Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-02-24
THE MENACE OF INTERVENTION.

Evening Telegram: Intervention
in Mexico is a menace to the peace
and welfare of this country. The
hope lies that it may be avoided.
Intervention is advocated by two
classes of people, the iingoes and the
exploiters; and as we fancy the first
class is often actuated and inspired
by conditions which the second class
has helped to bring about. The seri-
Gus phase of the situation is that it
is one of conditions and not of theor-
les. and the conditions are menac-
ing.
American millions have gone into
Mexico with a view of making mil
lions in Mexico. As an inevitable in
cident. there has been material prog
ress in the country south of us. It
was the custom during the latter
years of the administration under
Diaz to boast of that progress, and
to admit that it was due, almost al
together. to the initiative and activ
ity of the foreign capitalist, and for
the most part the American capital
ist. But with all that, the motive
in all this progress was like thorn
in the Mexican side. There was no
assimilation of ideas, of habits, of
customs or of national interests. 1t
was felt that the development of
Mexico was not ior the MeXicans,
and for that reason much of that
same development was the source
and root of much Mexican hatred to-
ward the foreigner, and toward the
American more than any other for
eigner. 1t may be truthfully said
that in that very progress, inaugur-
ated and stimulated by American
money, was nurtured that malignant
spirit of revolt which now is the
next thing to anarchy. Such, as it
must appear to reasonable men, is
one very important phase of the gen
esis OF the trouble.
But it is the trouble itself more
than the cause of it that now con-
Germs us. All along it has been con-
ceded to have been serious, and with
every change of the revolutionary
+ Kaleidoscope it grows more serious.
Now and then there is hope of un-
| tanglement and ultimate peace, but
no sooner is the hope fairly enter
tanned than it vanishes. The worst
! of it is, the American nation is not
| in a position to disregard this grow
ing hopelessness. BY virtue Of doe
! trine which it insists upon with
greater emphasis than almost any
other it is charged with the duty
of enforcing peace in Mexico, if
peace cannot be brought about by
any other means. The fulfillment of
that duty means war, and how seri-
GUS or how long-sustained no man
can tell
The jingo clamors because we
have not already set about the per
Torrance of that duty. He is seized
with a sort of patriotic frenzy be
cause of the alleged lack Of protec
tion to American citizens in Mexico
forgetting that in large measure the
risk incident to political and revolu
. tionary vicissitudes down there
should be his. On the other hanC
the big American financial giant
represented in the republic south o
! us by hundreds of millions, whil
, urging intervention with less nois
: than the simon-pure jingo, is shrewd
t ly biding his time until intervention
5 which he considers must ensue, be
; comes the fact; until occupancy fol
s lows; and as he hopes and dreams
= the final acquisition of Mexican ter
S ritory is the ultimate result, and hi
l patience and cunning are rewarde
!. Dy Jne aCCFeIlOn OF tens Oh lnllllOu
= where before he only expected mi
3 lions.
1t is a situation that so far as tn
future of this country is concerne
is well-nigh a crisis. To meet it an
to maintain American honor, Amer
-, can dignity, American regard for ju'
q tice will require the highest orde
B.. of craftsmanship. The Mexican 81
uation presents altogether the mo.
, serious problem to which the Unite
+. States government has had to az
: dress itself since the Civil War.