Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-23
both SIDES ARGUED
Intervention in Mexico Advo.
Gated and Opposed.
J. A. MacKNIGHT FAvORS IT
Says That Although Unpleasant, It
Il Necessary Task.
u. H. RALST0N AGAINST IT
Latter Holds That It Is the Duty Of
the. United States to Keep Hands
oH-Letters to Star.

Intervention in Mexico by the United
States Is strongly advocated by James
Arthur MacKnisht Of this city In a letter
to The Star. 1t is equally as strongly
opposed by jackson H. Ralston, who has
also written to The Star.
Mr.. Macknight, in his letter, says:
Some weeks ago the newspapers made
known the fact that the President of the
United States had notified Americans in
Mexico that this government could offer
them no protection, and that they must
shift for themselves.
"Since then 1t has become known that
Americans have been executed by rebel
authority for having served in the feder-
al ranks. and that military officials Of
the latter have declared 1t to be their
intention to serve In a similar manner
any American found in the rebel ranks.
1ndignities to Americans.
Americans have been thrown into
Mexican prisons, and some remain con-
fined In loathsome dungeons Of that semi
barbarous country. Men and women of
our nation have been assaulted ard rob-
bed as they were leaving Mexico in rail-
way trains to seek place Of safety, and
1t Is pretty generally known now that
stupendous damage has been wrought
upon American properties in that dis
tracted land. while the number Of Amer
leans who have been assaulted and MUIR
dered there in the last few months may
never be known. The situation seems to
grow steadily more hopeless, and it is
not at all likely that q stable condition
OF Affairs can ever be established or main
tanned by such people. Sooner or later
the conquest and annexation of the en-
tire country will become inevitable-and
l believe 1t is safe to say that II would
happen at once IL a certain man were
At the head Of the government. Nine out
OF ten Of the people Of this country are
now In favor OF decisive action In the
case OF Mexico, as they were in the case
to come and that 1t Is far better that
the work begin now before it is made
more dimcult and costly by the fight
Of time.
THE people believe that it will be bet
ter to have q safe and deliberate man like
MI. Taft at the head Of the government
for this miserable business than one
whose impulsive and precipitate character
might plunge the nation into almost In
conceivable disaster. The conflict should
be set on foot and conducted by the most
ievel-headed men which the nation has at
It's command, and, in my humble judg-
ment. President Taft and his advisers
are the very men to undertake and carry
to successful issue this unpleasant but
most necessary task.
Should Cut Out fostering Cancer.
While having no illusions respecting
the magnitude Of the undertaking, / am
convinced that the time has come when
this nation must show the world that 1t
will not permit such a fostering cancer
to exist forever upon its tanks, and that
the Monroe doctrine is something more
than an academic theory.
I'VE have by firm and gentle means
brought about fairly decent conditions in
Cuba. But the Mexicans could not be
handled In the same way. Absolute con-
ton for the Mexican situation. Such a
course on our part would effect a salu-
tary service to our own country. toward
the Mexican people and to civilization at
large"
Mr.. Ralston Opposes Intervention.
Mr.. Ralston's letter to The Star was as
follows:
Now that American intervention in
Mexico Is talked of. and before any step
is taken let US give a little careful at
tention to the question Of our right to
intervene. 1t is said that American lives
al z tuItdtcucu anu sAuleIlCAu property III
jured in Mexico. Doubtless there is some
foundation for this, but 1t is more than
doubtful II the existence of such condi-
ton justified warrior Intervention means
war; The men who went to Mexico and,
through the purchase of property there.
submitted themselves to her laws, and
accepted the conditions there prevailing.
or likely to prevail. are not at liberty to
demand that the United States shall SUBJ
ject itself to infinite loss through armed
operations in order to save or render
profitable their investments. so far as
the loss Of life is concerned, it does not
appear that any American has been killed
through the wrongful act Of the consti-
tuted government. and such lives as have
been lost have been taken by marauders
for whose conduct no government holds
itself responsible, or have been the lives
Of men who, first throwing aside their
full measure Of allegiance to the United
States. and subjecting themselves to con-
ditions prevailing in Mexico, and taking
on pro tanto Mexican allegiance, have
been, in violation of International law,
killed by rebels. We may pity their
fate, but their actions have not been such
as 70 justify armed Intervention
No Ground for Interference.