Year: 1875

Il AOot1Af


Mexico, who has come to Washington TO fur
nish information and make suggestions to
Secretary Fish, is not likely to be Of much
practical value if his recommendations have
been correctly reported. What Mr.. Fos-
ter is understood to advocate is the
negotiation of treaty with Mexico
authorizing the troops Of the United States
to pursue cattle raiders and other criminals
across the border, arrest them on Mexican
soil and bring them back for trial and pun
ishment. This is one of the most absurd
proposals we ever heard Of as emanatIng
from an official source Such treaty
would be equally dishonoring to the govern
ment Of Mexico and the government of
the United States. Every nation properly
regards its territory as sacred, and re-
sents, as one Of the most offensive of in
suits, any intrusion into it by foreign
Power. The sharp controversies we have
had with other nations respecting the right
of search at sea throw light on this class of
questions. Our government has always re-
sented all pretences on the part of foreign
nations to board our ships and seize culprits
who have committed offences against the ma
tion claiming the right Of search. The argu-
ment used on such occasions has been
that the decks Of our merchant ships on the
high seas are, in the contemplation of inter
national law, part Of our territory, and that
inasmuch as no nation can pursue criminals
across its frontier SO no nation can search
the ships Of another Power to make similar
arrests. Everybody remembers how public
resentment was inhamed year or two since,
by the Spanish violation of the rights of our
flag in seizing the Yirginius because she
had on board persons charged with offences
against the peace of Cuba. The decks of our
ships and the territory of the Republic are
held to be equally sacred and inviolate, and
we never tolerate any foreign intrusion into
either. If foreign government wants a
criminal who has fed within our iurisdic-
ton it can get possession of him only
under the provisions Of an extradi-
ton treaty. The reason why extradi-
ton treaties are necessary for the rendi-
ton of criminals is that every govern
ment regards it's territory as inviolable, and
permits no foreign authority to pursue per-
sons charged with crime beyond the limits
Of its frontier. No government can surrender
this principle of inyiolability without a
sacrifice Of national honor. 1t is, therefore,
absurd and Quixotic for Mr. Foster to recon-
mend such a treaty as he proposes.


If such treaty were permissible it would,
of course, have to be reciprocal and allow
Mexican troops to pursue fugitive criminals
into Texas as we'll as United States troops to
chase Mexican raiders and arrest them be-
yond the Rio Grande. Mr.. Fosters own
dispatches, published in the diplomatic cor
respondence Of last year, prove that cattle
raiding is practised on both sides, and if we
are to be permitted to pursue Mexican
fugitiyes beyond the Rio Grande We should
have to concede the same right to the Mex
leans. 1t is quite certain that our national
pride would never permit anything of the
kind but no such treaty as Mr.. Foster pro-
poses could be adopted unless the rights
conferred were mutual Such treaty, in
stead Of preventing difficulties, would null
tiply them. Troops crossing from either
side would be full Of the resentments and
exasperations Of the community whose
wrongs they undertook to redress,
and would not be scrupulous about the
infiction of injuries on the foreign soil they
invaded. Before such treaty had been in
operation year both governments would be
incensed by the license Of soldiers. and mu-
tual ordinations would inevitably lead to
war. The worst possible device for maintain
ing peace on the frontier would be treaty
permitting the troops Of each nation to pur-
sue and arrest offenders within the territory
of the other.


But these border difficulties and the bad
blood they engender cannot be permitted to
60 on forever, and the proper remedy is q
very grave question. We have no doubt
that the ultimate and only successful remedy
is rectifcation of the Mexican frontier


Broad and deep rivers form suitable
| enough boundary between conterminous ma
tions but the Rio Grande, though broad, is
not deep. and for several hundred
miles Of its course it is easily ford
able, presenting no obstruction to incursions
from either side. Cattle could not be
hurried across the st. Lawrence on our
Canada frontier even if the people on its
banks were as wild and lawless as the
settlers on the Rio Grande. Droyes of stolen
cattle cannot be made to swim a navigable
river, but can easily be taken across ford
able stream. The Rio Grande is wholly un-
fit to be q boundary, and troubles
will never cease, in the present state
Of civilization, along its banks, SO
long as it continues to be the frontier.
1t is for the mutual interest Of both nations
that the boundary line should be changed !;
but to accomplish this requires patience,
foresight and diplomatic tact. Mexico is un-
willing to part with the narrow strip Of ter
ritory which would carry back the boundary
to the unsettled and uninhabitable noun