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


against the Mexican government. con
gresham W. r Smith. of the FL PasO
district, delivered a speech Friday in
I which he denounced the slowness Of
Z the american government in giving
proper protection to its citizens
The Smith resolution instructs the
I secretary OF state to investigate the
( claims OF American citizens growing
} out OF the late insurrectiOn in Mexico,
determine the amount due and press
J such claim for payment
The resolution authorizes the secre-
7 tary OF state to appoint commission
from among the Officers or employees
/ OF his department TO consist Of not
] more than three members, the commits
/ sion to hold hearings at places cOnve-
I nient for claimants and witnesses TO
( attend The commission shall have the
power 10 compel the attendance OF wit
! nesses and administer Oaths for the
/ purpose Of determining the validity and
! amount Of the claims.
In his speech ar. Smith said
| Mr.. Speaker The privilege now
/ accorded me Of addressing the house
! viii afford an opportunity for supply
/ ing an important omission in the mes
I sage on foreign relations which the
/ president sent TO this congress on De-
cember Z last. This omission ought 10
/ be supplied, because IL is necessary TO
complete the history which the presi-
/ dent only partially gave Of our recent
relations with the republic Of Mexico,
/ and because it viii also serve the fur
Z LuSE purpose OF assisting the country 10
l a correct judgment upon the question
/ as to whether or not this administra-
ton has performed its constitutional
/ duty to its own citizens who have suf-
I fered at the hands Of the Mexican
/ armies.
! In discussing the recent instruction
I in Mexico which resulted in the over
I throw Of the Diaz government and es-
I tabhshed in its stead the present re-
I form government with Francisco l. Ma
( derO as its chief executive, the presi-
dents message said:
Here Mr.. Smith quotes at length
from the presidents message on Next
can relations as published in The Her
aid December Z, and ending with this
curt dismissal.l
am glad to say that no further
invasion OF American rights Of any
substantial character occurred.
Here in the presidents message is
clearly outlined the policy pursued by
the administration with regard to the
protection Of our people along the Dor
der during the Mexican revolution.
Orders 10 ETaeuate.
Because OF the fear that our motives
might be misunderstood and misrepre-
scented and Of thus inflaming Mexican
popular indignation against Americans
in Mexico. the president refused TO
utilize the military force which was
present and adequate 10 protect Amer
lean citizens .on American soil engaged
IN their usual vacations under the
American flag. Instead, he suggested
that the people of Douglas might avoid {
injury from the Mexican shot and shell
by temporary incOnvenience'-th is. z
Dy placing themselves where bullets 7
could not reach them In other words. /
by an evacuation Of the city by taking I
their 10000 people. including their WO-
men and children, as well as their sick J.
and helpless, and fleeing TO the open I
plains for an indefinite time, where I
there was neither food nor shelter, and I
leaving their homes and their business /
and property exposed to depreciation /
and Destruction
Mr.. speaker, shall not at this time /
enter upon an extended discussion OF /
the question whether or not the con-
ditions at the time justified the \presi- I
dent IN standing by and Witnessing /
such an unprecedented outrage and hui I
initiation upon American citizens with I
out an effort TO protect them when he I
had at hand the means Of doing so.
A Humiliating Policy.
But venture TO. express the belief /
that no government viii long retain the I
respect OF its people when Il refuses 10 &
protect them on its own soil and un- I
der its own flag against the invasion I
OF any foreign power. and under any +
circumstances whatever
An american citizen. while con-
Quoting business in a lawful manner I
In his own country, has never been. and /
1 hope never viii be required 10 humil- I
late himself by retreating in the face Of /
danger.
The Presidents Plain Duty.
Under every principle Of law and I
Justice he has tie right to stand bis J.
ground and repel force by force in the Z
defence Of his home or his person.
And In case OF an invasion OF his 1
rights by foreign power, it is the duty I
OF the government TO which he owes
allegiance to protect him regardless Of I
cost or consequences
Tt is no excuse to say that this in
yasion OF the rights OF the people OF
Douglas was not willful that it was
only an incident OF war
Clear Rights OF Bystanders.
When two men engage in mortal
combat they have no right to KIN In
nOcent bystanders.
''The bystanders., when they consider
themselves IN danger have the right to |
stop rhe fight TO save their own lives,
and II necessary, 70 kill the conbatauts.
I'm the situation at Douglas our gov
eminent had a similar right, and il was
the duty OF the administration as see
It. 70 exercise that right 20 the full ex-
tent necessary TO pEOtect American offf-
zens upon American soil II was an oo-
casion when the president had an on
portunity 10 show that he had iron in
his blood He was informed that the
fight at aqua Frteta would endanger
the lives Of the people Of DoupIas- and
ne ougnt 70 nave warned the combat
ants that II could not take place
should Have Made Word Good.
II ne mad done this DO not believe I
The battle would have occurred bmf y
they had not taken heed. he should
nave made his word good
If he had done this Mexico Vvorl5
nave had some respect for Ars-icsT
lower ana diplomacy. and we should !
.oL nave nad afterwards q similar out /
age committed upon the peaceab bic and r
aW abiding people OF EI Paso-another
\ lilsIlean city, which I have the honor
. represent upon the floor OF this I
MI Speaker. when our army was 8
ny ~ 20 the Mexican border. I believe it .
- generally assumed that Il was sent
llsIe 20 protect American citizens. but Il
. seems that the administration had no Il
- ~ purpose in mind. for the president d
: IN MS message that the presence I VI
Z me troops before and at the time OF
ne unfortunate killing and wounding {,
/ american citizens at Douglas made Il
-ear mat the restraint exercised by d.
UT government In regard 10 the occur \
ence was not due to lack Of force or =
over TO deal with 1t promptly and ag-