The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-25
LEAVE 1T TO WILSON.

The official explanation OF the assassination
OF Msdere and suarez may give the truth OF the
bloody occurrence. but the rumors Of deliberate
murder by minions Of Huerta and Disz are so
IN accord with past events that they viii be
given credence by almost everyone who has kept
informed as to conditions In the unfortunate
country Of banditti to the south.
If the temporary rulers of Mexico can con-
vince that the victims of Sundays murder were
killed by friends seeking to rescue them and not
by their own orders their success will in all
probability be pleasing TO the United States
state department, but the vast majority of peo-
pie in this country are Hike the Irishman, open
to conviction. but skeptical of the existence of
any who can convince them. Old porflrio Diaz
had what was known the lev dc fupo. or fugi
tive law, through the agency of which he rid
himself OF his enemies, and 1t would not be
surprising to find that his nephew AMI the Toy
aliat' Huerta had made use of 1t. This law en-
powered the guard to kill any one. who attempted
to escape from custody and always when it was
desired that certain prisoner should die he at
tempted TO escape.
Whether Madero and Suarez were killed by
their friends or by their guards, acting under
orders, the Mexican situation is greatly compli-
Gated by their death. 1t is feared in Washington
that this Is but the beginning OF reign of terror
and upon the extent of the ensuing slaughter of
the opponents of Diaz and Huerta viii depend
the necessity for Intervention by this country
Should numerous others fall victims to the
assassins bullets this country might be forced
to intervene to put end to wholesale official
murder. Harsh methods may be necessary to the
end that rebellion and insurrection be put down
and probably are. 1t is no ordinary disorder that
prevails in Mexico and If the death of few lead
ers means the beginning of peace there will be
little disposition In this county to their lives
Bloodthirstiness, however, is seldom saked by
lood, but, the contrary, the appetite is whetted
by what 1t feeds upon. If few lawful execu-
tons and assassinations are resorted to that
many other lives may be saved and order is then
restored Mexico will not be invaded by foreign
army. More civilized nations may regard the
actions of those In control with horror, but re-
cosnizinz that insurrectos cannot be modified by
fine words and preferring the death of q few Mex
lean bandits to continued or to the horrors of
Intervention they will not feel called upon to in
terfere. r. however, execution of the dan
gerous leaders be followed by the murder of the
followers and of personal enemies of those in
power and II the new government undertake a
reign of terror rivaling that of the French revo-
luton. Intervention may be necessary for the pro-
! lection Of civilization. To our mind here lies
the danger. We may execrate Mexican methods
and our more sensitive feelings may be out.
ragged by the violence and murder of government
and rebel and by more violence and murder with
the turn OF the wheel. making the rebel federal
and the federal rebel, but interference will not
help matters. However. bloodshed may so in
crease and murder and rapine become SO wide.
spread that civilization may sound the call for its
preservation and civilized nations will have to
answer.
But that time has not come After all but
two men have been killed and that may be the
end. Wisely believe President Taft is in
clined TO leave the matter to his successor. In
one more week President Wilson will have the
burden of Mexico upon his shoulders and in
spite of the rapidity with which events have
moved in that country a delay of one week can
do no harm.
II and when intervention becomes necessary
a definite policy should be pursued. There
should be no paltering. no hesitation, radical
change In plans. Notice should be served upon
the government of Mexico and in due time United
States battleships should be at Vera Cruz and
United States troops across the Rio Grande. A
course OF action should be mapped out and fol-
lowed consistently and relentessly until peace
be assured. Begun by one man and one admin
stration and continued by another this would
be difficult
President Taft will make no mistake II he re-
frain from definite action, leaving the question
Ito be settled by his successor.
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The Tennessee legislature has killed the bin