St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-07-30

came an independent power and the
patient endurance with which we
have borne them are almost with
out a parallel in the history of
modern civilized nations There
is reason to believe that if these
wrongs had been resented and le-
sisted in the first instance the pres
ent war might have been avoided.
One outrage, however, permitted to
pass with impunity almost necessar-
lily encouraged the preparation of
another, until at last Mexico seemed
to attribute to weakness and indie
cision on our part a forbearance
which was the offspring of mag
nanimity and a sincere desire to
preserve friendly relations with a
sister republic"
Pres. James Buchanan on Deem
Der 6, 1857, said:-"M Mexico has
been in a state of constant revolu-
ton almost ever since it achieved
its independence. 49,. The success
sive Governments have afforded no
adequate protection, either to Mexi-
can citizens or foreign residents,
against lawless violence"
December 10, 1858, he said:
There is scarcely any form of
injury which has not been suffered
by our citizens in Mexico during the
last few years. $500. Life has been
insecure, property unprotected and
trade impossible, except at a risk
of loss which prudent men cannot
be expected to incur. .... Peace
full American residents, occupying
their rightful possessions, have been
suddenly expelled from the country
in defiance of treaties and by the
mere force of arbitrary power. 80.
Vessels of the United States have
Oeen seized without law, and a con-
sular officer, who protested against
such seizure, has been fined and
imprisoned for disrespect to the
authorities. 80. Large numbers of
our citizens have been arrested and
imprisoned without any form of ex-
animation or any opportunity for
a hearing, and even when released,
have only obtained their liberty
after much suffering and injury,
and without any hope of redress"
Pres. Buchanan recited several
brutal assassinations of American
citizens and asked congress for au-
thority to send an armed force into
Mexico to aid in restoring order and
redressing the wrongs of the Amer
leans, but congress refused to grant
it, and a year later he reported he
had succeeded in securing satisfac-
ton through the agency of diplo-
macy.
These excerpts from history are
both discouraging and encouraging.
1t shows the permanency of treach-
cry and cruelty in the Mexican
character and no ability to maintain
civilized government. The present
in that country is an ir-
remedial defect OF the MeXicans.
There is little hope they ever will
be able to conduct their public affairs
according to the demands OF modern
civilization. But compare present
conditions with those described in
these messages of Americans presi-
dents. They were infinitely worse
than now. American pride was
more deeply wounded and Europ-
can powers then showed the same
desire as at present to ignore the
Monroe Doctrine and whip the Mex
leans into subsection. The president
then called for war, but con-
gress, wisely, as history has
demonstrated, refused to allow
him his wish. If diplomacy won
then and secured such long period
of respect and finally friendship
between the two republics there is
reason to believe it can now. There
should be no talk of war but there
should be an appeal, forcible enough
to receive attention, made to the al
legged government to either abdicate
the office of president or enforce
it's power and subjugate the scat
tered forces of rebellion. The re-
sources of diplomacy lack much of
being exhausted and no talk of war
should be made until they have
been. 1t promises better results at
less cost and sacrifice than military
force and therefore is more desir-
able for United States as well as
other outside interests.
Lessons From Canada