El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-13

I
No Effort TO Protect.
1T is frequently said that the pres
ident is at all times very frank want
here to bear witness TO the
fact that this is true Where
could you find a greater exhibit
ton OF frankness than in the quotation
have just made from the presidents
message2 In effect he says: The troops
I were not at Douglas to protect Ameri-
| can citizens although they were OF SUI
/ were there to demonstrate TO the Mex
lean people that our friendship for them
was such that We could stand by com
placently and see their troops shoot
down our unOffending citizens without
raising hand in their defence
Mexicans show Contempt.
1T is no wonder 10 me that the Mex
. lean armies lost all fear and even re-
Z spect for our power, and felt free %
I throw their shot and shell into another
I American city and wound and kill our
/ people We had demonstrated to them
/ so very clearly at Douglas that we were
/ going TO maintain our friendly rela-
/ tlons with them al all hazards
Remarkable Omission.
"Mr. Speaker. it is indeed very re-
I markaDle thing, 10 my mind, that the
/ president in his message makes abso-
I lutely no mention Of the battle at Jua-
+ rez- the Mexican city Immediately
across the Rio Grande from FL Paso.
}
tnat after discussing the occurrence at
o Douglas the president states in his
I message, in Immediate connection, that
I he is gla0 TO say that no further inVaS-
/ ion Of American rights OF any su5stan-
Z tial character occurred In this. il
seems to me, the president has done
some violence 70 his reputation FOR
I frankness
Mr.. Speaker. it is this omission OF
I the affair at Fl <PasO from the presl-
dents message that referred TO in the
/ beginning Of my remarks. and I want
now to supply what the president omit
ted
Firing Into Ell Paso.
The battle Of aqua Prieta occurred
on April IS 1911; that at Juarez after
wards, on May 8. and 10 and during
I those three days OF fighting five Amerf-
cans were killed and rs wounded on
American soil IN the city OF Fl Paso,
all by bullets from Mexican guns fired
from the Mexican side
Quotes Fl Paso Herald ct Length.
The FL PasO Herald, the leading Re
publican newspaper OF the southwest.
reliable, and usually a loyal supporter
OF Republican policies, in a recent issue
discussed editOrially this affair. and
gave in detail many Of the important
Facts connected with it. I now quote
from that paper In speaking Of the
presidents message. which 7 have been
discussing, it SAYS. Here Ongressman
smith quotes extensively from the edi-
torial in The FL Pas0 Herald af Deem
Dangerous Error, and vigorously de-
nouncing the policy OF the American
government in connection with the II
FaSO outrageS and the claims Of Amerf-
can citizens for redress The quotation
inserted In the Congressional Record
covers the entire recital Of the facts
ABOUT the firing into FL PasO. the kill
ING and WOundlngs and the defiance by
the Mexicans, throughout the battle. 81
president TaEt's demand as transmit
ted through Col Steever.I
Demonstration Of FrIendshfD.s
And thus Nj. Speaker. did the presf-
dent give TO the Mexican people another
demonstra ton Of our friendship What
ala II matter that our innocent men.
women and children were shot down in
tHeiT own homes BY Mexican bullets2 II
such was an invasion OF American
rights at all, IL was not an invasion OF
any substantial character That is what
and the country.
Presidents Breach Of Trust.
II submit 70 this house that such a
helittling Of the rights Of American
citizens by the chief executive was alb
sOlutely inexcusable and as indefensible
as his refusal TO afford them protection.
which. TO my mind, was a breach OF A
sacred trust. a disregard Of high con
national prestige.
In my Judgment. il the president
lad dealt VITA the situation with finn
hand, injuries to our citizens would not
have been misconstrued nor misundsr-
stood There would have been no ne
cessity for intervention, our national
prestige would have been preserved and
our friendly relations with Mexico
maintained.
The God Given Right.
In the eyes Of both God and man ev-
cry nation, as weH as every living crea-
ture, has the right OF sef-defsnce- II
this right had been earnestly. actively
and vigorously asserted BY the presi-
dent, the ESzican armies. recognising
the Justice o. It. woasa. no doubt, have
justice of American Claims.
But, M. Speaker, the events 7 have
neen discussing are now passed. The
questions involved are now largely
academic. have called attention to
them mainly for che purpose OF prop
erly putting before the house a matter
growing out Of the occurrences. which
IS OF very great practical Importance
at this time. / refer to the question OF
whether those American citizens who
suffered from Mexican guns are enti-
tied 70 redress. and whether this gov
eminent OF ours IS under any obliga-
ton TO see that they obtain that re-
dress.
Whether the administration was re-
miss in its duty, under the conditions
existing at the time. TO protect the peo-
pie at Douglas and at FL PasO. is
question which may properly be laid
aside for future. settlement. And how
ever much opinion may differ at pres
snt In regard TO that. I bellve we VIII
AT agree that the Mexican government
should make compensation TO the
wounded and TO the legal representa-
Ives OF those who were killed
Duty OF Our Government
Il believe, also. that we can an ae~ea
hat the claims OF those people should
'e determined by our government and
resented. and prompt payment de-
handed by our state department.
1t does seem to me that this is a.
.tte as our government could do for
hose who looked to It in the honr -
anger and calamity, and appealed in
ain for protection
But / am sorry TO have to announc,
tnis mouse that She administratio1
axes an entirely different view II
oes not Yet recognize that 1t owes an
"! 20 nose unfortunate people. II
lConllnnea ., p. =, :,