El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-05
STRICT NEUTRALITY
URGED At PEACE
CONFERENCE

Continued from Page II
Of the United States and by the active
participation of American citizens.
Great quantities of arms and NUM-
lions OF war evading our custom
houses, have been surreptitiously in
trcduced into Mexico. Large numbers
OF American citizens, both singly and
IN bands, acceutered for war, have
openly crossed the frontier and Joined
the forces which are seeking to over
throw government with which we are
at peace, and when worsted in battle
have sought refuge within our Dor
ders. only to return at will and take
part in a contest in which we should
properly be neutral A SO styled pro-
visional Governor of Chihuahua' has
openly established his office at FL
Paso, Texas, and therefrom ISSUED his
orders and carried on warlike corre-
spondence across the frontier; while
insurrectionary chiefs in other localf-
ties on American territory, were ac-
lively plotting against the established
government of Mexico
Should Not Pass Judgment.
1t is not necessary that we should
consider the merits OF the controversy
in Mexico, to pass judgment upon the
condition Of affairs on our southern
border Every patriotic American
citizen who has regard for the honor
of his country and it's reputation among
the nations of the earth must depIore
these events, and inquire whether
there is not a remedy for them / am
satisfied that there has been a sincere
desire on the part Of the president and
his cabinet to enforce a strict observ-
ance Of our neutrality laws I am
not so certain that a similar spirit has
existed on the part Of the local author
tiles, either Federal or State, along the
frontier, where the popular sentiment
seems to be largely on the side Of the
insurrectionists. But whether or not
the neutrality laws have been strictly
enforced, it is plain to any student of
our history who has given attention
to the subject that they are antiquated
and are in great need Of revision and
enlargement.
The Early Frontier.
'Our-firs neutrality act was passed
during Washington's first administra-
ton, and they were put into their pres
ent shape in 1913. At the time of their
enactment they marked a great adj
vance in International law and prac-
tice. and gained for our country much
credit But they have proved to be
too limited in their scope. At that
time our land frontier both on the
north and the south was very sparse1y
settled Our intercourse with foreign
nations was then almost entirely by
sea, and an examination Of our neu-
trality code shows that it applies
chiefly to maritime matters. The
great development OF our population
both on the Mexican and Canadian bor-
der requires a denomination OF the
neutrality laws Of our legislative and
executive departments.
The attention Of Congress has been
called to this subject and
thar body has been urged to the adop-
ton Of stricter measures TO enable the
executive to more fully discharge its
duties of neutrality.
the embarrassments on our
southern border attending the indie
oendence of Texas. and on our north I
srn frontier by the Canadian rebellion, /
n 1898 president Van Buren, in a /
special message laid before Congress |
he defective character of our neutral 1
ty laws, and asked that these laws be /
revised and enlarged in /
order to vest in the executive full I
power to prevent injuries being inflict- /
ID upon neighboring nations by the /
Unauthorized and unlawful acts of the \
Of the United States or other !
licticn and subject to our control.
Notwithstanding those urgent ap- /
eals to congress, the neutrality laws !
f 1913 remain unaltered with all the /
elects pointed out by successive pres5- /
ents."
SharpIess on Peace.
The indirect method7 Of attaining /
peace was advocated by Prof
saac Sharpless, president of the Hav-
.rford college. Haverford. Pa The
tile of his address was The Educa-
ion of Peace Men"
DO we wish to show the nation
hat war is an economic waste?" said
'rof Sharpless. I'VE viii appeal in
air to people who care nothing about
economy The schools must enforce
deals of economy and thrift
DO we want to curb the spirit Of !
seudo-p patriotism. a frequent cause Of
rouble, the patriotism which always
casts Of our country right or wrong
nd advocates her unlimited. uncritical
upport in every emergency A gen.
ration reared in this spirit is the same
hat few decades later will cheer a
mart, but indefensible political trick.
ill cry for war in an impulse Of ex-
Itement and howl down a moderate
ian who questions its propriety.
do we wish to curb the demand for
n unreasonable increase OF our ter
ltory-dsmand which many times in
lany nations has brought on wars2
so we must somewhat revise our
tandards of greatness. We must have
Omething better to be proud Of than
quare miles of territory and linear
lilies of railways and tons of pig iron
nd bushels of wheat, indispensable as
lese things are. We must strive to
O. able to feel comp1acent over the
uality Of our government Of our
chools, of our care of dependents, of
ur intellectual and moral habits OF
fe"
Dutton on Gospel of Peace.
''The Newer propaganda for peace"
as outlined by Prof Samuel T. Dut-
IN Of Teachers college, Columbia
University at toda s session. He said
part:
cit is evident til the hour has ar
we'd vrhpu tha ~ Oeac must