Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-11-06
MEXICO AGAIN.

MEXICO CAD
Z Is frequently asked what right TINS
country would have to intervene peaoe-
fully or with violence in Mexico. The
right lies in this. Every country con-
tains to greater or less extent wlthln us
borders the citizens, and invested capl'a'
of other countries. This must be so III
order that the life of civilized people
may take its course. The same t"'"s
may be stated conversely by saying that
modern nations have interests Wl'hln
| other countries. These are not 1.-THE inter-
ests' which our popular orators ana uh-
popular editors like to rant about Dut
consideration no less than the lives ana
property of citizens. In order thai these
lives and this property may be tolerap'y
secure It is the duty Of every countr OIL
any Importance to maintain wlthlh JUS
borders something a~pproximating law
and order. If a nation fails to protect
the lives of foreigners within its Dor
| utIS, OlneT ndllO1lS are JbN'l''''
ping in to protect their citizens.
Among nations the law of tooth ana
nail still rules. Might is not always
right, because certain laws of the combat
have been laid down which the world
calls international law and upon the IN
fringement of which the world will frown
but do nothing. But right always re-
quires might to put it into effect. Tech-
nically the nations of Europe whose citi-
aens' lives and invested capital are be-
ing destroyed or menaced by the reign OF
terror in Mexico nave the right to step
in and |stralghten things out. Bombs
from German, French or British war
ships might long since have been drop
ping among the houses Of Vera Cruz had
it not been for one drawback-the Uni
ted states of America. We have chosen
to make It our policy to resent any ag-
g~ression Of old-world powers in this
hemisphere. We are so important that
they hesitate to pick a quarrel with us.
The fact that Mexico has been in z
state of anarchy for many months an(
that lives and property of American citi
zens nave been threatened and destroyed
gives us the right of Intervention. TIL,
fact that we are keeping back other ma
tons from exercising similar rights
makes some Intervention peaceful OF
otherwise, or at least some settlement o
the intolerable situation a duty. 1t il
this which continually goads the Presi
dent and secretary of state to action
They must bring about peace or endur
the reproaches of the world both upoi
themselves and upon their country,
order in Mexico by giving moral supper
to the murderer, 1uerta. He hoped t.
gain some basis for order by means of
regular election held by Mexicans. Ap
parently the election has turned out
farce. Huerta and the fear of his rifle
seems to have dominated it. 1t seem
to nave been more remarkable for tn
number who did not vote than for tn
number who did. The President is nov
reported to be organizing pressure t
bring to bear upon the tyrant of this un
fortunate country for the purpose o
enforcing a fair election.
The practical object of greatest i'm
%portance throughout these negotiation
has been to keep the United States on
Of war. Mexico is not worth fighting fol
A war of aggression in Mexico woul
be more costly than can easily be i'm
agined. Thus far we have succeeded /
avoiding serious clashes, and in kecr
ing down the lingo spirit AZ HON,
But who can say how near the brin
we are treading? The promiscuou
slaughter of those imprisoned deputie.
might arouse our people to a frenzy {
protest. The murder of John Limo b
one of Huerta's gunner might awake a
ungovernable anger. 1t is not a time t
let matters drift; the danger is too grea
Some settlement must be found.