The Washington herald., 1913-08-28
The Presidents Message.

Gen. Huerta was an admirable exposi-
ton of the disinterested diplomacy which
he has advocated and practiced in his
endeavors to bring Mexico back TO
tranquil order and security. 1t was
distinctly a plea for patience on our
side, and for peace on their side; 1t
was a message almost startling in its
lack of surprises. Even though Mr..
Wilson took the people of the United
States and the peoples of the world
into his confidence, as he had prom
ised, vet he told them no specific
facts hitherto wholly hidden. unless
we except his official assurance that
the policy he has adopted and prac-
ticed has had the approval of some
of those great foreign nations of Eu-
rope which some OF the advocates OF
armed intervention have so assidu
ously asserted were militantly indig-
nant at our reluctance to apply force
to Mexico.
Yet the exquisitely amiable language
Of Mr. Wilson's message was but the
smile of the brave, kind man who
speaks a true and right cause with
out fear. 1t was but the polite defer
cnce OF splendid dignity whose anger
is a lofty passion high above mad
ness. Even as he pronounces with
>olemn emphasis the need of Ameri-
tan citizens in Mexico leaving that
distracted country" he declares:
We should let every one who as
>umes TO exercise authority in any
part OF Mexico know in the most un-
cquiyocal way that we shall vigilantly
watch the fortunes Of those Ameri-
cans who cannot get away, and shall
hold those responsible for their suf
rerings and losses 10 a definite reckon
.ng. That can be and will be made
plain beyond the possibility of mis-
understanding.
There is no Inconsistency in those
~ratements. The Presidents denial OF
recognition to the Huerta administra-
,ion IS reflected. in fact. in this in
ference that our citizens in Mexico
may not reasonably expect even a
forced protection in land where war
and disorder, devastation and con-
iusiCn seem to threaten 10 become the
-ct'led fortune Of the distracted coun-
try" 1t Is from this turmoil OF reck-
less and wanton riotou>ne>s OF blood
and shame and loot that the Presi
dent counselS those OF his people who
have gone afar in their search OF
wealth to come away. The President
wisely forbore to promise protection
in land where there is no authority |
with power sufficient to raise its claim
TO consideration by this government.
We quote from the message:
The territory in some sort con-
trolled by the provisional authorities
at Mexico City has grown smaller. not
larger. The prospect OF the pacIica-
ton OF the country. even by arms, has |
seemed to grow more and more re- /
mote: and its pacihcation by the au-
thorities at the capital is evidently i'm
possible by any other means than
force. Difficulties more and more en- |
Iangle those who claim to constitute !
the legitimate government OF the re-
public. They have not made good |
their claim in fact Their success in .
the field has proved only temporary. |
War and disorder. devastation and
confusion. seem TO threaten TO become |
the settled fortune of the distracted .
country.
There is in the message no incon- /
,stency, there is no lack of courage
or frmness, or constancy to the policy
which the administration has adopted
In accord with his determination that
he shall not recognize the Huerta ad-
ministration Mr.. Wilson makes no
call upon Huerta TO protect those
americans who are unable or unwill-
ing to leave Mexico. Mr.. Wilson. his
good offices declined by those who
are now exercising authority or WELD
ing influence in Mexico" does not ask
Gen. Huerta, as the strongest at pres
ent of those who are now exercising
authority or welding influence" 10 af-
lord any protection or give any succor
to our citizens in Mexico. But the
>o-called ultimatum of Gen. Huerta,
with its boasts of high potentiality,
which can never be rendered into
real force, with its ostentatious indig-
nation that the Huerta government"
should be approached with such
huniliating'' proposals, is shadowed
into insignifcance and futility by the
simple statement that those responsible
for the suferings and losses of Amer
lean citizens will be E,.d to a definite
reckoning"
President Wilson in his message
Yesterday has done far more than
make the declaration that he will not
order Intervention in Mexico; far
more than make public, in part. if not
in entirety, his negotiations for peace;
far more than repeat his advice to
Americans to leave that country: far i