The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-24
NO INTERVENTION YET.

NO INTERVENTION NEA.
The causes OF all the wars since the world
began might be grouped under five headings as
follows
Love Of war.
Greed for gain in the form OF territory or
tribute.
Revenge OF real or fancied wrongs.
National defense
Protection of citizens in foreign countries
The first OF these has long since vanished.
No nation goes to war in modern times or has
gone to war within q century without real or
manufactured excuse and for the pure love OF
Hghting War is sometimes undertaken or has
been within the lifetime of the present genera
ton for exploitation, but always under guise of
one or the other of the succeeding three rea-
sons given and never with the frank declara-
ton OF desire for conquest Wars OF reprisal
are also rapidly becoming things OF the past and
long before universal peace mounts the worlds
throne revenge will have ceased to be cause
There remain of these five causes for war,
then, but two and upon these, or upon one of
them or upon a sixth cause, which has come
into existence with the passing of the others,
luGGrSALOI LOT Int6TNeutaOh ny LhS 1haNcu atatSS
In Mexico must be based That OF national de-
tense need be mentioned only for the purpose
OF rejection. This country Is In no danger of
attack from the Mexicans, The last is scarcely
more weighty as an argument for sending
American troops across the Rio Grande to serve
az targets for Mexican bandits. The lives OF
Americans are In danger only as non-combatants
= - T. xrba will he 1f
fighting. Foreign property is being destroyed
and capital invested in the country is made less
profitable but this is due to the fortunes of war
and not to deliberate intent upon the part of the
combatanta, rebels or federals
The only excuse this government can have for
Intervention therefore. is found In the very
sentiment which has forced the elimination Of
the other excuses for war, namely: the duty of
all nations to abstain from war and the duty of
the more powerful nations to prevent the weaker
from engaging therein. This country has no right
to step In to prevent accidental loss Of life and
accidental destruction OF foreign capital except
on the theory that war for any reason Is wrong
and he who can has the right to stop 1t in order
to put an end TO all loss of life and all destruc-
ton OF property whether the f0eS De sustained
BY citizens of the nations engaging in the war
or by citizens of the intervening nations
II 1t be the duty OF the stronger nations to
end war between weaker nations, just as 1t Is the
duty OF a grown man to stop fight between
small boys, then 1t Is the duty of the United
States forcefulIy to bring to an end the insur-
rections In Mexico. IL not, then neither this
nation nor Germany nor Great Britain nor any
other nation possesses either the duty or the
right to intervene in Mexico.
Assuming however, that the duty and the right
exist the question becomes OF expediency.
The remedy is 30 bad that it Is better to ex-
haust every other means of securing peace be
fore applying ID. Just now 1t appears possible
that the disorders In the unfortunate country to
| the South may be put down. 1t is worth waiting
awhile before intervening, even though 1t be
admitted that 1t is the duty of this country
to restore peace and 1t be demonstrated that IL
can do SO otherwise than at a cost greater than
the end to be attained is worth.