Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-28

|
| friends who can etfectually aid them.
So long as tho misunderstanding con-
tinues We can only await the time oi
their awakening to reaiiza.ioh y.
the actual facts. We cannot thrust
our good offices upon them. Inc si'u''
ton must be given little more uiile
TO work itself out in the new clicuiii
stances, and | believe that ohiy ~
| tie while will be necessary, FOR the
| circumstances are new. The feJe'eioh
of our friendship makes them ne"
and will inevitably bring It's own al
| terations in the whole aspect VI d
fairs. The actual situation OF the au
| thorities at Mexico City VIII present
| ly be revealed.
| MEANWHILE what is il our duty TO
do? Clearly, everything that we az
must be rooted in patience ana uohe
with calm and disnterested delIpeia
ton. Impotence on our part "oaio ne
childish and would be fraught Wl,h
every risk of wrong and foIly' we
can afford to exercise the sel1-festfalht
of a really great nation when feaiize9
its own strength and scorns 10 misuse
ii. II Was our duty To offer our actiN
assistance. 1t is now our duty TO snow
what true neutrality will do 10 en-
a bic the people of Mexico to sci theif
affairs in order again and wait fof II
/ further opportunity TO offef oui
| friendly counsels. The door Is not
closed against the resumption, either
upon the initiative of Mexico or upon
our own, of the effort to bring orde.
out of the confusion by friendly CO.
| Shpnl1 fortunate
| casion offer.
while we wait the contest OF the NV
al forces VIII undoubtedly for a little
while be sharper than ever, JUST De
cause it will be plain that an end must
| he made OF the existing situation ana
| that very promptly; and with the m
creased activity of the eontendins iac-
tions will come. il is 10 be feared, in
cree sed danger To the non-comDatahts
| in Mexico as well as To those actually
| in the field of battle. The position OF
outsiders is always particularly Try
| ing and fun of hazard where there IL
civil strife and a whole country Is up
set We should earnestly urge all Amer
leans to leave Mexico at once ana
should assist them To get away IN every
way possible. not because we would
mean To slaeken in the least our EFFORTS
TO safeguard their lives and their IN
terestS, but because ii is Imperative
that they should take no unnecessary
risks when il is physically possible Tor
them IA leave the country. We should
let every one VINO assumes to exercise
authority in any part Of Mexico kie"
in the NEST uneauivocal way that We
shall vigilantly watch the fortunes oil
those Americans Who cannot get away,
and shall hold those responsible Tor
their sufferings and losses to a deli
mite reckoning. That can and Will be
made plain beyond the possibility of a
misunderstanding.
For the rest, | deem it my duty to
exercise the authority conferred upon
me by the law of March IA. 1872, to see
to il that neither side To the struggle
now going on in Mexico receives any
assistance from this side of the Dor
der. | shall follow the best practice of
nations in the matter of neutrality by
forhidding the expectation of arms or
munitions of war of any kind from the
United States to any part of the repub-
lie of Mexieo-a policy suggested by
several interesting preeedents, and GER
siderations OF practical expediency. We
cannot in the circumstances be the par
tisans OF either party TO the contest
that now distracts Mexico or consti-
tute ourselves the virtual umpire be-
tween them.
Il am happy to say that several OF
the great governments of the world
have given this government their gen
crous moral support in urging upon
the provisional authorities at the city
of Mexico, the acceptance of our prof.
fered good offices in the spirit in which
they We're made. We have not acted
in this matter under the ordinary
principles of international obligation
All the world expects us in such CIR
cumstances to act as Mexiees nearest
friend and intimate adviser. This is
our immemorial relation towards her.
There is nowhere any serious ques-
tion that we have the moral right III.
the case or that we are acting IN the
interest of a fair settlement and OF
good government, not for the promo
ton of some selfish interest of our
own. If other motives were necessary
than our own good will towards a sis
ter republic and our own deep con-
Germ to see peace and order prevail
in Central America, this consent of
mankind to what we are attempting,
this attitude of the great nations of
| the world towards what We may at
tempt in dealing with this distressed
neople aft orr doors, should make us
| feel the more solemnly bound to go
/ TO the utmost length of patience and
forbearance in this painful and anx-
ious business The steady pressure OF
moral force will before many DAYS
| break the barriers of pride and preJu-
dice down and we shall triumph as
| MeXico's friends sooner than we could
triumph as her enemies-and how
much more handsomely, with how
much higher and finer satisfaction OF
| conscience and of honor!'
| Howard CamnitZ is no backbiter. He
| praises Fred Clarke. whom he leaves,