War threatened to withdraw the few United States
troops in the border country tho present
Governor of Texas refused to set at liberty three negro
soldiers Of the federal army who held due pro-
by the for criminal offences against the laws
of the State


THE UNPROTECTED CONDITION BORDER.


The frontier of Mexico bordering on the Rio Grande
extends nearly 1000 miles along the State of Texas
For nearly the entire year this river is fordabe At
intervals the floods swell the prevent the
crossing but at all other times the river offers pro-
lection whateverto either nation, and can be crossed
and recrossed by marauding bands their will It Is
simply line Of demarcation and might almost well
be staked along open plain for any that it
pncrs against the invasion OF the soil of either country


the people of the other Ever since the close of the
exican war depredations have been committed on the
property of American citizens in Texas and many hun
dreds of lives have been sacrificed in the effort
the raids of the Mexican robbers Sometimes these
banditt have sweled their incursions into the
proportions of war, as in the well remembered
Cortina and Heintzleman campaign. when the
notorious Mexican brigand took possession of a
large portion of our frontier and robbed and
dered our citizens wholesaler and again under tho
extended raid of his rival, Vidal who as he prom
sed to prove a boder robber than his former
chief shot by Cortina's order. At ali times
there has been regularly organized system OF raids
into Texan territory and three months have
passed without robbery murder. both, on
an extensive scale 1t is certain that with such a
neghbor Mexico it Is impractcable suffer the Rio
Grande to continue as the boundary between the
nations the this understood and acknowl-
edged by our government the better.


IMPORTANCE SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS


That portion OF Texas lying along the Rio Grande a
very important section OF the country. The cattle
growing increases in importance every year, and would
to-day be much greater than is but for these Mexican
troubles. good portion OF the supplies OF meat,
hides allow &c, comes from that part of the State
and the industries OF the people crippled by this
unnecessary and unfair warfare the frontier For
years we have submitted to these evils without finding
a remedy, and have thus suffered rich country to be
only partially productive and Industrious, enter
prisng population to be impoverished murdered by



ments the records OF the department Washington
win show, and it is about time that the outrages
should cease and that OF the promising States
in the Union should be freed from a condition or
affairs deplorable and receive the protection to which
she entitled Diplomacy has been tried and has failed
to accomplish any beneficial result Other and more
efectual of settlement cannot be much longer
delayed


MEXICAN GOVERNMENT


The Mexican government has acted in bad faith with
the United States The head Of the banditti of the
border is the notorious General Cortina Experienced
brave uuscrupuous and ambitious he is just the man
10 make and maintain border warfare OF this descrip
tion. HI holds the ignorant and theivsh Mexican pop
ulation between the mountains and the river in his
hands. They swear by him, depend upon him and do
his bidding. He organizes their raids, appoints their
leaders and manages the sale OF the plumber Under
the OF the United States government he
recently subjected to nominal arrest by
President Lerdo; but in fact he was only
politely notified TO appear at the capital, and
when there treated with all the honors Of
distinguished chiefain The HERALD is correct in its
statement that President Lerdo disposed court
Coruna, with the object Of gaining his support the
approaching election While Cortina is the City o.
Mexico his orders sent to his followers and the
raids into American territory continued. While
processing friendly relations with government,
President Lerio Is in truth intriguing for another
for himself and Il he obtain this at the expense
Of with he will not hesitate to pay the
price Al all events he is surrounded by corrupt men,
who would not object to a a Of enriching
themselves, and he is playing with fire by trucking
with the robber chief whose acts are hostile to tho
United States who believes in his right prey the
Americans and who is every day making almost
inevitable


TEXAS I DOING.


What Texas intends do for her own protection may
be gathered from the recent action Of Captain McNay.
She proposes to protect herself If the United States
government will not protect her. Governor Davis,
republican, made application TO the President for aid
and his appeal disregarded. Governor Coke, his
democratic successor has made similar appeal and 1t
/ UNDECIDED. Captain McNally who is under thirty
years Of age energetic, COOL brave and possessed or
wonderful physical endurance was appointed first by
Governor DAVIS and aferward by Governor
Coke, To take charge Of a company or
rangers and do police duty on tie frontier


In the late war ho entered the Confederate army as
private but soon obtained sort OF 'iree lancet COM
mand and won the fame OF John Morgan in the Trans
Mississippi department. Ho has already pursued into
Mexico bands Of thieves recovering the stolen prop
erty and showing mercy - the robbers His last
exploit proves or What stuff he is made and shows that
he will not hesitate to carry the into Mexlco on
every occasion Captain McNally some time AGO yisi.
ted Washington and had interview with President
Grant; hence il IS tolerably certain that ne govern.
ment has been previously advised OF the course the
Texan ranger chief intended to pursue


DOES PRESIDENT GRANT kEAE WAR WITH MEXICO?
II has been shrewdly coniec,ured by some well In
formed Texans that President Grant does in fact de-
sign making war on Mexico IT It should become neces
sary but Intends to select his own for bringing
matters TO a crisis or course can be made
without Congress- but glance at the facts of the case
will show that he may glide into a with Mexico in
manner that will compel Congress to act IN unison
with the President u believed in many quarters in